protecting wild places and wildlife, for their sake – and ours December 2009 John Fielder

HIDDEN GEMS OR BUST Yo, silent majority – let’s start making some noise!

ou may have noticed that the down. We live in a landscape of national im- Hidden Gems proposal has run The brushfire of opposition has since portance. Our region includes Amer- into a little, ahem, opposition. died down somewhat, but the wake- ica’s most-visited national forest (the YWe anticipated some sort of a fight up call still rings loud and clear. We’re White River) and the headwaters of over the Gems, of course. There always on the front lines of a national battle the Colorado River; it occupies a vital is with wilderness. The protection that over federal land conservation, and the position in what conservation biolo- wilderness designation gives to the land fierceness of the attack is an indication gists call the “spine of the continent,” comes with tradeoffs, and there will al- of how high the stakes are for the Hid- a key wildlife migration corridor; and ways be user groups that aren’t willing den Gems. The passive support of a si- it contains core habitat for imperiled to compromise. lent majority is not going to cut it – we animals, such as lynx, and the world’s But the public dialog about the Hid- need to make more noise of our own. largest elk herd. den Gems proposal turned surprisingly Much of what makes our region so nasty this fall. Though only a small What’s at stake popular, and so ecologically significant, minority, the opponents piled on and The opponents ask, Why do we need is its wild and scenic backcountry. made a lot of noise. Misinformation more wilderness? Good question. Let’s Trouble is, most of it doesn’t have any spread faster than we could chase it review. CONTINUED ON page 6

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS In this issue Nick Logan of Rallying around Breckenridge took Thompson Divide 2 second place in the Dialing back drilling 3 summer cycle of the Roadless areas at risk 4 Hidden Gems Photo Contest with this image Full court press 4 of beaver ponds in Naturalist Nights 2010 5 McCullough Gulch, part of the proposed Tenmile Ode to a wilderness sign 7 Wilderness Area. Hidden Gems centerfold 8-9 See page 12 for the WW comings & goings 12 other winning images. Donor Hall of Fame 13 It’s raining wild men! 13 Rallying around the Thompson Divide hat do wilderness advo- cates, ranchers, snowmo- bilers, climbers, hunters, cross-countryW skiers, water users and mountain bikers all have in common? In the Carbondale area, these un- likely bedfellows have joined forces as the Thompson Divide Coalition

to protect a 200,000-chunk of their Judy Fox-Perry backyard from the threat of natural gas development. The Wilderness Work- Citizen activists at work: sign on Hwy 133; Mary Harris gathering signatures at Potato shop is pleased to have convened this Days. Melanie Finan diverse group and remains a proud member of it. different missions and visions, perma- One very powerful action that the The Thompson Divide landscape nently saving this landscape from the Coalition has already launched is a includes the Thompson Creek and drill rigs is something we can all agree comprehensive water monitoring Fourmile watersheds, Coal Basin, and on right now. study. Conducted by the Roaring Fork the upper parts of the East Divide, The threat is real. Roughly half of Conservancy, the project is test- Garfield and Muddy Creek basins. It the Thompson Divide area has been ing ground and surface water in the contains two popular local ski areas leased for oil and gas development, Thompson and Fourmile watersheds (Ski Sunlight and the Spring Gulch with several different companies hold- for the presence of dozens of chemi- cross-country trails) and much of the ing 81 leases. The recent construction cals linked to natural gas drilling and largest unprotected roadless expanse of the Bull Mountain Pipeline – which production. The very existence of in Colorado. An important wildlife we fought, unsuccessfully, last year – this baseline data puts any would-be linkage between the Grand/Battle- potentially sets the stage for develop- drillers on notice that the community ment Mesas and the Elk Mountains, it ment of some of these leases, should knows exactly how clean its water was provides vital, mostly mid-elevation the price of gas rise high enough. beforehand, and will hold them ac- habitat for elk, bear, mountain lion, Needless to say, drilling and all the countable for any contamination. bighorn sheep, lynx, wild turkeys, associated roads and infrastructure Lisa Moreno, formerly WW’s boreal owls and cutthroat trout. would have devastating impacts on the Hidden Gems Campaign organizer This area is very close to WW’s wildlife, water quality, and ranching for Pitkin County, took over as TDC heart: most of it is proposed for economy of the immediate area, not to campaign coordinator in August. As wilderness designation by the Hidden mention off-site impacts such as truck of this writing, TDC remained under Gems Campaign. traffic, pollution and socioeconomic WW’s fiscal umbrella but was in the Coalition members’ opinions about problems in the nearby communities process of transferring to another non- the Hidden Gems proposal are as of Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. profit fiscal sponsor to ensure greater diverse as the groups they represent, At least three other Western com- independence. so TDC is unlikely to weigh in on munities have launched similar ef- the wilderness debate. The group is forts in recent years. Citizens have focused on finding specific strategies successfully protected New Mexico’s HOW YOU CAN HELP for extinguishing the existing natural Valle Vidal, Montana’s Rocky Moun- We urge everyone who cares gas leases in the Thompson Divide tain Front and the Wyoming Range about the health of the Thompson area and withdrawing the area from by securing Congressional legislation Divide area to join TDC. It’s free – availability for future leasing, rather to withdraw these areas from further just sign up via the website, www. than pursuing the more comprehensive leasing, and clearing the way to work savethompsondivide.org, or call protection of wilderness designation. toward retiring existing leases. TDC is Judy Fox-Perry at 970-963-2464. But while WW and TDC may have considering these and other strategies.

