As a teenager I discovered the thrill of hunting elk, climbing peaks and fishing in high mountain lakes. I suspect I’ll continue doing this for a long time. Part of the enjoyment is being able to see vast areas untouched by man, places that look and feel as they likely did hundreds of years ago. Unfortunately, as I hike through the mountains of southwest Montana I also see land damaged by pine beetles, illegal motorized trails, weed infestations and camping practices which fall short of Leave No Trace.
Hollowtop Lake is trashed with garbage. The Cherry Lake trail is quickly eroding away from heavy motorized use. Live trees are being chopped down for firewood around the more popular lakes. Invasive weeds degrade elk habitat and the U.S. Forest Service and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks have their hands full with managing recreation, timber, winter range and wildlife. Jon Tester’s senate bill, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, will certainly assist us in dealing with the beetle-killed trees, preserving some of our dwindling wild lands for the future, improving fish and wildlife areas, and will give a hand to Montana’s suffering timber industry. While it may not be the complete answer to our natural resource problems, it is a significant and worthy step forward and deserves our support.
Russell O’Leary
Bozeman