| Why more wilderness? |
| The US Forest Service management plan for the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest (which includes the Toiyabe Crest Trail) is being revised in 2005 and 2006. By law the agency must consider wilderness potential for all substantially roadless areas. As the images here show, there is a significant difference between areas currently protected by wilderness designation and those not so protected. |
| The Toiyabe Crest Trail northern portion (from Ophir Summit to Kingston trailhead) has suffered more vehicle, trash, and cattle impacts than the southern portion, which already benefits from wilderness protection (the Arc Dome Wilderness). While wilderness designation will not remove the vehicle tracks, mining ventures (and erosion from these), nor remove the existing grazing allotments, wilderness designation will limit or prevent further impacts of the sort. |
| Why cattle in wilderness? |
| Holding out for the "ultimate" protection for lands, including removal of cattle completely, is not seen as politically feasible by Friends of Nevada Wilderness. This group advocates getting feasible protections soon, and re-visiting areas in the future as additional protection becomes viable (for example, the "buy out" of cattle leases). Experience in Nevada has demonstrated that proposals prohibiting cattle entirely from an area incites potent opposition from those who contribute significantly to local economies. While ideal protections seem best for the land, the time "when cattle fly" ain't here yet. Thus grazing must be included in any plan that hopes to be supported by Congress when it considers legislation establishing more Nye County wilderness areas (including the Toiyabe Crest). The management plan can require additional fencing to keep cattle from especially sensitive riparian areas. Such controls are in evidence on portions of the Toiyabe Crest. |
| Write a letter today! |
| Please write a letter to officials encouraging more wilderness protection for the Toiyabe Crest Trail.
A sample letter is available here plain text letter
Edit it to reflect your own emphasis and experience. Paper mail is considered more emphatic
than email or FAX, so send postal mail to:
Robert L. Vaught, Forest Supervisor Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest, USFS 1200 Franklin Way Sparks, NV 89431 |
| Please send an additional copy to Friends of Nevada Wilderness, so that they may track the comments
the USFS is required to consider. Send on paper via postal mail to:
Friends of Nevada Wilderness PO Box 9754 Reno, NV 89507 |
| Sample letter advocating wilderness |
| plain text letter for your editing |
|
Your name
Your postal mail address Your email address Your phone number |
| Date of letter:
Robert L. Vaught, Forest Supervisor Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest, USFS 1200 Franklin Way Sparks, NV 89431 SUBJECT: Yes on additional wilderness protection for Toiyabe Crest Trail area Dear Mr. Vaught: |
| Since friends in Desert Survivors completed a multi-day backpack trip along the Toiyabe Crest trail in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest I have become aware of the beauty of the riparian habitat along the South Twin River. I have also been amazed at images from their days hiking the entire Toiyabe Crest Trail. As one of hundreds of members of the conservation group Desert Survivors www.desert-survivors.org I have spent considerable time enjoying Nevada public lands on trips to __________, and _________, and __________. Despite my familiarity with Nevada's backcountry, I am aware of no other extended trip with views that match those from the crest of the Toiyable Range. |
| I understand that the management plan for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is currently being revised. I urge you to recommend the entire Toiyabe Range for wilderness designation, in particular the northern portion of the trail from Ophir Summit to Kingston trailhead. I can see from my friend's images that the northern part has suffered more impacts from vehicle incursions, and cattle trampling of springs and watercourses than the southern portion, which already benefits from wilderness protection (the Arc Dome Wilderness). While I understand that wilderness designation will not remove the vehicle tracks, mining ventures (and erosion from these), nor remove the existing grazing allotments, wilderness designation will limit or prevent further impacts of the sort. |
| Backpacking ventures stimulate a surprising amount of economic activity to Nevada towns and cities. Backpackers utilize motels and restaurants. They purchase gasoline, groceries, and other supplies. They buy antiques, art, and curios. Many linger in the area for additional days to visit museums such as are in Tonopah, hot springs such as are outside Austin, and to ride mountain bicycles near Austin. Backpackers tell and show their friends the special places they have enjoyed. Some of these friends (such as myself) will be encouraged to travel the Toiyabe Crest. |
| Backcountry wilderness travelers bring economic benefit to areas with little infrastructure. Backpackers are adaptable tourists, and since we travel to enjoy the land, we return year after year to places where wilderness values persist. Thus backpackers are additional to gambling tourists. Backpacker's choice of destination is influenced by persistent wilderness values, not fickle attractions such as the newest casino in the next county, or the lowest cost meal-lodging-gambling vacation package in some profit-sapping price war. Backpackers from Desert Survivors can aid your agency's efforts to manage land - we have performed volunteer service work on many Nevada public lands in cooperation with agencies. |
| I urge you to add protection to the entire Toiyabe Range, in particular the northern portion of the Toiyabe Crest Trail from Ophir Summit to Kingston trailhead, so that these opportunities will remain for others in the future. Please keep me apprised of your efforts in this regard. |
| Sincerely,
Your name |