2 Wilderness Works December 2009 Dialing back the drilling edia stories to the people and suggest that the wildlife that reside Western Slope’s in and around the natural-gasM boom has gone 2.3-million-acre flat, but anyone who’s White River driven over McClure Pass to National Forest and Paonia recently knows that the 567,000 acres the drill rigs haven’t gone managed by the away. And those are just the local BLM. A future ones you can see from the that includes more road. than 6,500 gas wells Despite the economic in the backcountry downturn, the long-term would be apoca- forecast calls for more drill- lyptic for the area’s ing – lots more. Consider Sloan Shoemaker recreation-based the following numbers: Inching closer: a drilling operation close to the East Willow roadless area, economy, its clean • 24: oil and gas wells south of Silt. water and air and its that were anticipated on quality of life. the White River National Forest cumulative impacts. The temporary lull in oil and gas by the current (1993) Oil & Gas In the past 18 months we’ve stepped development is coming to an end. The Leasing Environmental Impact up the pressure by filing a lawsuit over completion of a new pipeline has re- Statement (EIS) the proposed Hells Gulch project south moved the bottleneck and increased the • 82: wells on the WRNF today of Silt (see p. 4). Thanks partly to this flow of natural gas out of the region, • 900: additional wells the WRNF is suit, the WRNF has finally announced meaning that the impetus to drill in contemplating in the next 15-20 that it will revise its Oil & Gas EIS, the Piceance Basin is now on par with years tacitly acknowledging that the docu- other fields in across the nation. Policy • 1,200: wells anticipated on BLM ment is no longer defensible. Scoping – makers increasingly view natural gas lands by the Glenwood Springs the initial step of determining the range as either the bridge fuel to tide us over Field Office, according to its cur- of issues to be considered in the impact until a sustainable economy is tenable rent (1999) Oil & Gas Leasing EIS statement – is expected to begin before or an important long-term domestic • 2,192: wells on Glenwood Springs yearend. source of energy. Either way, natural Field Office BLM lands today The BLM is currently revising its gas figures to play an important role in • 5,678: additional wells the BLM Resource Management Plan, which our energy economy for the foreseeable anticipates during the 15-20 year includes an updated Oil & Gas Leasing future. Since the Piceance is one of the lifespan of its new Resources Man- EIS; a draft is likely to be released next most prolific tight-sands plays in the agement Plan fall. We’re continuing to monitor its nation, we can’t expect this threat to We’ve been telling these agencies for progress. disappear. years that they need to update their Oil WW is the only entity capable of Natural gas development is the & Gas Leasing EIS’s. These documents watchdogging these processes to ensure industrial equivalent of residential determine how much of our public that they don’t merely pave the way for sprawl. It results in roading and denud- lands will be open to energy develop- all-out drilling, and instead result in ing vast areas of both public and private ment and how much development is the strongest possible protections for land. It can result in huge amounts of likely to occur. Now that the number the land. No other local organization air pollution and contamination of sur- of wells greatly exceeds anticipated has the expertise in this field; no state face and groundwater. In short, it poses development on these lands, it’s clear or national organization can devote the a substantial threat to the public lands that the agencies need to revise their time to this specific issue. we seek to protect and the environ- outdated documents and reassess Yet it is of paramount importance mental values we hold dear.

Wilderness Works December 2009 3 Time running out for roadless areas ederal protections for Colorado’s roadless areas are But if the court throws out the 2001 Rule, the fallback likely to be replaced by weaker state ones in the com- protection is the Colorado Roadless Rule, which is not look- ing months – a potentially problematic setback for ing strong. Despite persistent engagement from the Colora- publicF lands throughout Colorado. do conservation community (including WW and many of its The state’s final recommendations to the Department of members), the Colorado Department of Natural Resources Agriculture on the Colorado Roadless Rule, which went out hasn’t been willing to reconsider some of its recommenda- for public comment this fall, still have serious flaws. They tion to Gov. Bill Ritter. And unfortunately, implementation allow for coal mining, logging and ski area expansions in looks highly likely. roadless areas. And depending on how a Tenth Circuit court State conservation groups, including WW, continue to case turns out, they could end up grandfathering in nearly press the Department of Natural Resources to eliminate the 100 dubious natural-gas leases, including more than 40 in the loopholes in its roadless rule, but time is running out. Thompson Creek, Clear Fork and East Willow areas. This means the Thompson Divide Coalition (see p. 2) These “gap” leases should never have been sold, or should may be our last hope. TDC is working to eliminate the local have carried stipulations prohibiting road-building, because gap leases, along with many other non-gap leases, through a they were issued within roadless areas after the implementa- separate process. tion of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Very little development has occurred on these leases, and the Forest Service is unlikely to allow any new drilling on them as long HOW YOU CAN HELP as their status is in question. Although the public comment period on the Colo- The resolution of their status hangs on the outcome of the rado Roadless Rule has closed, letters to Gov. Bill Ritter Tenth Circuit case. While it’s impossible to make predictions, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are still helpful. we expect and hope the court will validate, once and for all, Go to WW’s website, www.wildernessworkshop.org, the 2001 Roadless Rule. If that happens, the gap leases are and click on the Take Action section. likely to be challenged as illegal. Full court press: WW party to four lawsuits awsuits are a last resort: WW reluctantly sues, and from Vantage Energy and filed a motion to intervene. Barrett only after exhausting all other administrative rem- has subsequently stated that it may drill as many as 3,000 edies. So the fact that we’re currently party to four wells there – compared to the BLM’s original estimate of differentL lawsuits against federal agencies – more than at any 200 – which certainly bolsters the contention of our suit that time in our 40-plus-year history – is an indication that the the BLM’s analysis of likely impacts is inadequate. alert level on our public lands remains in the red zone. Hells Gulch project. This suit, which we and the All the suits stem from actions taken in the last two years Natural Resources Defense Council initiated more than a of the Bush administration that threatened to undermine the year ago, challenges the Forest Service and the BLM over biological integrity of our region’s public lands: their approval of an application to drill 45 wills south of Silt. Oil shale. We’ve joined with numerous other state and We contend that the agencies failed to analyze the impacts national groups in filing two related suits against the Depart- of proposed wells on the downwind “Class I airsheds” of the ment of the Interior: one over the hasty Environmental Im- Maroon Bells-Snowmass and Flat Tops wilderness areas, and pact Statement that it relied upon to open up 2 million acres so are violating state and federal air quality standards. The for oil shale and tar sands development, and the other over intent is to force the agencies to get a handle on the cumula- its approval of associated commercial leasing regulations. tive impacts of the gas boom. Roan Plateau. As part of a coalition of sportsmen, Each of these suits has the potential to go to trial. Separate recreation and conservation groups, we’ve also sued Interior settlement negotiations are ongoing, and we and our fellow over its plan to lease the Roan Plateau for natural gas devel- plaintiffs would consider settlements that address our proce- opment. In June, Bill Barrett Corp. bought the Roan leases dural and ecological concerns.

