pedalqueens

Mountain bikers were definitely in the minority at the last last Forest Service public meeting. Thanks to those of you who did make it. The rest of you need to get involved. The draft proposals shown at the meeting where not what I had expected to see. Here are some key points.

Dispersed camping will be seriously affected. It will be restricted to specified corridors of 100-300' along a few specified roads. Only 20% of the roads are allowed to be specified for dispersed camping. Some areas don't have any areas designated for dispersed camping at all. In the Cochiti area under the current draft proposal, the only road with camping allowed is 289 ( St. Peter's Dome Rd). That means that if you wanted to camp and ride Cochiti Canyon or Bland Canyon, you would have to ride ~ 6 miles each way to get from your camp to where you want to ride. If you like to be able to camp and ride directly from your camp without having to drive, as I do, this is a major issue. With the high prices for gasoline, it makes more sense than ever to camp and ride multiple days.

Unlike the Cedro area where most of the areas that are currently being used by motorized vehicles will remain open, Many of the roads in the Jemez Mountains will be closed. This may seem like a good thing at first glance, but remember that to get to the trails, almost all of us drive there in a vehicle. With the roads closed, you may not be able to ride some of the best trails because the distance will be beyond your capability.

Some trails that are single track are being shown designated for travel by all vehicles.

Many of the trails in the Cochiti area are being closed to motorized use. Again you may be cheering, but remember, most of those trails where established and have been maintained by motorcycle riders. Will mountain bikers equestrians and hikers be able to keep these trails open and in good condition, or will they become cluttered with deadfall and fade into oblivion? Would you be willing to carry a chainsaw 5-10 miles to help maintain a trail? You may not like motorcycles, but remember those riders have done a lot of work to make the trail system what it is.

Look over the maps at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/m ... ation_Maps and get your comments vial email, phone, or snail mail to the forest Service by September 10th. Try to make your comments specific.

Tom Mayer

ORIGINAL MESSAGE

For those of you that are not aware of the process taking place on all National Forests go to http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/

Please plan to attend this meeting or one in your area if your not in Albuquerque.

This meeting affects all of the Santa Fe National Forest. That means your favorite trails in the Cochiti Area, The Jemez Mountains, Santa Fe, Pecos and more. This is some of the best riding in the state.

Albuquerque Thursday August 23, 2007 6:00-8:00 PM

Room C, UNM Conference Center, 1634

University Blvd., Albuquerque
Here is the meetings schedule.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/P ... hedule.pdf


There has not been much response from the mountain bike community so far. We need to be heard. The key point being that single tracks be kept single. On the current maps I see a lot of trails that are single track being shown for all vehicles.

Here are the maps as they currently stand.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/m ... ation_Maps

The other area that needs your attention is dispersed camping. If You have a favorite place you like to camp, you need to get your opinions heard.