Coordinates for Surveyor, HooDoo, Crooked Fork sledding closures.

[Wade]

Here: This explains what I'm talking about RWA's very clearly.

http://www.atvsource.com/articles/a...mments_unlawful_defacto_wilderness_policy.htm

 

[Wade]

Here's another.

http://www.sharetrails.org/defacto_wilderness/

 

[Wade]

I'd like to understand why we can't choose A. I mean I know they won't choose A cuz they're sposed to go by the recommendations, which don't fit with A as an option, but what if we all want A, can they compromise with B because they want C or D? Instead of us all saying we want B so they compromise with C because they want D? No wonder Stan said he didn't understand B. It's all political mumbo jumbo.

Recommended Wilderness means, if I remember right, that we can't sled on it because, even though it's not technically Wilderness (Congress has to pass a bill for it to be wilderness), it's "in the study period." So I bet the RW area is basically lost to sledders if we choose to "retain" RW (except for management area B2 -wherever that is)

Loop trail sounds like no off trail, just stay on the trail that goes in a loop, right?

Hey Johnny!

You ever wonder why so many ex forest managers go work for Environmental groups; after they retire? It's a perfectly legal way to bribe someone to do something for you.

You ever get the feeling forest managers have marching orders to close forest, no matter what? You ever see anything bigger than 10,000 acres opened?

You ever get the feeling, what forest managers really want to hear from the public; is nothing? Maybe a "your doing a great job there."

That's the way I see it, in some forests, not all, but some.

 

[Wade]

OK, found the 2005 Recommended Wilderness Area (RWA) map. According to the map legend, the little pine tree denote RWA.

http://www.fs.fed.us/cnpz/forest/maps/rdless/1.6.04_clw_roadless.pdf

 

[Wade]

OK, found the language in the Clearwater National Forest's own DEIS document, about Recommended Wilderness Areas. Sorry about beating this horse through 4 life spans, but this RWA rumor bugs the krap out of me.

C8. What is Forest Plan Recommended Wilderness and why would motorized and mechanized travel be prohibited in these areas under the proposed action?

The 1976 National Forest Management Act required that land and resource management plans or "forest plans" be developed for each of the National Forests. As part of the planning process, forest plans were required to evaluate roadless areas and consider them for recommendation as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Sixteen roadless areas on the Clearwater NF were evaluated against a specified set of wilderness characteristics. Areas that best met these characteristics were recommended for designation as Wilderness in the 1987 Clearwater National Forest Plan. These areas included parts of the Mallard Larkins, Hoodoo (Great Burn) roadless areas and parts of several other roadless areas adjacent to the existing Selway Bitterroot Wilderness.

Congress holds the authority to actually designate areas as Wilderness. It is the Forest Service's responsibility to both recommend areas to Congress and to retain the characteristics that led to those recommendations until Congress considers them and makes a decision. Established and widespread non-conforming uses like motorized and / or mechanized travel are commonly raised by Wilderness opponents as reasons why certain areas should not be considered for Wilderness designation. Since motorized / mechanized travel is growing in these areas, the Forest is now proposing to prohibit these uses (except on certain travel corridors that include the Fish Lake trail and the Elk Summit road that would be defined through an amendment to the Forest Plan). The intent of this proposal is to avoid compromising the potential for Wilderness designation in these, the areas with the best wilderness characteristics on the Clearwater NF. (1/15/08)

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/Projects/TravPlan/FAQ.htm

First question that comes to mind. Where's the freaking data that proves "motorized / mechanized travel is growing in these areas". Hard to fight wilderness group rumors.