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For those who don't know the Pioneers are south of Butte MT...
By Perry Backus of The Montana Standard - 05/13/2004
Decision irks riders; spurs support from wilderness group
WISE RIVER — A decision to prohibit all-terrain vehicles from using more than 63 miles of trails in the West Pioneer Mountains is getting a mixed response from outdoor enthusiasts.
The decision to keep ATVs off trails north of Lacy Creek comes as the Forest Service works to comply with a 2001 federal court order.
The West Pioneer Mountains lie between Wise River and Wisdom, and the area is one of nine designated as wilderness study areas by Congress in 1977.
As part of that designation, the Forest Service is required to maintain the wilderness character of the areas. In 1995, the Montana Wilderness Association sued the Forest Service over its policies for vehicles traveling in Montana wilderness study areas.
As a result of that lawsuit, a federal district judge ordered the Forest Service to assess the wilderness character in the nine areas in 2001.
"Our assessment found that the overall wilderness character of the West Pioneers was unchanged, but that we had some problems on trails north of Lacy Creek," said Charlie Hester, the district ranger in Wise River.
Hester said that while there were single-track motorcycle trails in use in 1977, four-wheel
See ATVs, Page A7
ATVs were not using the area back then.
"North of Lacy Creek, we found just over 63 miles of trails that had become two-track ATV trails since 1977," he said.
Some of those trails, like the Fool Hen Ridge Trail, have become popular for ATV use over the years, Hester said. Many started as single-track trails, but as ATVs gained popularity they grew into two-track trails, he said.
The Forest Service will no longer allow ATVs to use those trails starting probably sometime next month, said Hester. Beginning this summer, the agency will begin restoration work on trails to bring them back to the standard 24 inches in width.
"These trails will stay open to motorcycles and to snowmobiles, just like they were in 1977," Hester said.
The agency also found that snowmobiles and snowmobile trail grooming hasn't affected the wilderness character of the area.
Three routes that were Jeep trails in 1977 will remain open to ATVs. They include:
— Lacy Creek road, from Lacy Creek to Lake of the Woods.
— Pattengill road from the scenic byway to the junction with trail 135.
— Maynard Mine road.
The decision to close the roads has members of the Mining City Trail Riders "peeved," said that organization's president, Mike Rallis. "It looks as though there isn't much we can do about. It's appears to be cut and dried."
Trails that will be closed have been popular to the 200-some members of the organization, Rallis said.
The agency's decision is symptomatic of what's happening elsewhere in the state, said Rallis.
"They're closing everything," he said. "There's a lot of trails that are being closed in the Pipestone area, too … it's happening all over the state of Montana. We're getting a major hit this year with closures."
At the same time, Rallis said the agency is requiring all ATVs to be street legal.
"It may be that they're looking to close off all the trails and the only place left to ride will be on the roads," he said. "We have several people who can only get around on a four-wheeler. They don't have the use of their legs. They're not going to be able to enjoy the backcountry."
"It's just extremely disappointing," said Rallis. "There are a lot of trails that they're closing that we've helped to maintain and built bridges. That's gratitude for you."
But John Gatchell, the Montana Wilderness Association conservation director, said the ATVs have trashed pristine trails in the West Pioneers.
"In places where there was a narrow pack trail, there's now a road 15 to 20 feet wide," Gatchell said. "This decision is a step in the right direction before the resource damage gets any worse."
The trails are designed for horse and foot traffic. The wider ATVs have "blown out" stream crossings and impacted fragile meadows, he said.
"The trails were not designed for ATV use," said Gatchell.
Extensive ATV use in the Pioneers has ruined traditional hunting "in what was one of the greatest hunting areas in Montana," said Gatchell. "In some places, it's become a drive-through area … that's a loss we should not take lightly."
"This is a step to restore what should have never been lost," Gatchell said.
Gatchell said the Montana Wilderness Association agrees that ATVs should have access to public lands. The association has supported legislation to allow ATV users on the 33,000 miles of Forest Service roads, he said.
"There's nothing wrong with ATVs in the right places," he said. "But they are misplaced in places like Montana wilderness study areas … these are areas that they're not making any more of."
