I read with considerable interest the guest column of Will Skelton in the Oct. 24 edition of the News Sentinel, since I and many others worked with Skelton's leadership to accomplish the passage of the 1984 wilderness bill that protected some outstanding wilderness areas in the Cherokee National Forest.
The effort to protect the Upper Bald River, which several of us know quite well, began in the early 1970s. It's a truly magnificent area.
Our effort at that time was to protect the entire Bald River watershed, exclusive of a U.S. Forest Service campground (Holly Flats) and a Forest Service road that bisects the upper and lower Bald River watershed.
The campground is along this road.
This road provides easy vehicular access to the trail heads and the campground of both the upper and lower sections of this watershed.
This gives day-users and overnight campers easy access to both areas for the numerous uses allowed in designated wilderness areas.
We appreciate the recommendations of the U.S. Forest Service to protect additional outstanding wilderness areas in the Cherokee National Forest; but the entire Upper Bald River watershed, the remainder of the lower Bald River watershed, and several additions to existing wilderness areas clearly deserve protection under the provisions of the 1964 Wilderness Act.
In addition to needing the help of Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., we also need the help of Rep. Zach Wamp since the additions to the Little Frog and Big Frog Wilderness Areas are in the 3rd Congressional District.
Ray Payne
Knoxville
