Write Congress to Support Trails at Mount Hood's Roaring River

Action Alert

For Immediate Release
04-03-06
Contact: Mark Eller

303-545-9011

Congressmen Greg Walden (R-OR) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have introduced the Mount Hood Stewardship and Legacy Act (H.R. 5025) to protect 77,500 acres around Mount Hood from development, resource extraction and road building, and would provide considerable resources for trails and recreation.

IMBA and the Oregon Mountain Bike Alliance (ORMBA) support the legislation and appreciate all the considerations the congressmen have made for Oregon mountain bikers. However, IMBA and ORMBA ask that 33 acres of land be removed from the 77,500-acre Wilderness proposal to allow for continued mountain bike use of trails at Roaring River. Formal Wilderness designations prohibit bicycle access.

The Roaring River area, southwest of Mount Hood, provides a backcountry experience that mountain bikers cherish. Just like hikers and equestrians, two existing users of Wilderness, bicyclists enjoy the beauty of our wild places and want continued access to this important area.

Congressmen Walden and Blumenauer have worked closely with the mountain bike community to draft legislation that addresses our existing recreation use in the area. Many important places such as Larch Mountain, Fifteenmile Creek, Dog River Trail, Shellrock, Hellroaring, Bonney Butte, Mount Defiance were not included in the bill and cyclists will be able to continue to ride these places.

First Hearing on April 5

The House Resources Subcommittee on Forest and Forest Health will hear the bill April 5. Congressman Walden is the chairman of the subcommittee. It is important that he and the rest of the Oregon congressional delegation hear our support for the bill and concern for trails at Roaring River.

This House hearing is just the first step; H.R. 5025 will also be heard by the U.S. Senate later this year.

Who to Contact

IMBA/ORMBA ask Oregon cyclists to email Chairman Walden and the rest of the Oregon congressional delegation to keep 28 miles of trail (33 acres) open at Roaring River to allow for our continued access. Please write these important decision makers, especially if you are an Oregon resident.

Subcommittee Chairman Walden
Webform here: http://walden.house.gov/contactgreg/

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (address to DC office)
Webform here: http://blumenauer.house.gov/about/Contact.shtml

U.S. Senator Gordon Smith
Webform here: http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
Webform Here: http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Copy This Text, Or Write Your Own

Dear Congressman/Senator:

As a mountain biker in Oregon, I am writing to support your legislation that will protect 77,500 acres of land around Mount Hood from development, resource extraction and road building. I applaud your goals of preserving our natural landscapes, ensuring clean air, clean water and places for future generations to enjoy.

At Roaring River, I ask that you please remove 33 acres (28 miles of trail) from the 77,500-acre proposal to allow for our existing recreation use. Mountain bicyclists would like to have continued access to trails they have ridden for years and to continue to enjoy this beautiful, backcountry area.

Roaring River needs to be protected from resource extraction, commercial activity, structures and road building. It does not need to be protected from mountain bikes. Available trail resource science demonstrates that hikers and bicyclists have a similar impact on the land, and do less damage than horse travel. Hikers and equestrians are both allowed in Wilderness.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

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