Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

BACKPACKERS Ms. Rawlings. Thank you, Senator. My name is Barbara Rawlings. I'm a downtown business owner, homeowner, and resident of Bonners Ferry, and I'm speaking today on behalf of the Boundary Backpackers. 32 Boundary Backpackers is an organization that began over 4 years ago as a group of volunteers who were dedicated to maintaining and restoring trails through Long Canyon. You will hear more about our trail work in a later testimony. We have never considered ourselves a political group, but due to the controversial nature of this wilderness issue, we find it necessary to take a political stand at this time. And our desire is to see that Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest are officially recognized for what they already are, which is a majestic wilderness. On behalf of the members of Boundary Backpackers, I'd like to make the following points: We support the I.C.L., Endangered Idaho Wilderness Corps, which includes Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest. We also recommend that the Salmo Priest be included in the Washington Wilderness bill. We recommend that all other forest lands in boundary County included in RARE II be designated multiple use. We as a group want to make it clear that recommendations of the Bonners Ferry City Council, the school board, and the Boundary County Commissioners come from what is a very small group of special vested interest people. None of these groups is actually thought of as representing the community at large due to the fact that no public input was requested before these resolutions were voted on. Finally, as you listen to testimony today we ask that you please be aware that economics is only one part of a number of points that need to be considered in this issue. Boundary Backpackers is dedicated to this issue because of our deep respect for Long Canyon. We began simply as volunteers taking care of a trail to an old growth forest in our area, and when the preservation of Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest is assured, we will return to just that task. Thank you.