4 Wilderness Works December 2009 Naturalist

Once again this winter the Wilderness Workshop is partnering with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and Dos Gringos Burritos in Carbondale to bring the acclaimed Naturalist Nights speaker series, featuring visiting and resident presenters. All shows are free. ACES shows are on Thursday nights and start at 7:30; Dos Gringos shows are on Wednesday nights and start at 7. Please join us!

January Colorado 2010 - Pete Maysmith, Colorado Conservation Voters 6 (Carbondale) & 7 (Aspen) Bighorns of the Crystal River Valley – John Groves, Colorado Division of 17 (Carbondale) & 18 (Aspen) God in the Wildlife Wilderness – Rabbi Jamie Korngold, Adventure Rabbi/Synagogue without Walls 14 (Aspen) Tectonic Geomorphology of the Hima- layas: Can Climate Play a Role in the Formation of 25 (Aspen) Dust on Snow, Early Snowmelt and the Mountain Ranges? – Kayo Ogilby, Colorado Rocky Colorado River - Jeff Deems, University of Colorado Mountain School 20 (Carbondale) & 21 (Aspen) Owls of the Western March Slope – Jason Beason, Rocky Mountain Bird 3 (Carbondale) & 4 (Aspen) Confessions of an Observatory Off-Road Outlaw – Garrett VeneKlasen, travel/ fishing guide 28 (Aspen) The Complexities of Climate Change: Treeline Elevation Changes in the Canadian Rockies – 11 (Aspen) Renewable and Efficient Energy: Will Roush, University of Victoria Tree-Ring Laboratory Pitkin County’s Energy Smart Loan Program – Dylan Hoffman, Aspen/Pitkin Energy Program Manager February 17 (Carbondale) & 18 (Aspen) Fens: Ancient Wetland 3 (Carbondale) & 4 (Aspen) East of Aspen: The Ecosystems – David Cooper, Colorado State Wonders of Independence Pass – author Paul University Andersen and photographer David Hiser 25 (Aspen) How the West Was Warmed – Beth 11 (Aspen) Turning Environmental Values Into Conover, Greenprint Denver Colorado’s Priorities: Politics and Environment in

God in the wilderness- Feb. 17 & 18 Owls of the western slope - Jan. 20 &21

Tectonic Geomorphology of the Himalayas - Jan. 14 Beth Conover - Mar. 25

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES): 100 Puppy Smith St., Aspen. Dos Gringos Burritos: 588 HighwayWilderness 133, Works Carbondale. December For 2009 more info, call WW at 963-3977. 5 Predominantly in Summit and Eagle counties, it’s industrial logging of the Hidden Gems or bust backcountry as a short-sighted response CONTINUED from page 1 to the bark-beetle outbreak. Any num- reliable protection from development. versal acclaim. The beauty of wilder- ber of other proposals to mine, dam, The parts that do – existing wilderness ness designation is its simplicity: it develop or commercialize our public areas – lie mostly at the highest eleva- ensures that these areas will remain as lands are apt to surface as time goes tions, where rock and ice predominate. they are, with nature’s forces in charge, on. (Ten years ago, no one imagined The battle is over the biologically forever. That assurance is a profound that Garfield County would become richer middle elevations. This is where gift to us and to future generations. the epicenter of drilling in Colorado; the old-growth forests are, and where Our wilderness areas are treasures that similarly, we can’t predict what other important species breed and spend we hold in trust for a world in which threats will emerge in another decade.) most of their time. This vast zone also wildness is in increasingly short supply. But the greatest threat of all, across provides most of the invaluable “eco- Now it’s our turn to extend the pro- the board, is the ever-growing pressure logical services” that we humans take tection of wilderness to these “hidden of recreation. for granted, such as water filtration and gems” of the middle elevations – while air purification. it’s still possible. Whittling away at wildness Wilderness designation has protected Some of these lands are at immediate Central Colorado is a very attractive the “crown jewels” of our high country risk. In Pitkin and Gunnison coun- landscape for all sorts of recreational for a generation, to pretty much uni- ties, the threat is natural gas drilling. uses – hiking, hunting, biking, back-

HOW FAR CAN YOU GET FROM A ROAD? n this map (which we fondly call the “bloodshot eyeball map”), the red lines are roads and the green blobs I are areas that are more than one mile from a road. The farthest you can get from a road in our region is 6 miles, in the center of the Flat Tops Wilderness. Do we really need more roads?

