Access Fund Action Alert Idaho
Protect Climbing Around Idaho's Highest Peaks
Idaho's highest peak, Mount Borah (Borah Peak) crowns the rugged and isolated Lost River Range. This massive limestone mountain sports folded limestone cliffs, dramatic spires, and grand views, all of which contribute to a legendary backcountry-climbing destination that is among the most popular summit climbs in Idaho. Aside from a destination for climbers, the area is also home to antelope and elk, bighorn sheep, and cougar.
A big part of Borah Peak is the setting, which is in the heart of a National Forest System Roadless Area. Roadless Areas are not quite wilderness, but they feel that way; they also tend to be more accessible and open to a variety of sustainable recreational pursuits. Roadless Areas make up about 31% of our National Forests and are ecological gems with clean air, water and plenty of wildlife.
Back in 2001 the Federal government proposed to protect these areas in a simple way-stop building new roads. Without roads, it's pretty tough to harvest timber or mine phosphate. The American public loved the idea and the "2001 Roadless Rule" became one of the most popular federal regulations in history.
Things are about to change. Even though these are National Forests, the Federal government now wants to let individual states drive how roadless areas are managed, letting them re-jigger different levels of ecosystem protection and impinge on the wild qualities that make these places what they are to climbers, boulderers and everyone else that uses these lands and waters in a sustainable manner.
The first state to take the plunge is Idaho. Colorado is next. There are Roadless Areas in 39 states across the country. Fortunately the Federal government is circling back and asking the public what they think about this new state-driven plan, starting with the Idaho plan. Aside from setting the stage for other states, Idaho is particularly important because with 9.3 million acres of Roadless Areas it has the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states.
We already have more than 380,000 miles of National Forest System roads-nine times the size of the federal interstate system. Should we keep these places wild and thriving with qualities that make places worth climbing and treat them like the national resources that they are, or whittle them away, here and there, state by state until the edge that makes Roadless Areas unique becomes dull and then gone?
For more background information, check out this video produced by the Outdoor Alliance:
To Protect these Experiences We Need Your Help Today
Tell the Forest Service what you think-go to this website to easily produce and send a letter urging the protection of our few remaining Roadless Areas. For more information contact Jason <at> accessfund <dot> org.
More Resources:
- Photos: www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150190/borah-peak.html
- Photos: www.forwolves.org/ralph/wpages/borahpk.htm
The Access Fund
email: af-enews <at> accessfund <dot> org
phone: 1-800-MEMBER9
web: http://www.accessfund.org
