Recreation pressure grows
April 9, 2004
To the Editor: Thank you, Oregonian, for your March 28 editorial "Wild about Mount Hood" that supports Sen. Ron Wyden's plans for more wilderness around Mount Hood. The growing metropolitan region, Portland/Vancouver, is putting more pressure on Mount Hood where additional recreation opportunities will be needed for the future.
It is disappointing that the office of the Mount Hood National Forest and the Zigzag Ranger District have both ignored for months a signature petition from the Oregon Nordic Club, Portland, that concerns the Trillium Basin winter recreation area near Government Camp that deals with improvement of recreation.
There has been no effort on the part of the Zigzag Ranger District to alleviate increasing crowding of winter trails by cross-country skiers and snowshoers. The ranger district has however added to the problem by re-mixing snowmobiles into the already crowded area.
No new winter trails have been added for 20 years in the Trillium Basin in spite of recommendations by the Oregon Nordic Club of Portland and other organizations. The Trillium Basin is one of Oregon's most heavily used winter sports areas.
The St. Helens and Wind River ranger districts of southern Washington, and the Hood River Ranger District, have all met the challenge of winter recreation dispersement with excellent winter trails. It is now up to the Zigzag Ranger District to face the future!
KLINDT VIELBIG
Northeast Portland