6 Wilderness Works December 2009 country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, climbing, camping, horseback riding and more. Each has its impacts. Ode to a wilderness sign The roads that we all use to ac- hy do we need more cess our public lands are the biggest wilderness? Here’s the wilderness-killers of all. Motorized answer I came up with routes inhibit wildlife migration, isolate asW I was leading a group of hikers up breeding populations, constrain the the Placita Trail, through the proposed movements of wide-ranging preda- Crystal River addition near Redstone. tors, introduce invasive species, and After ascending through oak and most significantly, disperse humans and aspen forest for about a mile, we their motorized disturbances into the reached a Maroon Bells-Snowmass backcountry: each point along a road is Wilderness sign. I stopped the group a potential gateway to further off-road and posed the question: What’s the Dave Reed adventures. difference between the land inside the where we look, if we have but eyes to One of the paradoxes of human na- wilderness area and the land on the see. Before the hike, Karin Teague, a ture is that, while we love recreating in other side of the sign? WW member who’s taken the time wild places, we always want to be able It was a rhetorical question. My to really get to know this particular to penetrate further into them with answer: Nothing…and everything. patch of land, urged me in an email to our machines, which of course whittles Nothing, because as anyone can see, be on the lookout for small marvels: away their wildness. There are more the forest is just as rich and riotous on a unique stand of albino monkshood than 1,800 miles of roads and motor- both sides of the sign – by all appear- plants (“a freak of nature”), a favorite ized trails on the White River National ances it’s wilderness all around. But aspen grove, “superlative” white violets Forest, a network that fragments the that’s today. What about tomorrow, or and red columbine. land into a thousand biological islands next year, or when our grandchildren And there’s another way in which (see map opposite). are grandparents? Wilderness designa- this forest is special, and it’s this point Fact is, Colorado has a lot more tion assures us that the land on the that I think brings it all together. roads, and a lot less wilderness, than uphill side of that sign will remain un- No single acre of land is special by we’d like to think. The farthest you can changed; the land on the downhill side itself. Every acre is part of an ecosys- get from a road in our region is 6 miles, could be logged, mined or motorized tem, and every ecosystem is con- in the middle of the Flat Tops Wilder- – or not – we just don’t know. That’s nected to neighboring and overlapping ness; in the entire state, it’s 8 miles (in a fundamental difference, and it could ecosystems. These systems, and the the Weminuche Wilderness). Compare mean everything. animals, plants and even insects that that with maximum core-to-perimeter Then I asked another question: comprise them, don’t confine them- distances of 26 miles in Wyoming What’s special about this land down- selves to human-drawn boundaries. (Teton Wilderness), 31 miles in Cali- hill of the sign, this area that we’ve What we’re trying to do with the fornia (Sequoia-King’s Canyon) and 65 dubbed a “hidden gem”? At the risk of Hidden Gems wilderness proposal is miles in Idaho (Frank Church-River of sounding gimmicky, my answer was not to protect specific amazing views No Return). again: Nothing…and everything. or peaks or features, although there The purpose of the Hidden Gems Nothing, because this acre of aspen are some in the Gems. The point is to proposal, in a nutshell, is to stop the forest is like hundreds of thousands protect as much as possible of every- fragmentation. Very few existing routes of others in Colorado. It’s the kind thing, because the value of it is in its would be closed, but wilderness des- of scenery that we so often charge wholeness, its integrity. ignation would stop future ones from through on our way to a Fourteener or We wilderness advocates tend to being developed. a lakeside campsite, rarely taking time use pretty pictures and superlatives to We started with the question, Why to observe it precisely because it’s “sell” conservation, which is natural do we need more wilderness? Maybe such a common sight. and necessary. But we have to remem- the best answer is, Because we don’t And yet what’s special about this ber that every wild place is special, re- need any more roads. particular patch of forest is everything. gardless of its human aesthetic appeal. CONTINUED ON page 10 There are natural wonders every- – Dave Reed

Wilderness Works December 2009 7 ANATOMY OF A WILDERNESS PROPOSAL A Wilderness Matters centerfold

The Hidden Gems proposal has long been just that – a proposal. Over the last few months, it’s changed significantly in response to input from adjacent landowners, local governments and other stakeholders. Even as the proposal approaches its final form, a num- ber of other conflicts are still in the process of being resolved. This map highlights some key recent developments

The Colorado Army Air National Guard, which conducts helicopter training over several Hidden Gems areas, has expressed concern that some wilder- ness designations might inhibit some of its operations. National security To accommodate the Summit Fat Tire Society, the campaign being an overriding issue, we’re discussing with the Guard options that will agreed to exclude several existing Summit County mountain- simultaneously achieve enduring and essential landscape protections while bike trails. This has resulted in boundary adjustments in the sustaining HAATS’ valuable training operations. Williams Fork, Hoosier Ridge, and Ptarmigan A units.

To better focus our work and public dis- cussion of it, we decided to postpone for now discussion of all but a tiny portion of the proposal in Garfield County – some 229,000 acres, mostly in areas ringing the Flat Tops.

We’re discussing with CDOT adjust- The Town of Gypsum asked that ments to Hidden Gems areas like we adjust the Red Table boundary Porcupine Gulch and Corral Creek to allow continued motor access to accommodate future maintenance to two small reservoirs that supply and right-of-way needs. the town’s water, and we have agreed.

