Wilderness News

During the first week of October, the nation was captivated by Ken Burns' most recent examination of American history and culture. His series, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea: is a powerful chronicle of our unique national legacy of protecting our most precious landscapes, and a call to future generations to carry on this work.

Here in Oregon, we have only one national park -- and it is known the world over. Crater Lake is an Oregon icon. It is the deepest lake in North America and one of the purest bodies of water on Earth.

A bid by New Mexico's two U.S. senators to protect the Organ Mountains and other scenic areas in Southern New Mexico could help El Paso, too.

If approved, it would preserve thousands of acres that are an easy day trip from El Paso and could create new opportunities for hiking, proponents said.

Mayor John Cook wants the City Council to support a bill introduced in Congress last month by Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall by passing a resolution Tuesday.

Thirty-five years ago, I was a young physician with the opportunity to practice in one of many different areas of the country. As a young boy growing up on a farm in Kansas, I was awestruck by the wild mountain country of Colorado, first encountered during a family vacation.

Through many years of education and professional training I retained the dream of someday living close to wild country. Great Falls was the size community that my wife and I desired and it was close to the most magnificent landscape I had ever seen.

Although I love all types of outdoor recreation (including ATV and snowmobile trips), I also understand the need to preserve some of the scant roadless areas that Colorado has left. Wilderness areas maintain biological diversity, improve air and water quality, and provide measurable economic benefits. That is why I support the Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal.

To the Eagle County Commission­ers: My husband and I have just had the privilege of spending two long fall days in the wilderness. We urge you to support the preservation of the Hid­den Gems as the value of wild land is beyond measure. During our long day hikes deep into the mountains, we encountered magnificent terrain and abundant wildlife, but these creatures need room, and humans are increas­ing pressure. We need to ensure that civilization and industry do not encroach into these last remaining, uniquely American wild places.

Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal calls for saving the last best places in the White River National Forest

It is hardly surprising for an agency that believes its primary purpose is resource extraction to unilaterally declare that the Hid­den Gems wilderness campaign calls for too much wilderness ( Vail Daily, Oct. 5). The Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal calls for saving the last best places in the White River National Forest and adjoining Bureau of Land Management lands for our mutual future.

It's not about you

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.

Last Saturday, we attended a public meeting in Troy where Sen. Tester outlined and explained his Forest Jobs and Recreation Act.

He did a very good job presenting his bill, so everyone could understand what it is all about. The vast majority in the crowd agreed that we need jobs on our forest for local people. This bill was crafted by a diverse group of people representing all of us.

With this bill we get jobs, access for recreation and wilderness protection on Roderick Mountain - a definite win for Lincoln County.

Thank you again, Sen. Tester.

Representatives of the Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign said Tuesday that the proposal to protect 400,000 acres of the White River National Forest will not adversely affect military flight training currently conducted in Colorado.

The High-Altitude Army Aviation Training Site program currently uses mountainous sections of Eagle County and the Flat Tops to train helicopter pilots for the war in Afghanistan. The terrain and altitude at the HAATS is similar to that of Afghanistan.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved wild and scenic river designation for Illabot Creek, a 14-mile-long tributary of the Skagit River and important spawning area for Chinook salmon and wild steelhead.

The legislation goes on to the Senate, where it is being sponsored and pushed by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.