The Mt. Democrat ran an article yesterday titled "Designation sought" in regards to Boxer's Wilderness bill. As far as I can tell, it isn't posted online.

Nevertheless, we should still send in letters to the editor exposing what Wilderness is all about.

You can reach the Mt. Democrat at:
http://www.mtdemocrat.com

You can send you letters here:
https://secure.townnews.com/ca/placer/letters/

:D
This was in today's Mt. Democrat:

Editor:

In response to your story on October 20, 2003 “Designation sought”, I would like to express a few concerns in about Senator Boxer’s Wilderness bill.

Senator Boxer's bill would add over 2 million acres to the already existing over 14 million acres (or about 14 % of California) of Wilderness in California. Under a Wilderness Area designation, numerous outdoor recreation enthusiasts would be shut out of some of their favorite places because of new restrictions on off-highway vehicle and mountain bike activities. By closing these public lands to large segments of the public, Senator Boxer would rob many people of opportunities to enjoy the wonders of nature. While able-bodied 30 year-olds would still be allowed to backpack into the wilderness, the elderly and disabled who rely on vehicle access to experience these sites would be excluded.

I am also worried that wilderness designation will produce a greater threat of wildfires spreading out of control. The prohibition of motorized vehicle access severely limits firefighting capabilities and Senator Boxer's approach to this issue is simply unacceptable. Vehicular access to these areas for firefighting purposes should not be discretionary and places a significant risk on rural communities.

Whether it is the young fire fighter who risks her life to protect the forest or the fourth-generation logger struggling to feed his family; whether it is the rancher who depends on grazing his cattle on federal land in the summer or the local motel owner that depends on the flow of snowmobilers in the winter; whether it is the grandfather who takes his grandson on the annual motorcycle adventure in the mountains or the family making its first mountain bike excursion, they would all suffer under Senator Boxer's wilderness bill. Erecting a regulatory barbed wire fence around many of the most cherished areas in the Golden State favors the few, when our public lands are supposed to be open to all.

I urge my fellow Californians to contact your representatives and ask that they oppose any new Wilderness Area designations.

Jon Crowley, Jr.
Shingle Springs, CA