"The Wilderness Act has given individuals great places to see and visit," said Peter Metcalf, a member of the governor's task force and president of Black Diamond, a Utah manufacturer of outdoor equipment. "Our economic base depends on it."

Metcalf was singled out Sunday night for forcing a broader discussion about Utah wilderness, in particular his opposition to a deal cut between former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and Interior Secretary Gale Norton that removed some interim protections for proposed wilderness areas on BLM lands.

Wilderness designation has become a political hot potato in recent years, especially in light of the Bush administration's push for more oil and gas development on public lands. Many of those leases have been issued in Utah in areas near and dear to the hearts of wilderness advocates.

That reality cast a pall over the festivities, even though the participants did their best to celebrate.

"Tonight we are above politics," Williams said. "Tonight is a night to celebrate. Without wilderness we will lose our humanity."

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E-mail: donna@desnews.com