I live in a national forest in the Ozarks. I read about the trappers and explorers and weep, thinking what I have missed by being born two hundred years too late.
You could pull fish out of the water with your bare hands
On the other hand, you're a lot less likely to die of a minor cut or tooth ache
Just curious--what did your national forest look like 200 years ago? In many cases, we are on 2nd or 3rd growth forests in the eastern part of the US, with much of it clear cut multiple times.
Likely all but untouched. 200 years ago Missouri was still wild. Where my land is has been clear cut. But about 10 miles up the road is a portion of the forest that they claim has never been logged.