Email From: Montana Wilderness Association
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Hello all
Thanks again for the thoughtful and —hopefully— productive evening.
Here again is the (complete) 4 –pt landscape approach for Continental Divide corridor between Yellowstone and Raynolds Pass, as suggested Monday at Gallatin Valley Bike Club seminar:
1. South Plateau Trails/ Rail-Trail: Support vision of West Yellowstone cyclists to create system of quiet summer trails connecting the community of West Yellowstone to 28 miles of Continental Divide Trail between Targhee Pass and Yellowstone National Park, including conversion of the historic Union Pacific Rail Line along South Fork Madison River into a bike-hike trail. (no change needed in GNF travel plan-winter or summer/ high potential for state and federal trail funds and assistance)
2. U. S. Forest Service Recommended Wilderness (Gallatin/ Caribou-Targhee NF) Support the U S Forest Service Recommended Wilderness as two wilderness areas linked by a single-track year round non-motorized trail (Mile Creek-CDNST) open to bicycles, foot and stock travel but motorfree. (requires either amended forest & travel plans and/or legislation)
3. Continental Divide National Scenic Trail-50 miles –YNP to Raynold’s Pass – Support CDT as quiet trail open to bicycles, foot and horseback travel ONLY.
(Non-motorized use consistent with national CDT direction –requires more stakeholder discussion and buy-in, including BCH and CDTA)
4. Conservation Partnership: IMBA, MWA, TWS, MMBA and GYC agree to actively support this as a landscape approach to conserve Continental Divide wildlife corridor adjoining Yellowstone National Park.
No #1 South Plateau Trails/ Rail-Trail is the exciting vision and priority of West Yellowstone mountain bikers and business. This vision is designed to work within the existing travel plans, by identifying new single track and reconstructing historic Union Pacific Railroad bed, stream crossings and infrastructure necessary to sustain bike-hike travel. The system would be designed to connect West Yellowstone by trails to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail along MT-ID border —thus creating new single track “loop” opportunities including CDNST between Targhee Pass and Yellowstone NP where the trail enters NPS recommended wilderness and reverts to traditional foot and stock travel )
It will require NEPA analysis of effects to be fundable. Rick Potts of NPS told me last month in Missoula that the National Park Service has resources than can help actualize this dream of summer single track adjoining YNP. This may be enhanced by cool historic nature of the old Union Pacific Rail road bed — ie this line was built as a spur of the Salt Lake-Butte UP line to carry passengers to Yellowstone National Park in 1905. The USFS subsequently deeded national forest lands to create the town of West Yellowstone where the first hotels and tourism facilities were created. (Stop by museum in west -right across street from Free Heel and Wheel)
The CDNST between Targhee Pass and Yellowstone —when completed— will cover @ 28 miles –some of which is brand new single track with additional sections slated for new (single track) construction up to Reas Pass. All new or rebuilt CDT segments are single-track non-motorized.
When complete the combined “system” of CDNST and connecting single track trails and rail-trail may likely include approximately 50- 56 miles of summer single track—depending on resulting analysis of effects re griz habitat.
Low trail density and design that reduces likelihood of “surprise” encounters with bears are likely to be important trail design features.
For the wilds of Montana
John Gatchell
Conservation Director
Montana Wilderness Association
30 South Ewing, Helena, MT 59601
Tel: (406) 443-7350, ext. 106
50 Years and Keeping it Wild
Since 1958, the Montana Wilderness Association has been dedicated to the protection of Montana’s wilderness heritage, quiet beauty, and outdoor traditions, now and for future generations.
//////////////////////////////////////////////
Hello all
Thanks again for the thoughtful and —hopefully— productive evening.
Here again is the (complete) 4 –pt landscape approach for Continental Divide corridor between Yellowstone and Raynolds Pass, as suggested Monday at Gallatin Valley Bike Club seminar:
1. South Plateau Trails/ Rail-Trail: Support vision of West Yellowstone cyclists to create system of quiet summer trails connecting the community of West Yellowstone to 28 miles of Continental Divide Trail between Targhee Pass and Yellowstone National Park, including conversion of the historic Union Pacific Rail Line along South Fork Madison River into a bike-hike trail. (no change needed in GNF travel plan-winter or summer/ high potential for state and federal trail funds and assistance)
2. U. S. Forest Service Recommended Wilderness (Gallatin/ Caribou-Targhee NF) Support the U S Forest Service Recommended Wilderness as two wilderness areas linked by a single-track year round non-motorized trail (Mile Creek-CDNST) open to bicycles, foot and stock travel but motorfree. (requires either amended forest & travel plans and/or legislation)
3. Continental Divide National Scenic Trail-50 miles –YNP to Raynold’s Pass – Support CDT as quiet trail open to bicycles, foot and horseback travel ONLY.
(Non-motorized use consistent with national CDT direction –requires more stakeholder discussion and buy-in, including BCH and CDTA)
4. Conservation Partnership: IMBA, MWA, TWS, MMBA and GYC agree to actively support this as a landscape approach to conserve Continental Divide wildlife corridor adjoining Yellowstone National Park.
No #1 South Plateau Trails/ Rail-Trail is the exciting vision and priority of West Yellowstone mountain bikers and business. This vision is designed to work within the existing travel plans, by identifying new single track and reconstructing historic Union Pacific Railroad bed, stream crossings and infrastructure necessary to sustain bike-hike travel. The system would be designed to connect West Yellowstone by trails to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail along MT-ID border —thus creating new single track “loop” opportunities including CDNST between Targhee Pass and Yellowstone NP where the trail enters NPS recommended wilderness and reverts to traditional foot and stock travel )
It will require NEPA analysis of effects to be fundable. Rick Potts of NPS told me last month in Missoula that the National Park Service has resources than can help actualize this dream of summer single track adjoining YNP. This may be enhanced by cool historic nature of the old Union Pacific Rail road bed — ie this line was built as a spur of the Salt Lake-Butte UP line to carry passengers to Yellowstone National Park in 1905. The USFS subsequently deeded national forest lands to create the town of West Yellowstone where the first hotels and tourism facilities were created. (Stop by museum in west -right across street from Free Heel and Wheel)
The CDNST between Targhee Pass and Yellowstone —when completed— will cover @ 28 miles –some of which is brand new single track with additional sections slated for new (single track) construction up to Reas Pass. All new or rebuilt CDT segments are single-track non-motorized.
When complete the combined “system” of CDNST and connecting single track trails and rail-trail may likely include approximately 50- 56 miles of summer single track—depending on resulting analysis of effects re griz habitat.
Low trail density and design that reduces likelihood of “surprise” encounters with bears are likely to be important trail design features.
For the wilds of Montana
John Gatchell
Conservation Director
Montana Wilderness Association
30 South Ewing, Helena, MT 59601
Tel: (406) 443-7350, ext. 106
50 Years and Keeping it Wild
Since 1958, the Montana Wilderness Association has been dedicated to the protection of Montana’s wilderness heritage, quiet beauty, and outdoor traditions, now and for future generations.