Hearing concerns from the Norrie and Nast colonies (recreational cabins on In recognition of existing leased Forest Service land), mountain biking, the 20,000- we removed the middle About 200 acres has been acre Sloan Peak area was section of the Wildcat removed from the southern removed from the proposal Mountain unit. portion of Hoosier Ridge to early on. We would like to accommodate a wildland- partner with local mountain urban interface fuel reduc- Pre-existing grazing rights are tion project that enhances grandfathered in by any new bikers to protect this impor- tant recreation area under a community safety and wilderness legislation, but some protects water supplies. ranchers are leery of the poten- companion designation. tial for additional bureaucracy. To address the concerns of the North Thompson Cattlemen’s Association, we will pursue other protective strategies for the Middle/North We’ve reached an Thompson Creek area. agreement with Roaring Fork Valley climbers to carve popular sport- climbing faces out of In October the Crested the North Independent Butte Town Council re- area and along the quested that Whetstone, Crystal River Valley. a popular recreational area just outside of town, be added to the Hidden Gems proposal.

COLORADO Hidden Gems or bust CONTINUED from page 7

Resolution is possible conclusion – the more pressure there is Which brings us back to the opposi- on the backcountry, the more impor- tion. tant it is to keep more of it free from You probably won’t find too many roads, trails and other stuff.) people who think that we actually Why is the Hidden Gems proposal need to build more roads in our local provoking such a backlash, especially backcountry right now. But what seems among recreationalists? A number of to unite the Hidden Gems opponents is reasons. the idea that we might need more roads For one thing, let’s face it, it’s a big – or mountain-bike trails or snowmo- proposal. Recent wilderness cam- bile play areas or backcountry ski huts paigns have typically taken on just one – at some point in the future. or two areas at a time, which means (It’s an interesting case of differing any opposition is apt to be strictly lo- perspectives. Opponents argue that cal. The Hidden Gems proposal con- the population is growing, recreational sists of more than 40 units, stretching technologies are advancing, demand for from south of the Gunnison River to backcountry recreational opportuni- north of I-70, and eastwards all the way to the Eisenhower Tunnel. The ties is increasing – ergo, we’re going to The Hidden Gems Campaign need more roads, trails and other stuff. sheer scope of it is enough to attract larger and more powerful enemies. is running an extensive ad campaign to Wilderness advocates look at the same correct public misconceptions. trends and come to nearly the opposite The location of the Hidden Gems makes them all the more controversial. All of this has put the Hidden Gems The first wave of wilderness areas pro- proposal on the most-wanted list for HOW YOU CAN HELP tected high, remote terrain that didn’t state and national motorized groups. You can take any of the following have a lot of conflicting activities. This The Colorado Off Highway Vehicle actions by going to the Hidden Gems second harvest is at lower elevations Coalition and the Blue Ribbon Coali- Campaign website, www.whiteriv- and closer to communities, where the tion have thrown their support behind erwild.org, or by contacting Hidden pressure is greatest to keep supplying the local motorized clubs, framing Gems organizer Ginny Harrington at recreational opportunities to meet the the Hidden Gems as “anti-access” and contrary to the idea of “multiple use” of 963-3977, ginny@wildernesswork- ever-increasing demand. public lands. shop.org: And the intensity of these uses has increased dramatically since the last Yet the Hidden Gems Campaign’s • Sign the open letter of support time anyone proposed new wilderness message is consistent: this is not about for the Hidden Gems. in these parts. pitting one user group against another, • Write or call your county com- Take snowmobiling. Ten or 15 years it’s about what’s best for the land. It’s missioners and your members of ago, snowmobilers stuck mostly to a about finding the best protections for Congress, and consider copying few main trails, and the Hidden Gems our remaining wildlands, watersheds your letter to the local papers. proposal would have had little effect on and habitats. • Attend meetings – be sure to get them. Now, thanks to improved sled And resolution is possible. Each on the Hidden Gems email list technology, they go virtually every- time we’ve met with individuals with to get alerts. where – up steep slopes, in untracked concerns – grazing, motor recreation, • Get involved in the campaign – powder, through deep forest. Ironically, water providers, climbers, bicyclists – volunteers are needed to gather it’s been the snowmobilers themselves, we’ve found solutions. Careful refine- signatures, organize events and in coming out against the Hidden ments of Hidden Gems boundaries and help rally support. Gems, who have called attention to this other adjustments have resolved 80-90 trend. percent of the supposed conflicts.

