I'm gonna need some help on my local trail.

[MT4Runner]

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articl...ountain/29429/

http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/...nt?oid=1669892

We've been working on this project with the FS for 6 or 7 years, and the final EIS came out earlier this summer with quite a few compromises in it.

The District Ranger published his Record of Decision and now some people are protesting it.

[Bebe]

Wow, just from the article it looks like the whiny guy has Wildlands CPR's attention, citing "possible litigation".

She said the increased popularity on Blacktail has degraded the land, harmed the wildlife and even led to lawlessness.

Does she have any proof? Or is it just her opinion. Just because people knock over the local 7-11 doesn't mean we should close them all down.

“People come up there and do their drugs and they leave their garbage and we’re just sick of it,” she said. “We’re sick to death of it.”

Big deal - so are we, but guess what, we still get a group together and go pick it up..don't we?

Do a search on this "Leslie Gray"...she's a trans-plant from CA I'll bet.

Gawd these people need to be called on the Bull $H!T

[MT4Runner]

Actually, the area is cleaner than it's ever been.

The FS did throw us a huge bone in letting us develop the trail. 3 local clubs have adopted it (actually, our predecessors worked with the FS in '72 to make the original trail a National Recreation Trail) and we pick up trash every time we go out--but there isn't really much trash. People like having a legal place to wheel, and they take care of it.

Trail's been around for 40 years. She's been around for 20. Trail has been in wider use the past 5.

Shooting/dumping trash occurs more at the gated/kelly-humped roads in the area and NOT on the open OHV trails. We pick up trash there, too...and dig through it for names/receipts to turn over to the FS LEO's.

She just bitches about it.

Big deal - so are we, but guess what, we still get a group together and go pick it up..don't we?

Better yet: "So are we, but we get together a couple of times a year to go pick it up. Do you?"

Do a search on this "Leslie Gray"...she's a trans-plant from CA I'll bet.

Probably, but you're not helping things when the inevitable "Californians are ruining my state" arguments pop up!

[2manyprojects]

Posted a few notes on each. "Welcome to Montana, park your vehical at the border and walk in, except for me." god this gets old.

[2manyprojects]

For the record, I've been recreating there for the last 30 years. I've seen more moose and deer in the last 5 than the first 25 combined. Go figure.

[MT4Runner]

Lots of moose!

[MT4Runner]

GREAT post on the Independent page:

Originally Posted by Sharetheforest

It's sad to see yet another attempt to close off the woods and keep people out. Having read the proposal, this actually seems to be a win win for everyone involved. Having more trail for OHV use will actually reduce the illegal trails. This is a proven fact. Give people a challenging trail system that is enjoyable and they will stay on the trail. Having a sustainable trail that is properly designed and maintained will control erosion and rutting. Having dedicated OHV clubs to help build maintain and assist with user education will help keep people where they should be. This plan also calls for the designation of a hiking trail. Something locals have wanted for quite some time. This is a perfect example of how the forest can be shared with all users to enjoy.

Instead of embracing this plan though, it seems as if some have instead chose to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead of asking how the dust issues that Leslie Gray experiences can be dealt with as part of the plan, instead the reaction is to oppose the entire plan. Opposing the entire plan does nothing... The dust will still fly, the hiking trail wont be dedicated to quiet recreation, and the illegal use that people are complaining about will likely continue to occur. Instead of looking at this plan, voicing legitimate concerns and then asking how can these concerns be addressed through this plan, instead the reaction has been to oppose the entire plan and threaten to sue.

In a time when we all should be figuring out how to get along and come together as a community, the actions being taken here by Leslie Gray and Adam Rissien is instead a very divisive. Is there really no way we can all share the forest? Is the only good option to instead sue? Would it not be better to see how this plan can address the needs of all? Is it really better to instead just have this plan address the needs of Leslie Gray and her 12 friends vs all who enjoy the forest?

[Jhalleau]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

GREAT post on the Independent page:

Your welcome, hope it helps.

[2manyprojects]

Well said. I really wonder how much Blacktail road traffic is OHV. Most people I know enter and leave from the Wild Bill side, never touching the Blacktail road.

[Soup Man]

Commented - but good luck, the story reads as a sob story for Leslie - a statement of fact will not win there, a statement of feelings, and rights will.

