A
backcountry area in general terms is a geographical region that is:
- isolated
- remote
- undeveloped
- difficult to access
The term may apply to various regions that are reasonably close to urban areas but are:
- not immediately accessible by road
- at relatively high altitude
- not frequented by human visitors
- limited to human-powered visitors
While the term "backcountry" is roughly comparable to the term
"wilderness"Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
, they are not necessarily equivalent.
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A
backcountry area in general terms is a geographical region that is:
- isolated
- remote
- undeveloped
- difficult to access
The term may apply to various regions that are reasonably close to urban areas but are:
- not immediately accessible by road
- at relatively high altitude
- not frequented by human visitors
- limited to human-powered visitors
While the term "backcountry" is roughly comparable to the term
"wilderness"Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
, they are not necessarily equivalent. "Wilderness" implies more the
condition whereas "backcountry" implies more the
position. Backcountry is similar to
hinterlandThe hinterland is the land or district behind the borders of a coast or river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast...
.
There is some debate about the accessibility of people by means other than human power. While wilderness is a state of mind that implies pristine and untouched landscapes, backcountry serves as areas of land explored exclusively by human power. Wilderness exists in many places, including the backcountry.
A more famous,
AustralianAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
term is
"outbackThe Outback is the remote arid areas of Australia, although the term colloquially can refer to any lands outside of the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas deemed "the bush".-Overview:The outback is...
".
See also
- Potability of backcountry water
Diarrhea that is caused by pathogens that were acquired in the wilderness is sometimes called wilderness-acquired diarrhea , wilderness diarrhea , or backcountry diarrhea, and is a much-discussed hazard among backpackers, hikers, campers and other outdoor recreationalists who visit remote areas...
- Backcountry skiing
Backcountry skiing is skiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes or pistes, including skiing in unmarked or unpatrolled areas either within the ski resort's boundaries or in the backcountry, frequently amongst trees , usually in pursuit of fresh fallen snow,...
- Backcountry snowboarding
Backcountry snowboarding is snowboarding in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes or pistes in the backcountry, frequently amongst trees , usually in pursuit of fresh fallen snow, known as powder. Often, the land and the snow pack are not monitored, patrolled, or...
- Backcountry.com
Backcountry.com is an online retailer that specializes in high-end outdoor recreation gear for skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, trekking, trail running, snowshoeing, and cycling...
- Backcountry hut
Backcountry huts are huts that serve overnight hiking and trekking needs and can be found in many places in the world.-New Zealand:New Zealand has a network of approximately 950 backcountry huts...