Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Zimmerman. Senator, my name is Frank Zimmerman. I'm a small contract logger in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. I also enjoy backpacking. My comments today are concerning Long Canyon. A short time ago my wife and I took some avid backpackers on a trip through Long Canyon. We had heard so much about the area we wanted to see it for ourselves. It was beautiful, but so are all forests, whether they are replanted clear-cuts or virgin stands. Because it is generally an old growth stand there was little evidence of wildlife. There was a lot of blow-down, so hiking in Long Canyon is generally limited to established trails. Our friends had done extensive backpacking in central Idaho and Washington. They were definitely not timber oriented, but they could not understand why there was such a controversy over Long Canyon. They, like us, felt that the only qualification Long Canyon has for wilderness is that there are no roads. Alpine Lakes don't abound, panoramic views are not accessible, and wildlife just isn't very abundant. In short, Long Canyon just doesn't have any of the qualifications that are generally associated with wilderness. In contrast, only a 30-minute drive to the east takes one to the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. This 94,000 acre wilderness is one of the most beautiful in our continental United States. With scores of Alpine Lakes, rugged peaks, hanging valleys, and even a glacier or two, this area fits the true definition of a wilderness area. Long Canyon dos not fit this definition. The people with us had done extensive backpacking but they were not ready for such a physically demanding trail as is the trail in Long Canyon. Very few people are physically ready for a trek into Long Canyon. I'm sure this is one of the reasons that only a handful of people go into the area. I see no valid reason why an area this large should be locked up as a private preserve for so few. Under a multiple use concept this area could be used and enjoyed by many. Thank you.