Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Mellon. Senator McClure, I testify today in support of sub stantial additions to our national wilderness system and the Idaho wilderness areas that are under study here. With the exception of the birth of my son in 1979, the most ex hilarating, rewarding, and satisfying times of my last 10 years of my life have been spent in the wilderness and roadless areas of Idaho, many of those being studied today for eventual inclusion or some other thing. I know that there are many that share my interests because I have seen the back country used and the pressure on the back country use increased exponentially in the last decade. In any bill dealing with Idaho's roadless areas, I strongly urge consideration of the endangered wilderness core, and in addition, five specific areas which I have backpacked and hiked and with which I'm thoroughly acquainted: The Smoky Mountains, the Pio neer Mountains, Borah Peak Lost River Range area, Steel Moun tain, and the Trinity Lakes area. It is often said that beyond Alaska Idaho has the largest wilder ness in America. To me, this is a source of pride and reflects the outstanding quality and diversity of our natural environment, to gether with the love and concern of Idaho citizens for the preserva tion of that environment. It's also a testament to the wisdom and courage for men like Ted Trueblood, Cecil Andrus, Dr. Walt Blackadar who had the courage to question the Chicken Little arguments of the extractive industries and the wisdom to consider values other than the al mighty dollar. I ask that a strong, broad wilderness bill eventually following imput from Idaho's conservation organizations be introduced in Congress and supported until its final passage. Thank you.