State By State Analysis of the Bicycling and Wilderness Issue

By Gary Sprung

CALIFORNIA

In June, 2002, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer introduced a bill that would designate another 2.7 million acres of public land in California as Wilderness. This is on top of the 14 million already designated, the second most in America, after Alaska. While IMBA applauded the effort to protect California's wild places, we were disappointed to learn that the bill would eliminate many excellent bicycling opportunities, some of them very popular. Early in the debate, well before the bill was introduced, we suggested to the senator and to the California Wild Heritage Campaign that the lands that conflict with bicycling - about one-third of the areas - could be protected using other designations such as Protection Area and National Conservation Area. They rejected this potential compromise.

IMBA launched a campaign to try to change the proposal to a form bicyclists can support. From the beginning and throughout, we have emphasized that we support protecting ALL of California's wild places - which may amount to another six million acres not yet protected - but America needs to use diverse legal tools. Wilderness is not the only way.

For much more about this, view our California Wilderness Campaign pages.

COLORADO

In the 1990's, cyclists in Colorado have lost some great rides, such as Oh Be Joyful near Crested Butte, Pollack Bench by Fruita, and Woolly Mammoth near Boulder. While the protection of these areas was important, couldn't there have been a better way to do this?

Today Wilderness proponents seek designation of another 1.3 million acres. Most of this is BLM land, with some Forest Service areas. At risk are the fabulous Tabeguache Trail outside Grand Junction, miles of gorgeous, easy singletrack in Troublesome near Winter Park, and interesting motorized trails in Grape Creek near Canon City.

But most of the Colorado proposal does not conflict with bicycling. It's clear that very few cyclists would want to ride up the very steep, very high slopes of Handies and Redcloud Peaks, "Fourteeners" near Lake City. Sewemup Mesa has no trails, pristine cryptogamic soils, and 1,500-foot cliffs surrounding it on three sides. Vermillion Peaks is way out there in extreme northwest Colorado; a haven for cows, maybe, but not bikes.

There is much potential for reaching compromise in Colorado and IMBA has been communicating regularly with the Wilderness community. Some day a grand negotiation will take place. Meanwhile, Coloradoans can write your members of Congress in general terms. Tell them a Deep Creek Wilderness, near Eagle is okay by us because it's a steep canyon with a short trail that ends in a precipitous tangle of scrub oak. But Tabeguache needs a corridor to exclude the trail, and Troublesome should be designated a Protection Area.

OREGON

In 2002, Oregon's Wilderness community floated a proposal for 400,000+ acres of new Wilderness, but it never became a bill. The full extent of their goal is 11 million acres. Early in the process, the Oregon Natural Resources Council approached IMBA for feedback on the smaller proposal and sent us good maps. Our statewide contacts indicated that a handful of the areas were problematic and a number would be okay as Wilderness. But Oregon's mountain bicycling community is not well organized on this issue. If they don't take action, this proposal could become law before we know it. Time to get cracking, folks! Contact IMBA Rep Mark DeJohn, Bend OR, 541-948-0993 or cyclist@bendbroadband.com.

WASHINGTON

This state has many grand Wilderness areas and national parks and a very strong environmental community in Seattle. They have been pushing a "Wild Sky Wilderness" bill for lands near Snoqualmie Pass, east of the city. The Wilderness folks negotiated with Backcountry Bicycling Trails Club (BBTC). A few minor boundary adjustments preserved some bike trails and the bill, now slowly working its way through the Congress, encourages creation of a new bicycling trail system near the proposed Wilderness. BBTC is therefore officially neutral. Washingtonians should write their members of Congress to express appreciation of the spirit of compromise and encourage passage of this bill.

MONTANA

Montana's Wilderness process has been stuck in the mud for decades. It's hard to explain why, given the grandeur and the threats. To be frank, IMBA has done little here and few cyclists have worried. Maybe there is an opportunity to build compromise and consensus in this great state to expand opportunities for preservation. Montanans: Don't bother with your Congress members, yet. Instead, ride the wild places and learn the geography. Talk to fellow cyclists about the issues and take environmentalists for rides! Call IMBA if you have specific geographic or wilderness issue information.

UTAH

The Utah Wilderness Coalition, with Southern Utah Wilderness Association at its core, is very strong. They have thoroughly inventoried the public lands of this great state and found nine million acres they consider worthy of Wilderness designation. That's a whole lot of land and probably much of it is not of much use to bicycling - too sandy, no trails, no access, steep rock. But "probably" is the key word.

