Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Ms. Pacholke. My name is Carolyn Pacholke. I'm a musician and music teacher from Sandpoint, Idaho. And I would like to make a strong statement in support of setting aside the Selkirk Crest, Long Canyon, Scotchman's Peak, and Salmo-Priest areas for wilderness in north Idaho. I'm especially concerned about Long Canyon just because it is an old growth forest. You know, up here in North Idaho, we're all avid huckleberry pickers. I don't know if you've ever picked huckleberries, but the best place to go pick huckleberries is where the Chairman. You know, every once in awhile somebody makes a statement I have to respond to. I was born in Idaho. I spent all my years here. And you ask me if I've picked huckleberries. Ms. Pacholke. Then you've probably picked huckleberries. But, anyway, we all like to go for the fat juicy ones. The real—the real big ones. And, of course, they're the most fun to pick. They're the easiest and certainly the most cost effective when you're out there picking. And after picking those big ones, who wants to go back to the little tiny ones. We can't think of the trees in Long Canyon as we do huckleber- ries. For one thing, huckleberries will grow back in a year. And they'll be there next year. And you can try again. The trees won't grow back in a year. In fact, an old growth forest won't grow back an old growth. At least not for many, many generations and only if it's left alone. Also, the trees in Long Canyon are not just trees; but they have another factor—another important factor. And that's their wilder- ness—their use as wilderness. These trees might be real fun and easy and cost effective to log. But once they're gone, there won't be any old growth forests left in North Idaho. When this bill is writ- ten, please don't think of Long Canyon and Salmo-Priest area in terms of the trees they hold. But, rather, think of it as wilderness, a precious resourse that once destroyed never is wilderness again.