85 Miles of Idaho Singletrack Could Be Closed
Contact Congressman Simpson Today!
For Immediate Release
06-22-04
Contact: Jenn Dice or Gary Sprung
or
303-545-9011
IMBA is calling on all mountain bicyclists in Idaho to get involved in pending Wilderness discussions being considered for the Boulder-White Cloud region of Central Idaho. U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson is hosting public meetings next week (July 1 and 2) to hear feedback on his proposal to name an additional 250,000 to 300,000 acres of Wilderness in Central Idaho. Bicycle use is categorically prohibited in Wilderness areas. While IMBA supports protecting open space from development, some of the proposed areas contain popular trails that cyclists have ridden for years.
We need mountain bicyclists to attend this meeting to make sure the Congressman and his staff know how important these trails are to cyclists. IMBA believes that Wilderness is only one tool to protect the land and proposes Protection Areas and National Conservation Areas as alternatives that protect the land but allow for bike access.
Idaho cyclists project that the Boulder-White Clouds proposal would close approximately 85 miles of singletrack trail. Popular trails such as the 4th of July Trail and the Warms Springs Trail would be closed to cyclists.
What Can You Do:
1) ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS (July 1-2)
2) WRITE A LETTER/ MAKE A PHONE CALL
3) VOLUNTEER TO HELP IMBA
4) RIDE TRAILS THAT COULD BE LOST - IDAHO DREAM RIDE SERIES
1) ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS (July 1-2)
It is critical that mountain bicyclists attend this meeting to show how much we care about area trail access. Even if the main focus of the meeting isn't related to recreation, please attend and respectfully mention your concern about trail closures.
- July 1, 9:00-11:00 am, American Legion Hall, 220
Cottonwood, Ketchum (corner of Cottonwood and 2nd Avenue South). The
main focus at this public meeting is the wilderness component of the
proposal.
- July 1, 2:00-4:00 pm, Stanley School, Airport Road (also called
School Road), Stanley. The main focus at this public meeting is the
recreation component of the proposal.
- July 2, 9:00-11:00 am, Challis High School, 1110 Bluff Avenue, Challis. The main focus at this public meeting is the economic development component of proposal.
2) WRITE A LETTER/ MAKE A PHONE CALL
Please write a letter to your elected officials and your local newspaper expressing concern over the potential for trail loss. Some talking points:
- Thank Congressman Simpson for holding public meetings and including stakeholders in land protection process.
- Emphasize that mountain bikers support protecting all of the lands under consideration, but Wilderness is not the only appropriate method. Congress can and has used diverse land protection tools, which can both promote land preservation and allow bicycling. IMBA suggests Protection Areas or National Conservation Areas, boundary adjustments and non-Wilderness corridors.
- Ask Congressman Simpson and other elected officials to protect trails mountain bicyclists have ridden for years with a different classification than Wilderness (that bans bicycles).
- Ask the Congressman Simpson and other Idaho elected officials to work with cyclists to address trail concerns before they introduce legislation. 85 miles of trail closures is at stake!
- Stress the economic benefits of cycling to Custer and Blaine counties - tourism industry, bike shops, bike related industry, touring companies, cyclists who spend money at restaurants, gas stations and hotels. Ketchum is a great example of what mountain bike tourism can do for an area.
- Mention significant trails that will close and any specific information you know about areas in the bill.
