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Support the Forest Service Alternative B for Desolation Wildernessto Keep Area Open for Self-Powered Users



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 2nd 12, 11:40 AM posted to alt.mountain-bike
sms88
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 83
Default Support the Forest Service Alternative B for Desolation Wildernessto Keep Area Open for Self-Powered Users

The Forest Service has proposed that no additional areas be added to
Desolation Wilderness. Designating more areas as wilderness would ban
low-impact activities like mountain biking, while still permitting
high-impact activities like horseback riding.

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20120714/ARCHIVES01/120719935

There's a fundamental problem with the "wilderness" designation, in that
damaging forms of transport (horses) are allowed, but low-impact forms
of transport (bicycling) is banned.

What's needed is a redefinition of "wilderness area." _Only_
self-powered transport should be permitted. No motorized vehicles, no
animals other than perhaps a limited number of pack animals (the NPS
said they want to phase out pack animals in the high country).

Hikers, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers are natural allies for
the protection of wilderness. These activities have all been proven to
have minimal impact on wildlife and on trails. These groups of users
need to come together and promote responsible policies. All the experts
agree that the impact from these activities are minimal, while the
impact from horses, snowmobiles, and motorized off-road vehicles are
significant.

A recent court decision ruled that National Park officials violated the
Wilderness Act by allowing horseback trips in Sequoia National Park
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2012/02/court-rules-sequoia-national-park-officials-violated-wilderness-act-allowing-horse-trips9422.

It's sad that we must spend money to force the park service to adhere to
policies that they themselves have adopted. NPS officials have cited
"the damage resulting from non-native species being brought into parks,
the trail damage, the water pollution, and the conflicts with
self-powered users.

Hiking, biking, and skiing are the only forms of transport that should
be permitted in wilderness areas. Send letters and comments to the
Forest Service and National Park Service, urging that they allow only
self-powered users in wilderness areas.

http://www.fs.fed.us/contactus/
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/contactinformation.htm

Cite the studies that show the relative impacts of different users, i.e.
http://www.uvm.edu/~snrvtdc/trails/ComparingHikingMtnBikingHorseRidingImpacts.pdf.
Two key points (on page 5):

1. Researchers found no evidence that mountain bike impacts to soils,
vegetation and trails were significantly greater than impacts from hikers.

2. Several USA studies report that even low levels of horse use results
in more severe impacts to soils, vegetation and trails than from hikers
or other users.
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  #2  
Old October 3rd 12, 12:50 AM posted to alt.mountain-bike
Mike Vandeman[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,755
Default Support the Forest Service Alternative B for DesolationWilderness to Keep Area Open for Self-Powered Users

On Tuesday, October 2, 2012 3:40:15 AM UTC-7, sms88 wrote:
The Forest Service has proposed that no additional areas be added to Desolation Wilderness. Designating more areas as wilderness would ban low-impact activities like mountain biking, while still permitting high-impact activities like horseback riding. http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20120714/ARCHIVES01/120719935 There's a fundamental problem with the "wilderness" designation, in that damaging forms of transport (horses) are allowed, but low-impact forms of transport (bicycling) is banned. What's needed is a redefinition of "wilderness area." _Only_ self-powered transport should be permitted. No motorized vehicles, no animals other than perhaps a limited number of pack animals (the NPS said they want to phase out pack animals in the high country). Hikers, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers are natural allies for the protection of wilderness. These activities have all been proven to have minimal impact on wildlife and on trails. These groups of users need to come together and promote responsible policies. All the experts agree that the impact from these activities are minimal, while the impact from horses, snowmobiles, and motorized off-road vehicles are significant. A recent court decision ruled that National Park officials violated the Wilderness Act by allowing horseback trips in Sequoia National Park http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2012/02/court-rules-sequoia-national-park-officials-violated-wilderness-act-allowing-horse-trips9422. It's sad that we must spend money to force the park service to adhere to policies that they themselves have adopted. NPS officials have cited "the damage resulting from non-native species being brought into parks, the trail damage, the water pollution, and the conflicts with self-powered users. Hiking, biking, and skiing are the only forms of transport that should be permitted in wilderness areas. Send letters and comments to the Forest Service and National Park Service, urging that they allow only self-powered users in wilderness areas. http://www.fs.fed.us/contactus/ http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/contactinformation.htm Cite the studies that show the relative impacts of different users, i.e. http://www.uvm.edu/~snrvtdc/trails/ComparingHikingMtnBikingHorseRidingImpacts.pdf. Two key points (on page 5): 1. Researchers found no evidence that mountain bike impacts to soils, vegetation and trails were significantly greater than impacts from hikers. 2. Several USA studies report that even low levels of horse use results in more severe impacts to soils, vegetation and trails than from hikers or other users.


BS. The only "studies" that support mountain biking are those done by mountain bikers. It's patently obvious that mountain biking does far more harm than hiking. How many hikers are able to travel over 20 miles in a day? Mountain biking trips over 100 miles aren't that uncommon.
 




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