Comment Period extended to May 7th!
Action Alert: Comment Now To Support Quiet Winter Recreation On the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.
Idaho Panhandle National Forest is in the final stages of revising its 1987 Forest Plan. The plan is being revised to reflect resource, social and economic changes on the Forest. Comments are due April 5th, so take five minutes now and comment.
There is some fantastic skiing and riding near the Stevens Peak Area, along the Idaho-Montana Border near Lookout Pass. This incredible terrain is accessible from the highway, making some of the best backcountry skiing opportunities within two hours of Missoula. See below for a brief synopsis and contact info for making your comment:
Please consider the following points when commenting on the Forest Plan Revision:
- The Revised Forest Plan does not adequately account for the most popular and fastest growing form of winter recreation – quiet human-powered snowsports. This includes cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing and backcountry snowboarding.
- The Revised Forest Plan needs to create more opportunities for quality human-powered snowsports by managing the Stevens Peak backcountry area for non-motorized winter recreation.
- Snowmobiles are incompatible with traditional forms of human-powered winter recreation.
- The environmental impact of over-snow vehicles needs to be fully considered. This includes the impact to wildlife, water quality, air quality, soundscapes and the experience and safety of other visitors.
In addition to the above, please include experiences that you may have had in the Stevens Peak backcountry that capture the essence (good or bad) of why the area is important to you as a winter recreationist. Learn more here.
For more information visit the project website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/kipz
You can also contact forest planner Linda Clark at 208 765-7417 or IPNFplanrevision@fs.fed.us
Comments need to be submitted before April 5 using one of the following methods:
- E-mail: IPNFplanrevision@fs.fed.us
- Regular mail:
Idaho Panhandle National ForestsKIPZ Revision Team3815 Schreiber WayCoeur d’Alene, ID 83815
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Montana Backcountry Alliance was formed in 2005 to build an organized community advocating for traditional, human-powered winter recreation. We have commented as a group and individually on forest service management plans, held ski movie premiers, and helped conduct citizen monitoring projects. We intend to build on our success and further strengthen the traditional winter recreation community by advocating for specific non-motorized areas with reasonable access for human-powered recreationists. The motorized lobby is powerful, organized, and well-funded. But we are motivated and dedicated to establishing a strong voice in this important debate. We are also hopelessly addicted to skiing and riding, and will be busy enjoying the wonderful opportunities Montana offers in the winter. Get out and enjoy them too!
