montana's bitterroot national forest roadless area comment period is ending on feb 29th.

email comments to:
comments-northern-bitterroot@fs.fed.us


************************************************** ******

idaho backcountry roadless area comment period goes until april 7th.

email to:
IDcomments@fsroadless.org.


sample email (whatever your feelings are really, mine go something like: )

Dear Travel Manager,
As an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, I urge you NOT to be swayed by the environmental extremists who want to shut the hard working, tax paying American's that make up this great country out of their own birthright of public land simply because they enjoy motorized recreation. Do not allow extremism to discriminate and villify those Americans who hold ATV, ORV, Snowmobile and mountain bike recreation near and dear to their hearts. We acknowledge the right of non-motorized recreationists such as hikers and backpackers to enjoy nature in their own unique way, but that does not require the elimination of many American families' favorite past time.

I urge you to stop the spread of roadless area and keep motorized recreation in our forests. Why should we be forced to choose between our hobby and our public land?

Thank you
Michael C. Belben

Northeast Toyota Crawlers
East Coast 4 Wheel Drive Association
Blue Ribbon Coalition

the bitterroot has been locked up for years. :mad3: what isnt roadless is closed to public access what isnt paved is gated. We begged for help from 94-98 and the offroad community didnt believe it was as bad as we claimed. Regardless of if the term it roadless area or it stays accessable they have gates across 95% of the roads int eh bitteroor NF and those gates stay locked year round.

I sent in my letter 12 years agor 8 years ago and again for this yet they just put in the massive garbage can full of pro access mail that they dump daily after reading it and then file all the pro-closure messages as relevant.

Dear Travel Manager,

My family and I have been recreating in the Bitterroot for over twenty years. It is sad to see more roads closed with every round of "travel management".

Not all people who recreate in the Forest are hikers. There are mountain bikers, fishermen, hunters, 4x4 enthusiasts, motorcyclists, snomobilers, ATV enthusiasts, birdwatchers, mountain climbers, ice climbers, kayakers, and yes, hikers. Everyone benefits from Forest roads. Even hikers who want to go bag St. Mary's or Trapper Peak will drive to the trailhead at the highest elevation closest to the peak to access the spot in their limited weekend recreating hours.

It is critical that our National Forest remain a Land of Many Uses. If the people who pay taxes on these lands aren't allowed to recreate responsibly--using their access method of choice, they will see less and less value in this land. If they are not allowed to touch these lands, they will see little use in paying taxes on them. Then, we can all vote to turn the land into housing developments, which will be sad.

I urge you NOT to be swayed by the environmental extremists who want to shut the hard working, tax paying American's that make up this great country out of their own birthright of public land simply because they enjoy motorized recreation. Do not allow extremism to discriminate and villify those Americans who hold ATV, ORV, Snowmobile and mountain bike recreation near and dear to their hearts.

We acknowledge the right of non-motorized recreationists such as hikers and backpackers to enjoy nature in their own unique way, but that does not require the elimination of many other American families' favorite pastimes.

I urge you to stop the spread of roadless area and continue to allow responsible motorized recreation in our forests. Why should we be forced to choose between our hobbies and our public land?

Thank you
Shawn W. Baker