1% for the Backcountry Skiers - Response Needed ASAP!

1% for the Backcountry Skiers
Backcountry.com and Nordic United encourage you to take a couple of minutes to write a letter to the Forest Service in support of leaving in place the 2003 decision that mandated a small percentage (1%) of the Wasatch-Cache Forest non-motorized winter use. (check out the PDF map of the area)

Is this too much to ask of snowmobilers? Apparently not. They have enlisted Representative Rob Bishop and Undersecretary of Agriculture David Tenney (whose record in this sort of thing is not a shining star by any means) to help in reversing the decision that left a small area of the forest for quite winter recreation - perfect for backcountry skiers/snowshoers and ideal for wildlife.

Letters are DUE BY OCTOBER 30th! I sent my letter via e-mail as a word document - which took about 5 minutes.

Please take the time to help preserve non-motorized winter recreation in Logan Canyon.(Northern Utah). For more information, sample letters and talking points and the e-mail address to send your letter please visit Nordic United's website

You can read the Enviornmental Assesment from the Forest Service, just scroll down from the link to Tony Grove - Franklin Basin

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A little history leading to the current issue

The Bear River Range in Northern Utah has been over-run by snowmobiles. The Forest Service spent 5 years conducting analysis and gathering input and in its 2003 revised Forest plan, designated a small area (9,500 acres) for winter non-motorized use. This area is perfect for skiers and snowshoers because it is accessible to trailheads, has a large variety of terrain, and much of it has low avalanche danger. There are also two yurts in the area (since the mid 80's). The Franklin Basin area has been a traditional non-motorized area. Note: this designated area represents about 1% of the 580,000 acres currently open for motorized use the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

In 2003, the Forest Plan was signed into law by Forest Chief Dale Bosworth. Unfortunately, a few of the local snowmobilers enlisted the help of congressman Rob Bishop, who in turn contacted Undersecretary of Agriculture David Tenney. Tenney then commented on this small closure and recommended that the Forest Service reconsider this closure. It is hard to fathom why someone dealing with national issues would concern themselves with the fate of a tiny section in the entire Forest Service plan for the entire Wasatch-Cache National Forest, which covers millions of acres!

The Forest Service is now proposing to re-open a large portion of the designated closure area, giving the reason that snowmobilers need a way out of the bottom of a steep bowl in the event the weather changes or they cannot negotiate the climb back out. In the spirit of compromise, the non-motorized users agreed that "emergency egress" to allow a snowmobile to leave this area in the event of an emergency was appropriate. For the motorized users, however, this was not good enough and the groups pressured the Forest Service to re-open 55% of this area for snowmobile use. If the proposed action is implemented, the snowmobilers' original request of an emergency egress may ultimately result in the drastic reduction and fragmentation of the non-motorized areas.

If this proposal is implemented, all that will remain are two small islands surrounded by motorized areas. The proposal also includes a groomed snowmobile trail through the remaining closed area to facilitate a snowmobile shuttle between parking lots (wouldn't it be nice if the Forest Service would provide shuttle service for skiers and kayakers)!

So why are we asking for your help? THE PROPOSED ACTION IN THE FRANKLIN BASIN AREA OF THE BEAR RIVER RANGE COULD SET A PRECEDENT FOR A STRATEGY SNOWMOBILERS MAY USE TO ATTACK AND OPEN NON-MOTORIZED AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY!

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