Letter from Yakima paper...

[Grumpy]

Trails are for humans

To the editor -- The Jan. 11 article concerning the Naches District trails meeting brought back memories of the 1980s and '90s Wilderness and Forest Plan meetings to restrict National Forests timber harvesting. People were outraged as reducing timber harvest would mean a loss of living wage jobs and millions of dollars into the Forest Service coffers. All the meetings with maps and public opinion were for naught as timber harvest has essentially ended and the millions that were once spent on schools, roads and trail maintenance have disappeared.

Many Forest Service personnel believe forests should only be for wildlife and all human presence should be restricted, except Forest Service employees who only study wildlife. Timber harvest was the big evil in the '80s and '90s, now it's the ORVs and horses that "tear up" the trails. But visit the 40-year-old clear-cuts and you will see a vibrant and growing forest with wildlife and clean water.

So trail users, fight with all your energy to save the trails, but don't be surprised if within five to 10 years your trails are gone or severely restricted as the arrogant Forest Service will prevail. Water users beware: You may become the next evil of the forest environment!



GREG McGUIRE

Yakima