By Perry Backus of The Montana Standard - 05/13/2004
Decision irks riders; spurs support from wilderness group
WISE RIVER — A decision to prohibit all-terrain vehicles from using more than 63 miles of trails in the West Pioneer Mountains is getting a mixed response from outdoor enthusiasts.
The decision to keep ATVs off trails north of Lacy Creek comes as the Forest Service works to comply with a 2001 federal court order.
The West Pioneer Mountains lie between Wise River and Wisdom, and the area is one of nine designated as wilderness study areas by Congress in 1977.
As part of that designation, the Forest Service is required to maintain the wilderness character of the areas. In 1995, the Montana Wilderness Association sued the Forest Service over its policies for vehicles traveling in Montana wilderness study areas.
As a result of that lawsuit, a federal district judge ordered the Forest Service to assess the wilderness character in the nine areas in 2001.
"Our assessment found that the overall wilderness character of the West Pioneers was unchanged, but that we had some problems on trails north of Lacy Creek," said Charlie Hester, the district ranger in Wise River.
Hester said that while there were single-track motorcycle trails in use in 1977, four-wheel
See ATVs, Page A7
ATVs were not using the area back then.
"North of Lacy Creek, we found just over 63 miles of trails that had become two-track ATV trails since 1977," he said.
Some of those trails, like the Fool Hen Ridge Trail, have become popular for ATV use over the years, Hester said. Many started as single-track trails, but as ATVs gained popularity they grew into two-track trails, he said.
The Forest Service will no longer allow ATVs to use those trails starting probably sometime next month, said Hester. Beginning this summer, the agency will begin restoration work on trails to bring them back to the standard 24 inches in width.
"These trails will stay open to motorcycles and to snowmobiles, just like they were in 1977," Hester said.
The agency also found that snowmobiles and snowmobile trail grooming hasn't affected the wilderness character of the area.
Three routes that were Jeep trails in 1977 will remain open to ATVs. They include:
— Lacy Creek road, from Lacy Creek to Lake of the Woods.
— Pattengill road from the scenic byway to the junction with trail 135.
— Maynard Mine road.
The decision to close the roads has members of the Mining City Trail Riders "peeved," said that organization's president, Mike Rallis. "It looks as though there isn't much we can do about. It's appears to be cut and dried."
Trails that will be closed have been popular to the 200-some members of the organization, Rallis said.
The agency's decision is symptomatic of what's happening elsewhere in the state, said Rallis.
"They're closing everything," he said. "There's a lot of trails that are being closed in the Pipestone area, too … it's happening all over the state of Montana. We're getting a major hit this year with closures."
At the same time, Rallis said the agency is requiring all ATVs to be street legal.
"It may be that they're looking to close off all the trails and the only place left to ride will be on the roads," he said. "We have several people who can only get around on a four-wheeler. They don't have the use of their legs. They're not going to be able to enjoy the backcountry."
"It's just extremely disappointing," said Rallis. "There are a lot of trails that they're closing that we've helped to maintain and built bridges. That's gratitude for you."
But John Gatchell, the Montana Wilderness Association conservation director, said the ATVs have trashed pristine trails in the West Pioneers.
"In places where there was a narrow pack trail, there's now a road 15 to 20 feet wide," Gatchell said. "This decision is a step in the right direction before the resource damage gets any worse."
The trails are designed for horse and foot traffic. The wider ATVs have "blown out" stream crossings and impacted fragile meadows, he said.
"The trails were not designed for ATV use," said Gatchell.
Extensive ATV use in the Pioneers has ruined traditional hunting "in what was one of the greatest hunting areas in Montana," said Gatchell. "In some places, it's become a drive-through area … that's a loss we should not take lightly."
"This is a step to restore what should have never been lost," Gatchell said.
Gatchell said the Montana Wilderness Association agrees that ATVs should have access to public lands. The association has supported legislation to allow ATV users on the 33,000 miles of Forest Service roads, he said.
"There's nothing wrong with ATVs in the right places," he said. "But they are misplaced in places like Montana wilderness study areas … these are areas that they're not making any more of."
