Wants motor access to Badger
To the editor,
In five of the 56 counties in Montana there are 1,968,920 acres of wilderness areas, 1,400,000 in the Glacier Park area. That's not including the surrounding Swan Valley, Thompson River, South Fork, North Fork and Middle Fork being 85-95 percent gated or kelly humped off. The Badger-Two Medicine area can only be accessed maybe two to three months out of the year by ATVs, usually because of high water.
This Badger-Two Medicine area could be properly used and managed by the people, for use by everyone, not the select few hikers and big game outfitters who choose to shut the area down. Not everyone has the resources to ride horses, or hike into the area (handicapped).
Snowmobiling on the other hand has no impact on the environment when you're riding on three to four feet of snow. Come spring all the tracks are melted away.
I have lived in the Flathead Valley for my 56 years and have seen many changes to the area. I cope with all the closed gates and kelly humped roads I used to ride motorcycles and ATVs on. Let's not close any more of these areas down. Enough is enough.
Stephen R. Peters
Kalispell
ATVs scar the landscape
To the editor,
As a resident of the Rocky Mountain Front I fully support the Forest Service's newly-released travel plan which would eliminate off-road motorized travel.
The Badger-Two Medicine area is an especially beautiful and pristine place. It is also very fragile.
The scars upon the land by ATV and ORV use can take generations to heal and are sometimes beyond repair.
Wildlife that calls the Badger-Two Medicine home would also benefit greatly by having this area only accessible by the traditional travel of foot or horse.
I believe it is our duty as the temporary caretakers of this land to keep it in its natural state.
So that the future generations to come, who will use this wild and beautiful place, can thank us for caring enough for saving this grand piece of wilderness for them to enjoy.
Kevin Forrest
Babb
Leave Oakes alone, please
To the editor,
This is to express my objection to moving any parts from the Steamer Oakes out of Columbia Falls.
I feel that Flathead River voyage is an important part of our Columbia Falls history. Granted, it has been here for more than 100 years, and forgotten for a good many of those, but it should remain here. My suggestion would be to place this heavy bit of history in Marantette Park, perhaps near the Veterans Memorial, or facing Nucleus Avenue in uptown Columbia Falls.Thank you for your consideration.
Gladys (Van) Shay
Columbia Falls
The virtues of frogdom
To the editor,
I read with great interest a recent article in your paper about Columbia Spotted Frogs being helped by global warming. This was evidently quite an extensive study (nine years long) by a lady named Rebecca McCafferty who was working for the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana.
This has inspired me to apply for a grant that heretofore I have considered frivolous, but am now going to pursue with vigor.
I have always been curious as to the affects of a warmer climate on ME. Rather than wait for global warming to hit us here in Montana, (blizzard warnings out for tonight), I am offering to go to say, South Carolina for nine years.
After years of study I guarantee the people that are funding my studies that I will have conclusive evidence to my study, and not use phrases like "climate change might be having a good impact" or "it might not be bad for all alpine species' or "a longer growing season could be good" or "less water could be hard on breeding" or "a warmer climate with severe winters might be good for Montana frog populations."
Folks, if you send me down south, after nine years I will have no doubt as to the beneficial and/or detrimental effects of a warmer climate on an aging human being.
The article on Ms. McCaffery's study ends with her noting that more study has to be done!
I will end my study and your funding after nine years. I promise.
Then I would like to see the effect on say, the Southwest on an aging human. Maybe Phoenix or Cabo. Nine more years should be ample time to figure that one out also.
I'll even put a couple of frogs in my pocket and let you know how they get along.
Scott Smith
Martin City