- Point out that the scientific impacts of hiking and biking are similar (use IMBA's white paper if needed found at imba.com)
Please write to:
Representative Mike Simpson
C/O Chief of Staff Lindsay Slater
802 W. Bannock, Suite 600
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: 208-334-1953
Fax: 208-334-9533
Email:
For email and additional contact information visit Congressman
Mike Simpson's web site
Representative C.L. Butch Otter
C/O Tana Cory
802 W. Bannock, Ste. 101
Boise, ID 83702
(Ph) 208-336-9831
(Fax) 208-336-9891
For email and additional contact information visit Congressman
D.L. Butch Otter's web site
Senator Larry Craig
C/O Ken Burgess
225 North 9th Street, Suite 530
Boise, ID 83702
(Ph) 208-342-7985
(Fax) 208-343-2458
For email and additional contact information visit Senator
Larry Craig's web site
Senator Mike Crapo
C/O Chief of Staff Layne Bangerter
304 N. 8th St. Room 338
Boise, ID 83702
(Ph) 208-334-1776
(Fax) 208-334-9044
For email and additional contact information visit Senator
Mike Crapo's web site
Letters to the Editor
Please write a letter to the editor. Contact information for your local
newspaper can be found at: http://www.usnpl.com/idnews.html
3) VOLUNTEER TO HELP IMBA
IMBA Representatives
and
need more help,
especially in the Boulder-White Cloud area. If you are willing to get
involved by attending meetings, riding area trails and asking more bike
shops and bike industry to get involved please email them. Additional
information regarding the possible proposal can be found at:
http://www.house.gov/simpson.
Congressman Simpson's staff says maps will be posted June 25.
4) RIDE TRAILS THAT COULD BE LOST - IDAHO DREAM RIDE SERIES
IMBA Representative Chris Cook is organizing the Idaho Dream Ride Series or a series of mountain bike rides featuring singletrack trails that could be lost to Wilderness land classifications. The events are designed to celebrate the spirit of mountain biking and increase awareness of great trails and lands that need protection from development, but not specifically through Wilderness designations that ban bicycle use.
The first four Idaho Dream Rides are July 1-4 and leave at 9:00 am
each day from the group campsite on the banks of the Salmon River right
off ID 75 and 10 miles south of Stanley. The campsite is on Decker
Flats. To register and learn more about each day's ride contact
IMBA Rep Chris Cook at 208-794-7255 or
. All events are free
of charge.
Thank you for your time and for getting involved to help prevent trail closures in Idaho. Please forward this email
Sincerely,
IMBA Idaho Representatives
Chris Cook,
, 208-794-7255
Harley Parsons,
IMBA Staff
Gary Sprung,
Jenn Dice,
International Mountain Bicycling Association
Phone: (303) 545 9011
Fax: (303) 545 9026
LIST OF TRAIL THAT COULD BE LOST:
White Clouds Proposed Wilderness Area Expansion
- Fourth of July Lake Trail - USFS #109 (Approx. miles 2)
- Warm Springs Creek through The Meadows USFS # 671 & 674 (Approx. miles 21)
- Ants Basin USFS # 219 (Approx. miles 2)
- Chamberlin Basin to Little Boulder Creek USFS #047 (Approx. miles 7)
- Chamberlin Creek USFS #110 (Approx. miles 3)
- Little Boulder Chain Lakes USFS #683 (Approx. miles 3)
- Iron Basin / Upper Slate Creek USFS #674 - 6
- Upper Big Boulder Creek USFS #680, 601 and 806 - 5
- Wickup Creek USFS #684 - 7
- Garland Creek USFS #672 - 6
Boulder Proposed Wilderness Area Expansion
- West Fork of East Fork of Salmon River USFS #112 - 9
- South Fork of East Fork of Salmon River USFS #113 - 7
- Bowery Creek USFS #116 - 6
- West Pass Creek USFS #115 - 4
- East Pass Creek/Hunter Creek USFS #244 & 188 - 16
- Sheep Creek - 3
- Pine Creek USFS #095 & 186 - 4
- Pine Creek ‚ McDonald Creek connector USFS #186 - 4
- McDonald Creek to Taylor Creek USFS #187 - 8
- Fox Creek - 4
- Sagebrush Creek USFS #189 - 4
- West Fork of Trail Creek USFS #126 - 7
- Murdock Creek USFS #210 - 3
- East Fork of Herd Creek USFS #051 - 6
Total Miles: 85 miles of singletrack trails.