10 Wilderness Works December 2009 We are the silent majority! Contrary to what our more conspir- acy-minded opponents seem to think, Hidden Gems thanks the Hidden Gems Campaign is not e at the Wilderness Workshop would like to express our great ap- massively staffed or lavishly funded. Wpreciation to the individuals and foundations that have made lead gifts If it were, it would have been able to to support the Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign. They include, especially, respond more decisively to the attacks. Rob Pew and Susan Taylor, Kelly Wyly and Denis O’Donovan, David Bonder- The campaign’s few staffers have man and Laurie Michaels, the Campaign for America’s Wilderness and the spent most of the past two years on New-Land Foundation. “stakeholder” issues – working to ac- For a full list of Hidden Gems funders in 2009, see page 14. commodate the concerns of specific The Hidden Gems Campaign is still seeking funding for its work in 2010. user groups, government agencies, If you’re interested in making a one-time gift to the campaign, please contact landowners, grazing permit holders, WW development director Dave Reed at (970) 963-3977 or dave@wilder- water rights owners, etc. It’s slow, nessworkshop.org. technical, behind-the-scenes stuff that doesn’t make the papers. But you know what? We’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing. This is the way wilderness areas WW supports DeGette bill come into being. Given limited staffing, ep. Diana DeGette is one of • The West Elk and Powderhorn we can’t address every issue and con- our heroes. Each Congress additions in Gunnison County. cern at once, but this is a democratic since 1999, she has introduced • In the Roaring Fork watershed, process where everyone will have their Rlegislation to designate dozens of BLM the northern section of Assignation say. Agencies may initially recommend parcels around the state as wilderness. Ridge and the small Eagle Mountain wilderness, and in the end it takes an DeGette’s persistence in championing unit in the Snowmass Creek Valley. act of Congress to designate wilder- her Colorado Wilderness Act has been This overlap can only be a good ness, but the heavy lifting is the in-be- not only politically courageous but thing: it’s all the same to us how these tween, and it’s up to private groups and also highly effective: having these areas areas get protected as wilderness, and their members to make it happen. included in introduced legislation has DeGette’s bill offers a parallel path to If we in the campaign have made a forced a higher level of scrutiny that we getting it done. mistake, it’s in trying to do too much believe has kept many of these wonder- In addition, the Colorado Wilderness of the work with staff. What we’ve ful places from being developed. Act includes a few other areas in our learned is that we can’t do it without Rep. Degette now sits on the House region that we’d love to see designated you, our citizen supporters. So now Committee on Natural Resources, as wilderness, such as Deep Creek we’re appealing to you for help. through which all wilderness legisla- (northwest of Dotsero) and the Grand Remember, we may be silent, but tion must pass. That’s no accident: she Hogback (north of Rifle). we’re the majority. Scientific polls have intends to move her bill. In October repeatedly shown that Coloradans and DeGette released a discussion draft HOW YOU CAN HELP Western Slope residents overwhelm- of Colorado Wilderness Act of 2009. ingly favor more wilderness. According Working with Rep. John Salazar, whose Please send Rep. DeGette an to the White River National Forest, 3rd Congressional District contains email or call her office to thank her snowmobilers, dirtbikers, ATV rid- many of the lands in her bill, she’s and indicate your support for the ers and mountain bikers – the people reduced the proposal to just under Colorado Wilderness Act of 2009. most likely to oppose the Hidden Gems 900,000 acres. You can learn more about the bill proposal – represent only a fifth of all WW is completely in support of the and send Rep. DeGette an email forest users. DeGette bill. It overlaps with several by going to her website, www. So don’t be intimidated by the of the areas also included in the Hidden degette.house.gov. Her Colorado naysayers. Instead, take action! See the Gems wilderness proposal: office phone number is (303) 844- sidebar on page 10 to learn how. • The Bull Gulch, Castle Peak and 4988. Pisgah Mountain areas north of I-70.

Wilderness Works December 2009 11 Wilderness Workshop comings and goings WW welcomes four new arrivals (clockwise from right): Joona Hart, brought into the world June 27 by Kate Hart, with assistance from WW staff attorney Peter Hart; new board members Steve Smith and John McBride, Jr.; and Ginny Harrington, our new Pitkin County Hidden Gems organizer, who took over from Lisa Moreno after Lisa moved over to the Thompson Divide Coalition.

The WW office was a hive of activity this past sum- mer, bouyed by the enthusiastic energy of our interns and Hidden Gems Campaign contractors. Above, from left: Eagle County HG intern Collin Stewart, Summit County HG organizer Kurt Kunkle, HG field tech Will Roush and WW intern Zoe Osterman. (Not pictured, but just as appreciated, are interns Molly Fales, Katie Fales and Morgan Boyles.)

PHOTO CONTEST CAPTURES GEMS hanks to the many wilderness supporters who submitted entries in the THidden Gems Photo Contest this summer. Thanks, also, to our judges, John Fielder, David Hiser and Alex Irvin. The judges awarded first place to Michael Ogburn for his image of a fly fish- erman on Petroleum Lake (in the proposed Ruby Lakes wilderness addition), and third place to Vayle Mango for her image of arctic gentians in the proposed Tenmile Wilderness. (Nick Logan won second place – see the cover.) The People’s Choice Award went to Jonathan Christensen for his panorama of Lost Lake, in the proposed Red Table Wilderness. The contest is not over! The deadline for submissions for fall/winter pictures is Feb. 15. For contest rules, see the Hidden Gems Campaign website, www. whiteriverwild.org.

12 Wilderness Works December 2009 DONOR HALL OF FAME he Wilderness Workshop wishes to thank the follow- the previous newsletter. New members are indicated by an Ting generous people who have made donations since asterisk (*).

