Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

ALLIANCE Mr. Pry. Good morning, Senator, I believe the last time I had a chance to talk to you I remember you saying that numbers didn't impress you. I am vey impressed today from what I see outside and inside. I think this is great. Thank you for this opportunity. I am representing Kootenai Environmental Alliance. We are pleased you have agreed to wait until October to draft your wilderness bill after you have received a wilderness proposal. We of the Environmental Alliance, a chapter of the Idaho Conservation League, support the Idaho Wilderness Corps that was given to you by the I.C.L. We are supporting the Mallard-Larkins area. This area extends from Chamberlin Mountain, the Five Lakes area, Mallard-Larkins, and Snow Peak, approximately 200,000 acres. As much has been said of the beauty, the wildlife, and the dozens of lakes, I wish to discuss the need for more wilderness. 38 As our population keeps growing, the need for recreation into our wilderness areas is greatly increasing. In order to lessen the impact by man in these areas of the wilderness, we need to provide more, not less. I have visited five wilderness areas in Idaho, and I have used these areas by the pack trip, as myself, the day hikers, backpackers, men, women, the very young in their parents' arms, and the very old. Do we need to place a dollar sign on each person that visits the wilderness? I think not. The wilderness system gives to the general public what is rightfully theirs: A chance to fall in love with the total outdoors. I take issue with the Forest Service supervision on some of the wilderness that I have been into, specifically the lack of trail markers, hitch racks, and pit toilets.