Forest plan limits extreme biking

On the national scene it seems to me that both parties are determined to turn the next election into a circus with more clowns than tigers and lions. I hope that does not happen on the local scene as the Flathead Forest Plan moves toward adoption—it may well define recreation, development and logging for twenty or thirty years.

Although there are multiple controversial topics to be provided for in the Forest Plan, one of the most contentious is wilderness.

What many folks don’t realize is that the Forest Service is mandated to evaluate and consider for wilderness any tract over a certain size that could qualify for wilderness.

In the last Forest Plan cycle, which thankfully was never adopted, a large wilderness was proposed. It would cover the Trail Creek drainage from the edge of private property to the Whitefish Divide. Likewise the Whale Creek drainage.

When the diverse group called The Whitefish Partnership was formed the goal was to consider the interests of all forest users. That included wilderness, endangered species, motorized recreation, non-motorized recreation and logging. No one would get everything they wanted, but everyone would get something they wanted.

The result was a much smaller wilderness proposal that encompassed only the steep areas and would also protect key habitat for threatened and endangered species (this is necessary by law and not really subject to violation by the Forest Plan. This provided for expansion of many other activities.)

Added were nearly 8,000 acres to the timber base. Old logging roads were designated for brushing out providing dozens of miles of new opportunities for bicyclists and hikers and some opportunities for seasonal openings for woodcutters. Not totally happy with this were the extreme mountain bikers who would be banned from the wilderness, but did get to use all trails south of Red Meadow and signed on with the Whitefish Partnership Proposal.

Extreme mountain biking is relatively new and involves only a few people, but will probably grow in numbers in the near future. They wear body armor and can be seen in the summer riding hell bent for election down the face of Big Mountain. They are not to be confused with ordinary folks riding with mom, pop and the kids. I can’t imagine regular folks riding bikes from Frozen Lake Road to Thoma Lookout and then down to Trail Creek Road. If you ever do this Joe, let me know. I will hike in and take pictures of your leisurely ride down Thoma Mountain.

Certainly mountain biking could become bigger and bigger. They have filed to be allowed into designated wilderness and perhaps they will succeed in my lifetime, but I doubt it.

The Forest Service adopted about 96 percent of The Whitefish Partnership proposal in their preferred alternative. Now we wait any alternatives. In the end, the Forest Service is owned by us all and everyone deserves an equal say—even the hypocrites. What do you think?

Greetings to Warren Whitesell in Pennsylvania?