Comments on: Backcountry Skiing News Roundup — Sledders and Jumping Slugs

By: Lou

Lou — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:21:42 +0000

Hunter, good point about the ATVs. They really are a problem. I laugh about it, however, as all those years through the late 1960s to the 1980s, environmentalists were worrying about closing areas to those pesky Jeeps, which tended to stay on roads and were much easier to regulate (being bigger, and licensed as vehicles and all). Then the law of unintended consequences hit. Because so many areas were made tough to reach with Jeeps, hunters and others began to favor ATVs and the rush began.

To be fair, ATVs also got popular because they’re fun to ride sometimes. But with better road access in non-wilderness areas, a lot of those people would probably have stayed with using a 4×4. ATVs are no picnic when you’re at 11,000 feet and a thunderstorm hits. My opinion, anyhow…

By: Lou

Lou — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:11:19 +0000

Whew, sounds like we all need to do more skiing or something!

Jess, yeah, it was really really strange that they’d close a railroad corridor that had been in use for almost 100 years (though recently not used), because of wildlife concerns. Really a good example of the weirdness I blogged about. You can bet the guys on that train in the 1800s shot at anything that moved, and look how lush and full of animals that area is now. To close it 5 months of the year to bicycle riders and walkers, thus ruining the non petroleum alternative transport corridor up and down our valley, is simply absurd.

By: Jess Downing

Jess Downing — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:56:08 +0000

I was hiking up to Savage Lakes last weekend and was amazed the amount of damage the trail had from horses. (Well, the part of the trail i could see due to the mass amount of snow still there…) We had to tread carefully not to step in horse ‘leftovers’, and the muddy areas were very torn up. I’ve never seen a bike trail in such horrible condition. Loosing the Thompson Creek area to wilderness, as well as the other ‘gems’ would be a bummer as there are so many ways besides just walking to enjoy our beautiful valley. I’d love to see an agreement between the ‘non-motorized’ users – hikers, horses, mtn bikes and climbers. Why are bikers and climbers the bad guys??

And the biologists tried to close the section of the Rio Grande trail between Catherine Store bridge and Rock Bottom Ranch for more than the 5 or so months its already closed. Obviously a train used to go through there and the animals and river still exist!

By: geoff

geoff — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:21:40 +0000

I don’t know. I know a lot of biologists and none seem to have much power, yet I bet all of them have examples of their work being used, and often misused, by various interests that do. I don’t think it would be accurate to say that we give their opinions that much respect, let alone power.

Absolute truth is a tall order. Best current understanding based on observation and reason alone is more like it. There are plenty of things, like what we should value, that are beyond science. I don’t think you’d find many scientists that would say otherwise.

By: Randonnee

Randonnee — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:21:11 +0000

Even my dog must be licensed, but one may become a “biologist” or “scientist” just by getting a seasonal GS-4 position in the USFS. Yea, we should yield to their expertise..(not).

An example, the spotted-owl studies here in WA 15 years ago spawned many new summer jobs for marginally-employed casual workers suddenly crowned as biologists. Since I did not personally witness it, I can only pass on these individuals’ stories of sleeping at the TH after smoking something rich, then waking up to tally the spotted owl count.

There is legitimate science, but in my opinion there is much suspect information unchecked by USFS.