MMBA's Mission:
To preserve, protect, and promote mountain bike access and diverse
riding opportunities on Montana's public lands through education,
communication, and unified action.
To preserve, protect, and promote mountain bike access and diverse
riding opportunities on Montana's public lands through education,
communication, and unified action.
"Whatever the social question, a bicycle should be part of the answer"
Write A Letter
URGENT PUBLIC COMMENT NEEDED!
DEADLINE July 18th, 2008!
The Gallatin National Forest is seeking public comment on the future of bicycling on the trails in the Lionhead Recommended Wilderness Area south of Hebgen Lake and west of the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. Without a strong response from the cycling community, the traditional bicycle access to this great trail system will be closed forever under the Region One policy to ban bicycles from RWAs. The area is already designated non-motorized so the continued access by quiet, human powered bicycles will not degrade Lionhead’s wilderness character. These trails are economically important to the nearby towns.
Please take this opportunity to write a letter urging the Gallatin National Forest to manage the Lionhead RWA with continued bicycle access on these trails:
Coffin Lakes Trail #209
Mile Creek Trail #214
West Fork Watkins Creek Trail #216
Sheep Lake Trail #218
Montana’s cycling community enjoys a positive relationship with the Gallatin National Forest and encourages all letter writers to be supportive of this public process and the opportunity we have to show that we are invested and responsible stakeholders in the future of the Lionhead and other special areas. Use the comment request to present pro-active solutions, best science examples and passionate reasons why bicycles belong on these trails. Tell stories, send photos and a positive cycling vibe. Even if you have never ridden these great trails, write a letter to let the GNF know how you travel with your bike and the type of rides you seek on your public lands. Leave out the negativity and whining - the Forest Service has an unenviable job of balancing the desires of diverse users and the needs of our spectacular public lands. Hammering them on policy or process won’t help keep our cherished trails open.
Additional Information and talking points for your letters:
Lionhead’s trails have been respectfully ridden by bicyclists and shared successfully with equestrians, hikers for decades.
Trails at risk include the iconic Continental Divide Trail in Mile Creek and Watkins Creek, and those to Sheep Lake, and Coffin Lakes.
Cyclists have contributed many hours of trail maintenance in the Lionhead area and are willing partners in helping the Forest Service preserve these great trails.
Numerous studies on trails and wildlife prove that bicycles have a similar impact as hiking.
Bicyclists value the Lionhead trail system for the same reason as other quiet trail users. We appreciate the solitude, beauty and challenge of exploring backcountry singletrack under our own power.
The Lionhead area is already designated non-motorized and the continued presence of bicycles will not damage the resource or diminish the wilderness character.
In the greater Yellowstone bioregion 3.5 million acres are already closed to bicycling in the form of National Park or designated Wilderness and the cycling community respects these closures and does not seek to overturn these policies. Lionhead’s 22,000 acres deserves to be permanently protected but in a form that honors the tradition of bicycling the trails in the Henry Mountains.
The Forest Service can protect the land and allow for continued bicycling - there is no need to choose between the two. The non-motorized Lionhead RWA is a perfect candidate for an alternative designation such as a Congressionally sanctioned National Protection Area that can permanently protect the area from new roads, logging and resource extraction while allowing continued bicycle access. Additionally, a National Protection Area designation will give the Forest Service mechanized trail maintenance and fire supression options to better maintain and protect the resource.
The economic, social and health contributions of mountain biking in the Gallatin National Forest should be nurtured and promoted as an integral piece of forest planning and a lucrative component to the regional recreation mix.
USFS Lionhead Bicycle Prohibition letter and map
Written comments should be sent to:
Gallatin National Forest
Attn: Steve Christiansen
P.O. Box 130
Bozeman, MT 59771
Electronic comments can be e-mailed to:
r1_gallatin_comments@fs.fed.us.
IMPORTANT DETAILS!
The Forest Service is requesting that you enter the phrase “Lionhead Bike Prohibition” in the subject line. To be most helpful, comments should be substantive and specific to the mountain bike prohibitions being considered for the Lionhead Recommended Wilderness Area. They should include:
(1) name, address, telephone number, and organization represented, if any;
(2) title of the action (i.e. “Lionhead Bike Prohibition”);
(3) specific facts and supporting reasons to be considered; and
(4) signatures.
Comments may also be faxed to (406) 587-6758. If you have questions please contact Steve Christiansen at (406) 587-6750 or Kimberly Schlenker at (406) 587-6743.
Don't stop now!
