New Bill Threatens Cherished West Virginia Singletrack

Action Alert

For Immediate Release
02-13-08
Contact: Drew Vankat; Policy Analyst
drew@imba.com
303-545-9011

West Virginia mountain bikers need your support to preserve singletrack in the popular Dolly Sods North area of the Monongahela National Forest. At risk are more than 20 miles of cherished trails bicyclists have ridden since the early 1980s. The West Virginia Mountain Bike Association has performed trail maintenance in Dolly Sods North for 15 years and the area has hosted numerous cycling events.

Dolly Sods North is one of seven areas in a recently released Wilderness bill, but was not recommended for this designation by the Forest Service. Much of the area is already permanently protected as a National Scenic Area, which allows bicycling to continue. Mountain bikers highly value the solitude, serenity and challenge provided by Dolly Sods North singletrack, and support extending the National Scenic Area designation to encompass the entire area.

Take Action!

Tell Representative Mollohan that you value bike-friendly protection for Dolly Sods North.

Additional Information

• Prohibiting bicycling in Dolly Sods North would block access to and from Timberline Resort, Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge, Canaan Valley State Park, Forest Service Road #19 and adjoining trails in the Monongahela National Forest.
• The local economy of Canaan Valley, Davis and Tucker County, West Virginia highly benefits from mountain bike-related revenue. An expanded National Scenic Area designation would protect this recreation-based economy.
• Much of Dolly Sods North is protected by Congress as a National Scenic Area that prohibits resource extraction but allows bicycling, special events and efficient, mechanized trail maintenance. This designation should be extended to the rest of Dolly Sods North.
• The vast majority of tourism related businesses in Tucker County support keeping the trails in Dolly Sods North open to bicycles, special events and trail maintenance.