On an AT Facebook group I read a post recommending that people write to the Maine Appalachian Trail Club and ask them to consider putting bridges over the more dangerous water crossings in the 100 mile wilderness. Some of the comments I read were supportive mentioning the safety issue and pointing out that backpackers may have limited time off or a plane to catch by a certain date and therefore not have days to wait out for the water crossing to be safe and thereby potentially encouraging a risky decision. There were also a lot of comments against such a proposal arguing a trail bridge diminishes the wilderness, ie "keep Maine wild". One comment suggested the old AT could act as a high-water route.
I've read trail journals of hikers making "sketchy" crossings over the years in Maine and this post also got me thinking about the NH Whites bridge over the Pemi (not on the AT) that was taken down instead of replaced because it was damaged and in a wilderness area and just the overall philosophical question of do trail bridges belong in the wilderness?
I think I'm in the pro-bridge camp. The trail itself is already a compromise and people who want wilderness can go off trail. A trail allows for more people to access and gain the benefits of the wilderness. If you invite people in with a trail then I would think providing a trail bridge over dangerous water crossings is an appropriate part of the trail. I haven't seen anything in my brief search that indicates that a trail bridge (built without motorized equipment) would be prohibited by The Wilderness Act of 1964. And if you want to be more Maine specific, Baxter State Park has a lot of trail bridges in their wilderness. But I think there could be valid arguments on both side of this debate and I'm genuinely curious for the consensus opinion of whiteblaze! Other pros and cons of putting in a trail bridge that I'm not thinking of?
https://www.nhpr.org/north-country/2...the-wilderness
https://www.justice.gov/enrd/wilderness-act-1964