In 1998 the Coalition asked IMBA to join, since we do endorse some Wilderness. IMBA held a forum in Park City where people presented many differing points of view. IMBA's board then decided that we do endorse protection of the all the lands in question, some as Wilderness, some using other, diverse designations. But we could not join the Coalition because it only pushes Wilderness and we don't know the details of which proposed Wilderness areas have bicycling opportunities.

Back in those days, the Coalition wanted 5.7 million acres. Their gambit of raising the stakes to nine million has worked. Today, some state political leaders are talking about the "more moderate" goal of three to 5.7. But Wilderness may still be a long way off in Utah. This is one of the more hostile political climates for the noble goal of preservation.

Utahans: Even though the threat to bicycling access may be distant, DEFINITELY write your members of Congress. You never know how things may change, and it can happen quickly. Also, visit the places in the proposal and tell IMBA what you think. Please, we need to inventory the biking opportunities so we can play a constructive, positive role in this long-term debate. Get out there and ride the wilds.

ARIZONA

This state has seen modest success in its Wilderness process. IMBA has not dealt with any proposals in Arizona. We need info. Contact us.

NEW MEXICO

Same as Arizona.

IDAHO

Idaho is a major battleground in the Bicycling/Wilderness debate. The centerpiece proposal for a Boulder/White Clouds Wilderness encompasses an exciting landscape with excellent, amazing, fabulous, sweet singletrack. The Idaho Conservation League says it would be glad to compromise with bicyclists on the millions of acres of other potential Wilderness in the state, but not Boulder/White Clouds. Is this fight worth fighting? Bicyclists opinion on that are diverse. IMBA is seeking a solution that protects the land while preserving the bulk of the riding opportunities.

Judgments about the political possibilities for a Boulder/White Clouds Wilderness range from "It will never happen" to "a deal is in the works." IMBA knows that Representative Mike Simpson is trying to find a way to make something work. He needs to hear from Idaho cyclists. This is urgent. Write him now.

Also in the works is a proposal for large new Wilderness areas in the far southwest corner of Idaho, the Owyhee area. A group of ranchers and environmentalists has been negotiating and bicyclists are not even at that table. Whether or not we will play a real role depends on whether or not we get involved.

Contact IMBA's Idaho Reps:

Harley Parson
Home Phone: 208-389-9043
harleyparson@earthlink.net

Christopher Cook
Home Phone: 208-343-5666
smilycook@yahoo.com

VERMONT

A coalition of environmental groups is developing Wilderness proposals for the Green Mountain National Forest. They have begun to engage the Vermont cycling clubs and New England Mountain Bicycling Association. For decades, most singletrack in the Green Mountain National Forest has been closed to bicycling. But we have our hopes and goals, which include riding in some of the proposed  Wilderness areas. This situation is ripe for compromise. Will Vermont riders step up to the plate?

GEORGIA

In the Chattahoochee National Forest of northern Georgia, a few moderate-sized Wilderness areas have been designated and a couple more could become Wilderness. The Southern Off Road Bicycling Association (SORBA) has supported one of the proposals and opposed the other. Georgia Forest Watch has accused bicyclists of polluting the water as we ride the multiple crossings of Mountaintown Creek, but the real culprit is poor trail design. Sediment will get into that creek even is no one uses that trail. Give us a political solution and bicyclists will fix that route, making it better for everyone.

Compromise has not been in the air in Georgia. Thus far, we're winning. The recently completed Forest Plan for the Chattahoochee does not recommend Wilderness for Mountaintown, but rather an alternative "Backcountry" designation. Congress should follow suit by making that designation a statute.

Georgians: Write your Congress members in support of Wilderness for Kelly Ridge and Protection Area designation for Mountaintown Creek/Pink Knob.

VIRGINA

We saved the best for last. Virginia today is the best hope for an alliance of wilderness advocates and trail cyclists to
create permanent protection for natural lands and singletrack. Organizers with the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition have worked closely with cyclists to try to avoid conflict while preserving the land. Their initial proposals for the Jefferson National Forest and George Washington National Forest may need  some tweaking, but the foundation is solid, offering a real chance for political success. The key is Virginia's tradition of designating not only Wilderness, but also National Scenic Areas.

Virginia riders: A bill for the Jefferson National Forest is imminent. Contact your members of Congress today! Encourage a Wilderness and National Scenic Areas bill that protects all the lands under consideration and meets the needs of hikers, equestrians, AND bicyclists.

OTHER STATES

If your state has federal public lands managed by the US Forest Service, US Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, or US Fish and Wildlife Service, you can be sure that new Wilderness proposals are brewing. Whether or not preservation proposals will harm bicycling is at least partially up to you. Get involved. Learn the lay of the land: physical, biological, political. Contact IMBA to help us spread your knowledge and help you find a way through the process.

Thanks for caring for land and enjoying and promoting bicycling.