$10,000+ Oak Lodge Foundation Jack and Bonnie Wilke Tricia Nichols Anonymous (2) Pitkin County Chris Wurtele NRDC Burke Foundation Fund of the The Thrift Shop of Aspen Angus Wurtele Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein Greater Milwaukee Foundation Peter Van Domelen Cheryl and Sam Wyly Harry and Karin Teague Caroline Cochener and Jim Charles and Dee Wyly* Zac Weinberg Bonesteel $2,000-4,999 Bruce Berger Laffey-McHugh Foundation Anonymous, in honor of Jim Roush $1,000-1,999 Marty Flug John McBride family/ABC and Cynthia Wayburn Charles Hopton Katie Kitchen and Paul Kovach Foundation* Arches Foundation Mary Dominick and Sven Coomer Ann Nichols The Cynthia and George Mitchell Shelley Burke Ann Harvey and Mike Campbell Lee Osterman and Elissa Topol Foundation Beth Cashdan and Paul D’Amato Gesine and Jack Crandall Ford and Susan Schumann Jessica and Aron Ralston Marcia Corbin Mark Taché and Christin Cooper Douglas and Gabriella Stuart Barbara Allen and Bil Dunaway Noey and Tom Congdon Andy Wiessner and Patsy $5,000-9,999 John Emerick Beth Fergus Batchelder Aspen Skiing Company Jeremy and Angela Foster Mark Harvey Molly and Tom Bedell* Environment Foundation Julie Heyman Muriel Harvey and Jon Musacchia Molly Brooks* Lucy Hahn Lost Man Foundation Bob and Sue Helm John Chung* Connie Harvey Lynn Nichols and Jim Gilchrist Grace Huffman David Newberger* Adam and Melony Lewis Susan O’Neal Jimmy Ibbotson Ellen Hunt Maki Foundation Rob Pew and Susan Taylor Peter Looram and Owen Robert and Marcie Musser Katie and Hank Van Schaack McHaney CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Give to WW and get a free calendar! e’re thrilled to be able to offer an extra Wreason to make a yearend donation to the Wilderness Workshop. Give $100 or more by Dec. 31, and we’ll send you a free limited-edition Wild Men of Aspen 2010 calendar. This gorgeous calendar features photos of some of Aspen’s best-known athletes and outdoorsmen (that’s Aron Ralston on the cover), by some of Aspen’s best photographers. Wild Men of Aspen has been produced and en- tirely funded by Kelly Wyly of the Elliott Yeary Gallery, with all proceeds going to WW. It will be sold at Explore Booksellers and other local out- lets, but the best way to get your copy is directly from WW. Additional copies may be ordered for $30 each (price includes shipping). We also have copies of Doug Scott’s book, Our Wilderness: America’s Common Ground, as an alternative premium for a $100+ gift. Please indicate your preference on the remit envelope stapled into this newsletter.

Wilderness Works December 2009 13 Susan Welsch and Everett Peirce Ted Eck Hugh and Mary Wise/The Allyn Harvey* Donors Flunison Fund Michael Hassig and CONTINUED from previous page Toni Zurcher Olivia Emery Sue and Bob Hess $500-999 $250-499 Tom and Carol Robert Brinker and Pamela Joseph Colby June Fulton Kurt Bristlecone Mountain Sports Reese Henry and Co. William Laemmel Sally Cole Felicity Huffman, in honor of Cory Nick and Sarah Carol Duell Brettman Lebby Suzanne Farver Dawn Barton Tim and Donna Alison Friedman* Ginni Galicinao McFlynn Julie Goldstein and Tony Frank Peters and Marjory Mary Anne Mary Dominick O’Rourke Musgrave Meyer Marais Platais, one of our two Henry and Angela Hite Travis Moore autumn Artists in Wilderness, displays a Pat Hogan* $100-249 David Mork and painting he made in the proposed Basalt Les and Ellen Holst* Karen Beard Nanna Schov Mountain Wilderness. Phil and Gail Holstein Carl and Katie Bergman Doug and Lyn Bud and Cleon Knapp* Diana Beuttas Nehasil Charles and Janice Collins Marcella Larsen* HC and Dee Blakewell Lynda Palevsky Jay Cowan and Harriet Garth Tim and Donna McFlynn John Buerger Ginny Parker Clark and Bonnie Cretti Cavanaugh and Blanca O’Leary Katherine and James Bulkley David Pietsch and Peggy Corcillo Tom and Cathy Crum Ken and Emily Ransford Katey Buster Aron Ralston Crystal Valley Environmental Steve Smith and Heather Beth Cashdan and Paul D’Amato Greg Russi Protection Association McGregor Colorado Environmental Coalition Auden Schendler and Ellen Wayne and Claire Dailey Pat Spitzmiller Katalin Domoszlay Freedman Maggie DeWolf Structural Associates James and Carmen Dowley Greg and Nancy Schultz* George Eldred and Laura Thielen Craig Scott* Susy Ellison and Marty Schlein John and Ingrid Seidel Debbi and Steve Falender Richard and Carolyn Shohet* George and Susan Fesus* Hidden Gems donors Mike and Margaret Simmons Don Fleisher and Audrey Sattler Ryan and Anda Smalls The following are donations made to the Hidden Gems Jack Gausnell The Ute Mountaineer Randy Gold Wilderness Campaign, for which WW is the fiscal agent. Betty Weiss Bill and Joyce Gruenberg Pierre and Beth Wille Tony and Joanne Guerrerio $100,000+ $1,000-1,999 Judy and Lynn Hancock Rob Pew and Susan Taylor Michael McVoy $50-99 Shep and Mary Harris Beth Cashdan and Paul D’Amato Bob Adams Susan Hassol $50,000-99,999 Isa Catto Shaw and Daniel Shaw Anonymous (2) Trautlinde Heater Campaign for America’s Mary Dominick and Sven Ingrid Antoni Joe Henry Wilderness Coomer Bill Baker Kristen Henry, in memory of Charles Hopton Town of Basalt Jackie Chandler $10,000-49,999 Felicity Huffman Charles and Martha Bauer* Casady Henry Anonymous Tricia Nichols John and Jane Bennett Charles and Linda Ho Peter Looram Susan O’Neal Robert and Tracy Bennett Tim Hobbs Jessica and Aron Ralston Doug and Barbi Sheffer Richard Beresford Judy Hutchins Carl and Katie Bergman David Hyman and Barbara Reid $5,000-9,999 $500-999 Nancy Berry John Isaacs Jim Aresty Steve and Molly Child Diana Beuttas Sandy Jackson Aspen Skiing Company Tim and Donna McFlynn HC and Dee Blakewell Ann Jeffrey Environment Foundation Althy and Randy Brimm Leslie and Patrick Johnson Up to $499 Michal Brimm Ann and Sam Johnson $2,000-4,999 Paul and Lu Andersen Dan and Pam Budman Dina Kaplan* Alpine Bank James and Lynn Chapin* John Buerger David and Maureen Kerr Bill Wiener Mary Daly Dick and Julie Bulkeley Carol Ann Kopf Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation Ginni Galicinao Katherine and James Bulkley Charles Logan Town of Carbondale Kent Whinnery and Wendy Joy Caudill Amory Lovins and Judy Hill Henry and Angela Hite Hahn* Diana Cecala Lovins Hal Clark Marianne and Sheldon B. Lubar

