Wilderness Commentary

I would like to comment on the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal from a historical perspective.

First, and most obviously, a finite resource cannot be all things to all people. Our unspoiled federal lands may seem vast but a careful look at their historical use suggests otherwise.

Even the Indians occasionally set fires on what are now federal lands to flush out game and open up brushy areas. In the long run, these actions were beneficial, allowing for healthy new plant growth.

Thanks for your Oct., 27 article, "Hidden Gems Supporters Speak Out." The Hidden Gems wilderness proposal is our best hope for preserving our most special lands in Colorado. With oil and gas development threatening even our most special and remove places, we need to take action. Wilderness protection, once granted, can only be removed by an act of Congress. That means there can be no oil drilling, commercial timber harvesting, road building or other damaging activity on our wilderness lands. These places will be protected for the quiet enjoyment of Coloradans for years to come.

Protecting Colorado's natural treasures means protecting our state's identity and its prosperity. At its heart, our wild places are an investment, a savings account that insulates our most valuable resources from everyday impulses. Our landscapes are treasured, not just for aesthetics, but because scientific study tells us the value of conservation. In providing refuge for nature, we provide ourselves a reservoir of recreation, history, philosophy, science, clean air and water, not to mention amazing landscapes.

Choose a wilderness experience, be rewarded with Mother Nature's pristine welcome

As a backcountry enthusiast, I want to make a few more com­ments in support of the Hidden Gems program.

Comments have been pub­lished as to the restrictions the Hidden Gems program would cre­ate for a small number of back­country visitors. Let's take a look at what wilder­ness areas do offer. Many visitors choose to visit the pristine neigh­borhood of a wilderness area for a variety of activities.

I love how the Hidden Gems proposal is becoming all about the economics. Forget the basic idea of saving these beautiful public places for many generations to enjoy in peace, quiet and the original pristine state.

I am new to the Hidden Gems debate, so I decided to attend Wednesday night's meeting at the County Building that was intend­ed to dispel misinformation and provide a public forum for the proposal. Unfortunately for me, I was seated in front of what must have been a group newly released from seventh- grade detention who, among other things, threat­ened to dump garbage and van­dalize the house of the presenter, called her a " b----," booed and behaved boorishly throughout the meeting. How embarrassing for those sincerely in opposition. They lost me.

For me, the decision to support the Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal comes down to a simple equation. Given the explosion of mountain populations, our love of the high country and how quickly we've filled the valleys and ridges with our homes and roads, add how urgent the needs of gas, oil and mining interests become, then how much of our original ecosystem do we want to have left for our great-great-grandkids in a 100 years.

After all that's why we moved here. Wild Beauty is what we base our economy on.

The Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal is not about bikers. It's not about hikers, motorized users or horseback riders either. It's about the land. It's about the creatures that inhabit the land, their only option. Many of the Hidden Gems are excellent wildlife habitat. Let's give the wildlife some space of its own.

I attended the open house on Hidden Gems Wednesday evening, and found the behavior of most wilderness opponents extremely appalling. I hope the county commissioners realize that while the opponents in the room are certainly loud, they are not the majority. These people were saying that there's "already enough wilderness." They're clearly speaking only for themselves. We are all lucky to have such great "backyards" with easy access to beautiful public land, but it doesn't exist just for us.

A decade ago, no one would have predicted that a taxidermist, a rancher, a small-town attorney, a farmer, a teacher, an outfitter and many others would be working together to protect the Rocky Mountain Front.

It has been a lot of work but we've managed to put together a wholly made-in-Montana solution - a vision that looks after one of the most premier landscapes and the people that work and play here. After three years we've built a proposal that we believe Montanans can support.