By definition, wilderness areas are supposed to remain free from human intervention unless absolutely necessary. In this episode, Marissa wades through rivers in the nation's first wilderness in New Mexico's Gila National Forest to learn how the idea of capital "W" Wilderness came to be.
HOW WILD, the new six-part series from KALW's Marissa Ortega-Welch, hits trails around the country, exploring the meaning of wilderness. A century ago, the U.S. set aside the first official wilderness. You'll hear stories from rangers, scientists, hikers, environmentalists, and Tribal leaders as they grapple with the realities of wilderness on a changing planet, and whether the concept of "wilderness" has ever really existed.