14 Wilderness Works December 2009 Patricia Maddalone David Bowers* Malcom McMichael Tita and Dan McCarty David and Janet Boyle Diana McNab* Kent and Elizabeth Meager Edgar and Elizabeth Boyles Susan Melton* Bob Millette and Maggie Oni Butterfly Kevin Meyers Pedersen Jimmy & Pixie Byrne* Pam Moore Jim Neu Elizabeth Cammack* Barney and Dot Mulligan Tom Newland Helen and Roger Carlsen Beth and Michael Mulrey Virginia and Rick Newton Rory and Lucy Cerise, in Dave and Stephanie Munk Warren and Karen Ohlrich memory of Dottie Fox Sandy and Mary Lynn Munro P.O. Box 1442 Lynda Palevsky Karen and Bob Chamberlain Rick Neiley Carbondale, CO 81623 Bruce Parlette Chris Chapman* Gracie Oliphant 589 Main St., Carbondale Tel (970) 963-3977 Peter Pierson* Trish Chew Ginny Parker Fax (970) 963-8447 Irma Prodinger R. Barry Crook David Polovin www.wildernessworkshop.org Missy and Steve Prudden Doug Driskell Bob and Gabriella Rafelson [email protected] Lee Rimel Ronnie Egan M C Reveal Sue Rodgers Stephen and Jennifer Rachel Richards The Wilderness Workshop’s mission is to Jonathan and Diana Rose Ellsperman Suzanne Richman* protect and conserve the wilderness and Sarah Broughton and John Janice Estey Gregory and Heather Rydell natural resources of the Roaring Fork Rowland William Evans* George Ryerson Watershed, the White River National Greg and Patti Rulon Dorothea Farris Michael Sailor Forest, and adjacent lands. Jill Sabella John Fox Teresa Salvadore WW is a nonprofit organization that Gary and Nancy Schultz Irene Friedman Renata Scheder engages in research, education, legal Daniel Schwartz* Dorothy Frommer Jan Schoeberlein advocacy, and grassroots organizing to Alan and Gail Schwartz Sara Garton Stan & Kandi Shaffran* protect the ecological integrity of local John and Ingrid Seidel Doug and Peggy Graybeal Charles and Sandra Simon* landscapes and public lands with a focus Leslie and Nancy Selzer Jan Hamilton Steve Skadron on the monitoring and conservation of Bob Shettel Matt Hamilton Steve and Skye Skinner air and water quality, wildlife species and Jeffrey Shoaf* David Hanner* Nelson Smith* habitat, natural communities, and lands Steve and Sally Smith Bryan Harding* Jill Soffer of wilderness quality. John Starr Rett Harper Gnarlene Steiner Board of Directors Bill Stirling Keith Hartigan* Tom Stiles Tim McFlynn, Co-President John and Birgit Suitor Georgeann Hayes, in memory JD Sturgill and Sylvia Peter Van Domelen, Co-President Hal Sundin of Dottie Fox and Murray Pope Wendrow Mary Dominick, Vice President Lewis Teague* Kendall Henry* Don Thompson and Jan Oen Michael McVoy, Treasurer Jill Teitelbaum and Buddy Bobbi Ann and Graham Bob and Phyllis Throm Aron Ralston, Secretary Meyers* Houtsma Nancy Tipton Beth Cashdan Doug & Amy Throm Sandy and Peter Johnson Shelly Sheppick and Stu Ufrig Steve Child Chuck and Linda Vidal Ken Johnson* P.J. Wallace* John Emerick Shael Johnson Trevor Washko Ginni Galicinao Up to $49 Brian & Alicia Keleher* Melissa Waters Charles Hopton Victoria Allen* Steve Kelly Tripp Watts* Peter Looram Anonymous* Alex Kettner Erin Rigney & Craig John McBride, Jr. Becky Anslyn Mary Jo Kimbrough Wheeless* Travis Moore Kathleen Ayerbe* Sharon Clarke and Mark Lacy Polly Whitcomb Steve Smith Ginny Beesley Jane Leddy Eric Wiepking* Mike Stranahan Diana and Robert Blaschak Geoff Lester Marion, Jean and Hayden Andy Wiessner David and Patti Bluefield Rick and Lindsay Lofaro Winkler Founders Chris Bodnar* Martha Madsen Dan Wolf Joy Caudill Steve Bonowski Julia Marshall Robert Zupancis Dottie Fox Jenny & Mike Bouchet* Jake McGavock Connie Harvey Staff Sloan Shoemaker, Executive Director One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, “What Melanie Finan Ginny Harrington if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would Peter Hart never see it again?” Dave Reed – Rachel Carson

Wilderness Works December 2009 15 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. Postage PAID PERMIT NUMBER 62 P.O. BOX 1442 CARBONDALE, CO CARBONDALE, CO 81623 81623 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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Upcoming events... A Forever Wild Celebration – Dec. 6 (details at right)

An Evening with the Hidden Gems – Dec. 19 Toklat Art Gallery, Basalt

Naturalist Nights – starting Jan. 6 (details on p. 5)

Full Moon Cross-Country Ski Party – TBD WW’s annual winter gathering

GET YOUR FREE WILD MEN OF ASPEN CALENDAR!

– See Page 13

Wilderness Works 16 Wilderness Works December June 20092008