The Wilderness Act is almost 41 years old…about the same age as Tom Cruise…but I argue it’s
been much more influential. There are 8.5 million acres of wild country in the Arctic…a mind boggling expanse when you
think about it. Access to the area comes mostly from float planes, leaving you very alone in a very remote place.
NPR’s Elizabeth Arnold heads to the
Gates of the Arctic National Park in this audio piece and explains what makes
the North so alluring and intimidating.