I have a debate going with a couple of "friends" about the Red Rocks bill, they contend that the Red Rocks bill won't close any existing open trails or roads, but those trails and roads would in effect become "corridors" in the wilderness, still open for their existing uses. He contends that this bill is nothing more than a more strongly worded mandate to stay on the trail. If this were the case, I don't think SUWA would have spent the time and money trying to get it passed and I dont' think we responsible riders would mind having to stay on the trail. This is my "buddy's" quote:

"It took a couple of phone calls and an e-mail to glean the truth: America's Red Rock Wilderness Act would not shut down the Porcupine Rim trail – the trail forms a corridor between two wilderness units, thus preserving the trail and the wild nature surrounding it. A detailed map of the proposed boundaries is attached. The hype is WRONG - neither Porcupine Rim, nor Goldbar, nor Amasa Back will be closed due to wilderness designation.


As you all know, I sure do like an afternoon ripping through the mountains on a bike or sled but I also value the ability to get away and have the peace and quiet which is afforded by a hike into wilderness. There are millions of acres of public land which are open to motorized recreation but unfortunately there is very little land which is still remote, untouched by man and free of the noise and smoke of the ORV crew.



Please, take a moment to peruse the wilderness proposal, write a letter in support of it (www.suwa.org), and let the AMA that they need to do some better research before issuing erroneous calls to action!



A good article noting the collaborative effort:

http://www.imba.com/...wilderness.html



Notes on the map:

- orange is current WSA areas

- hatched is proposed wilderness

- dark lines denote wilderness unit boundaries"



I do not believe that this is true, having never ridden a trail or heard of a trail that cut through a corridor in a wilderness area. Nor do I believe that SUWA would fight so hard just to enforce something that is already a law. Anyone have any ammunition for me?

the sierra club will go to any length to stop access to this beautiful country. I urge you all to write congress and BEG your rep to squash this bill (vote against it). Even if the bill doesn't shut down the trails yzf fred is talking about, it shuts down 9.2 million acres of public land. this is messed up to the core. there is NO SUCH THING as an off-road trail that is open through wilderness.

The article he lists protects the trails to "non-motorized vehicles"--thumpers are motorized guys. please--don't buy this crap. call your reps now and ask them to vote against it. if they say they are for it, make a petition and have everybody you can find sign it. congress is made up of "representatives" whose job it is to REPRESENT. if we show them that the public doesn't support this nonsense, they'll have to change their stance--unless they don't want to be re-elected.

I did notice the "non-motorized" bit, the whole premise of the bill makes my blood boil, but I'm trying to build a good factual argument about what their bill will really do

I havent read the particulars of this bill, but it should be noted that supposedly even green organizations in the past have supported the continued use of existing roads and trails in proposed "Wilderness Areas".These areas are now completely off limits to anything besides hikers and equestrians so it is unwise to give an inch when the enforcers can't even follow their own laws and use blanket solutions to everything. While I think riders should stick to trails and there should be areas free of motorized use a message should be sent that further land grabs are out of the question.Defeat of this bill should be priority one as like all laws they tend to set precident for other laws and once made are rarely corrected or undone.

their bill will close the area to motorized vehicle use. the bicycle guys are trying to keep the trails open for BICYCLES. not-dirt bikes. i am all for staying on the trail, and i am also all for maintaining pristine wilderness where it currently is (even though i'd love it if they opened the uintahs to dirtbikes), but i am not open to closing existing trails. matter of fact, i am not open to the federal government re-designating ANY land as wilderness that is currently open to off road vehicle use. please urge your representatives to vote NO on the redrock wilderness bill.