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Show THE ZEPHYR OCTOBER 1991 Whan the Forest Service became aware that appeals were pending on this decision, they called two special meetings between us and the original committee members. In the first of these, the Forest Service employee responsible for the committee apologized publicly for not Involving a motorcycle representative. In the second meeting, s majority voted to leave sections open to our use. This decision was later ruled Invalid. Many attempts were made to make me feel ashamed for not knowing of the numerous committee meetings, and public meetings that were held. It Is noteworthy that NO ONE I knew, who was affected by this decision, Including the former Forest Ranger, who should have known about the meetings did. If they had I am certain they would have called me and I would gladly have attended the committee meetings. One friend who Is mostly Interested In wildlife attended all the public meetings and does not recall trails ever being mentioned. Yet the Forest Service Insists that a "good faith" effort was made to Inform the public. Perhaps this can all be explained by their Irritating hsblt of referring to trails as roads. What happened seems apparent enough to me. One member of the committee has told me that early In the meetings he told the Forest Representative that I should have been called. To call me would have complicated tilings, and It was much easier to Just carry on. A few press releases were Issued mentioning the "Travel Plan" and roads, neither of which would have attracted my attention. To really Inform the public of a pending action, notice should be posted In the legal section of the newspaper, along with the Impllcationa to the public In layman'a terms. Anything less than that In my opinion Is fraud. Several appeals were filed with the Regional Forest Office. The committee member that represented the Sierra Club filed as an intervenor, and was allowed to make comments on our appeals. His comments Included some statements that varied along the scale of truth, made some Impraeticallmpossible recommendations, and demonstrated a highly developed sense of superiority. Another committee member filed an Intervenor to hopefully counteract his comments. I was notified last week that our appeals were rejected. In the letters of response we were accused of causing "considerable adverse effects on the from the Forest Service resources or other forest visitors." That Is an Interesting charge, considering that to my knowledge, during our rides none of us ever encountered any other person on the trails. This should be taken as a warning to hunters, cattlemen, and even by families with small children. What kind of "adverse effects" will there be on some tourist hiker when a high powered rifle Is fired, and a deer falls to the ground? We've already heard plenty about the effects of cattle. After several hikes this summer, It is not hard to Imagine my children being deemed too noisy. In the same letters, the Forest Service claims that their responsibility to maintain a "healthy wildlife habitat" has been an "Impossible Job with the "current proliferation of roads". Maybe they haven't checked lately, but my information indicates that our wildlife resource la quite healthy with dramatic Increases In deer, elk, black bear, and quite possibly other species. Perhaps they will be equaUy blind when we continue to ride the trails. Or, maybe they'll strap on the guns and rid the forest forever of menacing motorcyclists. I welcome comments from anyone Interested In tills Issue. I would like to provide I any Information I have to anyone Interested. Also, would like to know of any specific affected by a motorcyclist while hiking on the Incidents In which any person felt adversely I trail, because as yet not one such Incident has come to light As far as can tell, the anticipated conflicts are Sierra Club predictions, and not based on reality. Their of representative In his comments as Intervenormeddler said "This Is a ridiculous amount work that I certainly hope I do not have to repeat". I intend to give him a lot more work, and the only ridiculous tiling I see In all this Is that people who love the trails, and hava worked to preserve them are no longer able to legally use them, while others who have done nothing are busy plotting to restrict use. If we don't stop this soon a membership In the Sierra Club will be required to even enjoy the mountain at all. 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