Rachel Marsden

With that signature, the High Uintas Wilderness came into being.

With that signature, the High Uintas Wilderness came into being.

The High Uintas were already spoiled in the eyes of many wilderness advocates, but they cheered having stronger protections against new roads, logging, and mining. Still, they didn't get all they wanted from the new law. It didn't restore the native wildlife, like gray wolves and grizzly bears that had been exterminated from the range.

The High Uintas were already spoiled in the eyes of many wilderness advocates, but they cheered having stronger protections against new roads, logging, and mining. Still, they didn't get all they wanted from the new law. It didn't restore the native wildlife, like gray wolves and grizzly bears that had been exterminated from the range.

And the law explicitly said multiple use meant grazing would be allowed to continue. You may be wondering why I've taken you on this tangent about sheep. It's with purpose, I promise. Sheepherders will come up again later in our story, and I think it's helpful to understand the fault lines that sometimes divide different groups of outdoor enthusiasts.

And the law explicitly said multiple use meant grazing would be allowed to continue. You may be wondering why I've taken you on this tangent about sheep. It's with purpose, I promise. Sheepherders will come up again later in our story, and I think it's helpful to understand the fault lines that sometimes divide different groups of outdoor enthusiasts.

I live in Utah, a state blessed with amazing mountain and desert landscapes. Anyone who spends time exploring those places develops strong opinions on how they should be managed. I have talked to sheep ranchers who see themselves and their families as responsible stewards of those lands. In many cases, they are.

I live in Utah, a state blessed with amazing mountain and desert landscapes. Anyone who spends time exploring those places develops strong opinions on how they should be managed. I have talked to sheep ranchers who see themselves and their families as responsible stewards of those lands. In many cases, they are.

But I have also seen the impacts of overgrazing in the high Uintas, trail damage, erosion, litter. I even came across the remnants of a sheepherder camp during my hike on the High Line, following Eric's footsteps.

But I have also seen the impacts of overgrazing in the high Uintas, trail damage, erosion, litter. I even came across the remnants of a sheepherder camp during my hike on the High Line, following Eric's footsteps.

Piles of pine needles in the fire rings told me no one had been there yet that season. Abandoned junk from summers past was scattered around.

Piles of pine needles in the fire rings told me no one had been there yet that season. Abandoned junk from summers past was scattered around.

I guess I should take a photo of the garbage. If you have ever visited a national park in the U.S. or camped in a national forest, you've probably seen a sign that said, Leave No Trace. That public relations campaign has roots in the Hayuintas.

I guess I should take a photo of the garbage. If you have ever visited a national park in the U.S. or camped in a national forest, you've probably seen a sign that said, Leave No Trace. That public relations campaign has roots in the Hayuintas.

The Forest Service first teamed up with the Boy Scouts of America back in the 1980s to teach scout troops that were headed into the Hayuintas how to minimize their impact on the land. I was one of those Boy Scouts, and I took the message to heart. My wilderness ethic is embodied by the slogan, take only photos, leave only footprints.

The Forest Service first teamed up with the Boy Scouts of America back in the 1980s to teach scout troops that were headed into the Hayuintas how to minimize their impact on the land. I was one of those Boy Scouts, and I took the message to heart. My wilderness ethic is embodied by the slogan, take only photos, leave only footprints.

But I found more than footprints during my hike on the Uinta Highline. At one spot, I came across a huge food cache.

But I found more than footprints during my hike on the Uinta Highline. At one spot, I came across a huge food cache.

I wasn't mad at the ribeye or the 24-pack of Budweiser, just baffled. The meat and alcohol were bobbing in icy water at the inlet of a small lake, deep in the wilderness. Someone placed it there to keep it cold. It was too heavy to have been carried in by a backpacker, so it must have come in on horseback. But there were no people or horses in sight.

I wasn't mad at the ribeye or the 24-pack of Budweiser, just baffled. The meat and alcohol were bobbing in icy water at the inlet of a small lake, deep in the wilderness. Someone placed it there to keep it cold. It was too heavy to have been carried in by a backpacker, so it must have come in on horseback. But there were no people or horses in sight.