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roninthorne
Sep 29, 2010, 4:32 PM
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Registered: Nov 27, 2002
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Attention climbers and mountain bikers- legislation is currently before the Congress of these here United States that will designate the Grant Co. portion of North Fork Mountain a wilderness. Such a designation would of course make power drills illegal in a place where their use is an established tradition (and where any other kind of drilling is madness, given the hardness of Tuscarora Sandstone).
Not only will this pretty much halt the future development of climbing routes and installation of rap anchors in this region, it will eliminate most of the mountain biking on the N Fork Trail by halving the amount of available trail and making access and egress more problematic than the remaining 8 miles of trail would warrant.
The overall impact will be the loss of revenue and climber/bicyclist recreation opportunities and presence in Pendelton County and Smoke Hole Canyon, both places already hard-hit by the current recession, and leaving this portion of the MNF pretty much in the hands of the game and tree poachers who already run the local law enforcement agencies ragged. It will also reduce development of crags along the North Fork and increase impact on existing climbing areas like Seneca, Nelson and Franklin Gorge
This is an area that overlooks the city of Petersburg and at least one operating quarry, as well as being well within sight and earshot of numerous farms and mills... hardly a pristine wilderness designation candidate.
For more info on the upcoming IMBA ride and other details, check out http://savenorthfork.blogspot.com/
In conversations with the NFS, I have been assured that this entire proposal is simply a political move by a local incumbent seeking to make up ground after losing in the primaries, not the grassroots effort it is portrayed to be by the WV Wilderness Coalition.
If you climb or bike anywhere along the the North Fork Trail or Mountain, or support continuing freedom to use our public lands in a sensible manner, please check out the website and use the contact info listed there to write congress opposing this designation.
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roninthorne
Oct 14, 2010, 4:01 PM
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Bump
Another ride this weekend... same site...
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cragmasterp
Oct 15, 2010, 2:59 AM
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Thanks for posting up, Ronin. This would be an absurd bureaucratic political move to designate this ridge as wilderness. Or at least as wilderness is defined by our governing agencies.
Human powered transportation should be allowed in wilderness, IMHO. But this is another matter entirely.
Wishing I could make the ride this weekend. hope there is a good turn-out.
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roninthorne
Oct 15, 2010, 6:53 PM
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yo, Paulito-
Gonna be doing trailwork out at the new crag this weekend.. I'll pm you some directions... We'll also be camping and chowing at Eagle Rock, Saturday night and Sunday morning.... come in the entrance and follow driveway all the way to the back
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roninthorne
Nov 18, 2010, 7:33 PM
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Please take time to sign the petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/...fork-mountain-trail/ and to state your opposition (if you are opposed) to the wilderness designation. Even if you disagree with me on the designation (imagine that, someone who disagrees with me!?) please make your voice heard on preserving mtb access to this unique trail.
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