ROADS: Neglect is shameful

We took friends on what is usually a fun trip in the mountains to pick huckleberries. Instead it was the worst mountain driving trip I have ever experienced in 70 years.

We drove the Ohio Match Road from U.S. 95 to Hayden Creek. The local highway district portion was paved, but the U.S. Forest Service portion was pretty uncared for and rough. Then we drove the East Fork of Hayden Creek Road to the Lakes Divide Road and it has gotten so bad that I will never drive that route again unless some maintenance is done on it. It was horrible!

Initially I thought this was a new USFS policy for keeping motorists out of the forest which would minimize human caused fires. But, in retrospect, I’m convinced that it is simply a case of no maintenance.

Why have these roads been allowed to deteriorate like this? Lack of funds for the USFS from lack of timber sales maybe? Or just inadequate federal funding? Whatever, it is sure an effective way to limit forest recreation. I know I have lost my desire to go back in the mountains.

CECIL HATHAWAY

Hayden Lake