Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Piper. Senator, I'd like to make these two points. I'm in favor of wilderness in general. And I'm particularly in favor of Long Canyon and Salmo Priest being wilderness. Like many people in this area, I value the feeling of living in this part of the Country. And the fact that there is wilderness is a big, big part of that feeling. It seems sometimes like the question that we ask her is asked wrong. It seems to be put in the form: How much wilderness should we have in Idaho? We already have a lot. How much more should we add? And it seems to me it's a question, really, of how much should we subtract? We have de facto wilderness now which is a very big part of the feeling of living in this part of the country rather than many other parts of the country. I've lived in Europe where, as far as I know, there is no wilderness whatsoever. Every square inch of ground has been impressed upon by mankind. But out here it feels a lot different. I think it's a very important part of the American experience. The question is, then: how much of what we've got do we want to get rid of? And when you look at a couple of key places, like, Long Canyon, you say, 'Well, how about Long Canyon? Let's get rid of that as wilderness.' And I think when I look at it, when I fly over it, when I talk to people that have been through it, my answer is: Let's not get rid of that as wilderness. Let's keep that one spot in North Idaho just as it is. 246 I think one quick other point—there's always talk about the fact that Idaho has in proportion to other States much, much more wilderness area. But it seems to me that this is very natural. New Jersey is not a very good place for wilderness. Kansas, for another, is not a very good place for wilderness. It seems like Idaho is the wilderness area for the whole country, in part. And it makes sense that wilderness be out here.