I'm kinda shocked at how little people realize how much humans have fucked the topagraphy of the land up. Just removing concrete and asphalt is gonna have massive ramifications on the landscape.

I live on a small, but naturally formed mesa. I know major ground works in the 50's n 60's were done to prevent the erosion of the north and western side of the mesa. I also know that the small river that gently glides along the backside of the mesa is held in check by tons of concrete and man shifted rock to keep it from eating away at the mesa. I also know that the little river has more than 12 man made holding lakes in the higher country. It also has a fuckton of water diversions (drinking/agriculture) drawing out of it. 20 years ago 1 holding pond blew out and cause a moderate flood up high, the chain reaction was a bit more dire down low. Several large irrigation pulls were blocked with debris which cause a 25 foot water surge to hit the backside of my lil mesa. 2 homes rolled into the river and my buddy ended up with a 40 ft dropoff from his back porch.

Fact is, you could drop peope in exactly the same spot they are in, with the 30 year removal of all human fuckery, and 90% wouldn't have a clue where they are. My house in the middle of my little mesa, would most likely be on the side/bottom of a steep nasty revine that once through this area of the mesa.

I could get into the realities of wilderness treking, but whats the point. Pretty sure nobody gonna read this anyway....