Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Matzek. Thank you, Senator McClure, and other partici pants. I was told that experts were especially welcomed here. I am not an expert, except in human values. I am distressed to learn that we are expected now to make a decision for all time about our wil derness. I am getting the feeling that perhaps we are being stam 553 peded by the economic problems that we are facing in Idaho and parts of the Nation, and I would like to recommend that we not make final decision this early in the game about how much wilder ness forever. I am here talking about these issues, because we retired here from Mountain Home Air Force Base. We chose this area, because we were introduced to the Trinities. I would like to speak especial ly about them. They are so accessible to this large population center. We were impressed by the number of folks retired from the air base, and came to reunions at the air base in a couple of years after we did. There were some 250 folks who value the wild parts of Idaho, and they are contributing members to the community. They were folks who were teaching school, who were opening small busi nesses, and employed six to a dozen new employees. They were re claiming desert land, and raising potatoes. We really feel that the value to all folks cannot be underestimat ed. I would like to close by saying that much has been made of the fact that perhaps wilderness is left for the rich, and I would say that the handicapped, us grayhairs, and the poor really can access the wilderness. Backpacking is one of the least expensive sports that one can engage in. Some of us grayhairs are living longer and being healthier, and I think we, too, can appreciate these wild parts of Idaho. I would hope that we would delay the decision, and I would also hope that we go for the maximum amount of wilderness that is compatible with the economic uses we have to consider. I would favor Senator McClure's No. 4.