Acknowledgement
I am deeply grateful to Patrick Olszowski, the founder of OutrageousOutdoors, and Jen Lu from REI for the invitation to participate in an innovative event aimed at rethinking how we interact with our natural environments. OutrageousOutdoors is a unique online festival that gathers thought leaders from various sectors to discuss innovative ideas about making the outdoors more accessible and sustainable. My speech, which I'm sharing here, sparked meaningful conversations, and I received incredibly insightful feedback that I'm excited to share with you.
For those who missed the live discussion or would like to revisit these thoughts, you can find my talk at the 45:50 mark in the event's recording. I invite you to watch it and join the ongoing conversation about how we can responsibly enhance outdoor accessibility without compromising the very essence of nature that draws us to it…
The Challenge of Outdoor Accessibility: Transcript
Hi everyone! I'm very grateful to be here today. I want to share something from my heart that questions accessibility in the outdoors in a unique way. I’d like to try something a little different to start - so I’d like to ask everyone to please close your eyes.
Now, imagine you're standing on a rocky surface under the strong sun, looking up at Cayambe, a glacier-covered volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. Suddenly, a condor casts a large shadow as it flies above you, curious and majestic. The cool breeze refreshes you as the high altitude slows your breathing. You're about to go back to your tent for an early night because a challenging almost 19,000ft summit awaits at dawn.
But now, imagine that peace is disrupted. The same camping spot now blasts loud music, children play soccer on the delicate páramo ecosystem, and trash is scattered across the ground. This once pristine wilderness is now accessible to all; the dirt road has been paved over, and the grounds have been accidentally turned into a public park. The serenity and purity of nature, sacrificed for accessibility… You can open your eyes now.
In Ecuador, our rush to make nature more accessible has ironically led to its degradation. Paved roads replace ancient cobblestone trails, loud music scares the Andean condor away, and the glow of lights obscures the stars. I challenge us to reconsider: Should accessibility cost us the soul of our natural heritage? Instead of modifying nature to suit our convenience, why not keep an adventurous spirit alive - even if it means a longer walk because cars can't reach the hut and camping grounds on Cayambe?
Reflecting on the impacts of tourism, it's essential to recognize that visitors are not drawn to new roads or modern conveniences but to the charm of these old cobblestone paths that tell stories. True connection with nature means feeling the elements - the wind, the cold, the sun - being fully present, spotting native birds, and trying to blend in. It's about embracing the wild challenges that raw, virgin, and remote mountains like those in Ecuador offer to mountaineers, bird watchers, tourists, and runners alike.
Who will want to visit these trashed places? In Ecuador, our development often runs counter to global green trends. Despite economic limitations, there's a push to urbanize previously wild areas, transforming fields and highlands into urban spaces cars can access, leveling hills, and clearing vegetation.
Let’s rethink what accessibility in the outdoors really means. Does making our natural spaces easily reachable by all mean that we have to change them so much that we lose what made them special? How can we ensure that true accessibility respects nature and involves some effort and commitment? Could this approach help preserve the transformative power of experiencing these places? As we look to expand access, let's consider how we can do this responsibly, preserving the very soul of these landscapes for future generations. Let’s start a conversation that challenges easy solutions and promotes deeper, more meaningful engagement with nature.
Thank you!
Special thanks to Andrés Molestina G and Jorge Juan Anhalzer for the inspiration and motivation.