If you give a crap about riding in the Pisgah (that includes Wilson's Creek!), DO YOUR PART AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BEFORE THIS MONDAY. We don't want to lose more trails to WILDERNESS DESIGNATION.

email [email protected] with your concerns NOW!

Here's a sample letter:

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is XXXX XXXXXX, and I am a long-time resident of Western North Carolina, as well as an avid mountain biker, camper, and outdoorsman.

I am concerned about the proposed Management Plan Revison for National Forests in this region. We have some of the most picturesque and biodiverse forests on the entire planet. Our deciduous forests are among the oldest on Earth. We as a society owe the utmost care to management of these resources. Economically, this area attracts millions of tourism dollars from people who visit just to experience the relatively undisturbed backcountry scenery and wilderness access.

I do not support commercial logging in these areas heavily used for recreation, such as Pisgah Forest, North Mills River, and Big Ivy. Commercial loggers leave virtual wastelands in their wake, prone to excessive erosion and the further proliferation of invasive species such as kudzu and multiflora rose. Not to mention the horrible blight left within clear view from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Cherohala Skyway scenic roads.

I do not support USFS timber production in areas of the forest with heavy recreational use, including the Pisgah District, especially in the Davidson River and South Mills River areas. Timber production in these areas could negatively impact the backcountry recreational experience.

I do not support the proposed Wilderness designation in the Pisgah and Grandfather Districts for Daniel Ridge, Laurel Mountain, Cedar Rock Mountain, South Mills River, Woods Mountain, and Jarrettareas. These areas have a high concentration of trails and are heavily used for recreation, including mountain biking.

I request that the USFS includ the above-mentioned areas in a new National Recreation Area that would give the land the maximum protection while allowing for mountain biking.

I also support a National Recreation Area designation in the Grandfather District that would include Harper’s Creek, Lost Cove, Woods Mountain and Jarret Creek.
Some of the Wilderness proposals in areas where there is no mountain biking make sense. Conservation groups and other forest stakeholders should be tasked to identify these areas.

Please consider the overall environmental and economic impact of the proposed plan revision ahead of short-term gains from timber industry.

Regards,
XXXX XXXXXXXXX
Weaverville, NC

Thanks.


Sorry.  When I saw that this needs to be done by Monday, I just copied and pasted after I read through it quickly.

I am panic.

Done

Done....Would it be a good idea for the site to have an "advocacy" category so we can all be aware of issues that might be important to mountain bikers as a user group? 

teamdicky wrote on 01/03/15 at 11:36pm:


I made some comments on the interactive map.  From what I've heard this is just the initial public comment period, no imminent change to wilderness designation is pending.  I'm pretty sure any wilderness designations have to be ratified by an act of congress.

It was good to see a lot of pro MTB comments on the map.