PEAKS: Born to be wild

I recently read a letter to the editor about the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Area written by Mr. Stan Myers. He questioned the idea that the area should be designated as wilderness because future generations might want to develop the area’s timber and mineral resources.

Wilderness is just one of many legitimate multiple uses of our national forest lands. There are currently no protected wilderness areas in the Panhandle of Idaho. Surely there is plenty of room on the national forests of North Idaho to accommodate logging, mining, grazing, motorized recreation and wilderness.

I think that it is noteworthy that Idaho Forest Group, the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and the Bonner County Commissioners support wilderness designation in the Scotchman Peaks. If there were valuable stands of timber, mineral deposits or motorized trails, then I don’t think the area would enjoy the present support for wilderness. I hope the Idaho delegation will act on it.

JULIE DALSASO

Coeur d’Alene