Once you have your letter finished, take a moment to send letters with the same information to Governor Schweitzer, Senators Baucus and Tester and Congressman Rehberg. Express your passion for cycling on Montana's public lands and how cycling has a positive economic, social and health benefit for the communities surrounded by great riding. It's vital that our elected officials hear how you contribute to the local economies that protect and promote trail access for mountain biking.
Check out the new studies on the economic impact of mountain biking.
Key Elected Officials
Governor Brian Schweitzer
Governor's Office
PO Box 200801
Capital Station
Helena, MT 59620-0801
Phone: 406-444-3111
Fax: 406-444-5529
Email: governor@mt.gov
Senator Max Baucus
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2602
Phone: 800-332-6106 (from Montana) or 202-224-2651
Fax: 202-224-0515
Email: max@baucus.senate.gov or http://baucus.senate.gov/contact
Senator Jon Tester
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2604
Phone: 202-224-2644
Fax: 202-224-8594
Email: http://tester.senate.gov/Contact/
Congressman Dennis Rehberg
516 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2601
Phone: 202-225-3211
Fax: 202-225-5687
Email: http://www.house.gov/rehberg/contact.shtml
USDA Forest Service
Abigail (Gail) R. Kimbell
Chief, USDA Forest Service
Yates Building, 4NW
201 - 14th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20050-1144
Phone: 202-205-1661
Fax: 202-205-1765
Email: akimbell@fs.fed.us
Tom Tidwell, Regional Forester
USDA Forest Service
Northern Region (R-1)
Federal Building
PO Box 7669
Missoula, MT 59807-7669
Phone: 406-329-3316
Fax: 406-329-3411
Email: ttidwell@fs.fed.us
Bruce Ramsey, Supervisor
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
420 Barrett Street
Dillon, MT 59725-3572
Phone: 406-683-3973
Fax: 406-683-3843
Email: bramsey@fs.fed.us
Dave T. Bull, Supervisor
Bitterroot National Forest
1801 North First Street
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: 406-363-7121
Fax: 406-363-7159
Email: dbull@fs.fed.us
Steve Williams, Supervisor
Custer National Forest
PO Box 50760
Billings, MT 50760
Phone: 406-657-6205
Fax: 406-657-6222
Email: swilliams@fs.fed.us
Catherine Barbouletos, Supervisor
Flathead National Forest
1935 Third Avenue East
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406-758-5251
Fax: 406-758-5351
Email: cbarbouletos@fs.fed.us
Mary Erickson, Supervisor
Gallatin National Forest
PO Box 130
Bozeman, MT 59771
Phone: 406-587-6949
Fax: 406-587-6758
Email:
Kevin Riordan, Supervisor
Helena National Forest
2880 Skyway Drive
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406-495-3746
Fax: 406-449-5436
Email: kriordan@fs.fed.us
Paul Bradford, Supervisor
Kootenai National Forest
1101 Highway Two West
Libby, MT 59923
Phone: 406-283-7763
Fax: 406-283-7709
Email: pbradford@fs.fed.us
Leslie "Spike" Thompson, Supervisor
Lewis and Clark National Forest
PO Box 869
Great Falls, MT 59403
Phone: 406-791-7756
Fax: 406-731-5302
Email: lwthompson@fs.fed.us
Deborah L. Austin, Supervisor
Lolo National Forest
Building 24, Fort Missoula
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: 406-329-3797
Fax: 406-329-3795
Email: dlaustin@fs.fed.us
Bureau of Land Management
Gene Terland, State Director
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
Phone: 406-896-5012
Fax: 406-896-5299
Email: gene_terland@blm.gov
Missoula Field Office
3255 Fort Missoula Road
Missoula, MT 59804-7293
Phone: 406-329-3914
Fax: 406-329-3721
Dillon Field Office
1005 Selway Drive
Dillon, MT 59725-9431
Phone: 406-683-8000
Fax: 406-683-8066
Butte Field Office
106 North Parkmont
Butte, MT 59702
Phone: 406-533-7600
Fax: 406-533-7660
Lewistown Field Office
920 NE Main Street
PO Box 1160
Lewistown, MT 59457
Phone: 406-538-1900
Fax: 406-538-1904
Malta Field Office
501 South 2nd Street East
Malta, MT 59538
Phone: 406-654-5100
Fax: 406-654-5150
Miles City Field Office
111 Garryowen Road
Miles City, MT 59301-0940
Phone: 406-233-2800
Fax: 406-233-2921
