Idaho’s Boulder-White Clouds area north of Sun Valley remains one of America’s largest and most stunning unprotected natural areas. As such, this area was to many an obvious choice for Wilderness designation, but such a designation would prohibit cycling, which has traditionally been a large part of the area’s draw. In an open-minded show of cooperation and shared interest in protecting our cherished wild places, a broad spectrum of land use advocacy organizations ironed out an agreement which would provide the Boulder-White Clouds all the protection necessary to preserve it for posterity without arbitrarily excluding a low-impact, human-powered user group: cyclists.
A subsequent adjustment to the ‘‘Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act’’ made accommodations for preserving access for trails traditionally used by motorcycles/ATVs, but did not preserve mountain biking access on their traditional routes, some of which are among the most scenic on the continent.
(photo: dauw)
While the Boulder-White Clouds lies within the borders of the state of Idaho, the area and the cycling routes within it are bona fide national treasures. Please take the time to have your voice heard as a cyclist who would like to see these routes preserved. The easiest way is simply to add your name to this petition asking for the designation of the Boulder-White Clouds as a National Monument. More powerful would be the sharing of your personal thoughts with the sponsor of the Wilderness legislation, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson.