Good luck

[MT4Runner]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the comments.

The real fight will (hopefully not) occur if the District Ranger re-opens the decision.

[chicago]

The comments are great!
Good luck w/ the battle up there!!!

K

[MTMudpuppy]

Originally Posted by 2manyprojects

Well said. I really wonder how much Blacktail road traffic is OHV. Most people I know enter and leave from the Wild Bill side, never touching the Blacktail road.

I agree. Its not very often we go out the Blacktail side. I didn't read any of her rants but is that the side she lives on? She must be going out of her mind during the ski season with all the traffic.

[MT4Runner]

I'm guessing that Missoula and out-of-town traffic goes up the Blacktail side.

We used to run up the Blacktail side all the time in '05-ish, until the OHV side started getting developed. Probably the same reason most Kalispell people use the Kila access, too.

The Skyliners mostly use the Lake Mary Ronan access.

[blakeape]

Thanks for the heads up Shawn, If there is more I can do let me know. I'll try and make a few comments on the Beacon and Independent forums later tonight.

[MT4Runner]

All,

As you probably have heard, the Island Unit Trail System Additions Project was appealed. After negotiations with the appellants, they have withdrawn their appeal and we can move forward with implementation of the project! I personally have been working toward this goal for six years and am overjoyed to get to this point! From the early days of the project working with the Skyliner’s to its growth to include the Big Sky Four Wheelers, the Foy’s To Blacktail Trails group, and Lakeside Trail group, this has been a great collaborative effort.

The contributions of you volunteers in both the motorized and non-motorized trail user community have been critical to reaching this point in the project. In particular Rob St. Clair, Mike Hines, Shawn Baker, Steve Settle, Cliff Kipp, Bob Hermes, and Jim Watson, your efforts and dedication have made this come to fruition. But now, the real important work begins. Together you must work to build and maintain these trails, to keep up the great work that has gone into the Blacktail Wild Bill Trail, to stop the stupid and irresponsible off-trail and closed route use that goes on up on Blacktail, to educate fellow trail users on safe and responsible trail practices, and make this trail system one of the best in Montana and the northern Rockies!

This will be all the more important in light of the agreements we have made to get this appeal withdrawn. First, we agreed to drop a portion of the lowest elevation motorized trail and connector on Kerr Mountain. This segment, detailed on the attached map, is close to private lands and residences and was a great concern to the property owners there. While this reduces the total miles of motorized trails by a few miles, it got the appeal withdrawn. With their agreement to withdraw the appeal, the appellants no longer have legal standing to litigate the project, meaning no more barriers to implementation.

We made the following other agreements with the appellants, which are all largely things we would be doing anyway:
• To work collaboratively with all interested parties during implementation, monitoring and management of the project. The Forest Service retains final decision authority, this just means that we will all work together to ensure the project comes together as we intended – always a good practice anyway.
• We will phase implementation of the motorized trails portion, starting in the Truman Creek drainage, to prove that together we can successfully do this work and manage these trails, before we move to implement the Kerr Mountain Trails.
• That together we will work hard to stop the illegal activities that go one in the Island Unit by increasing our law enforcement capabilities. A key component to this in my mind is having such great partners as you all out there using peer pressure and education to stop people from doing the stupid things they do.
• We also are going to work with interested parties to look for options to dust abate portions of the Blacktail Radar Road.

So, thank you all for your efforts and your dedication to making this decision a reality. Now, comes the fun part, now we can build it, and prove what we have been saying all along – that motorized and non-motorized uses can happily coexist on Blacktail Mountain, that we can build, manage and maintain a high quality trail system and deter unacceptable and illegal uses.

This is also the time for me to share something some of you may have already heard. I will be leaving the Flathead at the end of the month. I have accepted a promotion to be the District Ranger of the LaCroix Ranger District on the Superior National Forest in Minnesota. I will set up my replacement with all the information they need to help you get these trails built. I will miss the Flathead and working with all of you. Your dedication and hard work is a great example to all user groups out there and you should be very proud of what each of your organizations have accomplished and will accomplish with this project.

- Andrew

Andrew K. Johnson
Resource Staff
Swan Lake Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
200 Ranger Station Road - Bigfork, MT 59911
(O) 406-837-7507 (C) 406-260-2956
andrewjohnson@fs.fed.us