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Advocacy Please review the following trail access issues and opportunities in our area. Follow the links below to make a difference! Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign The Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign is a proposal to greatly expand Wilderness areas in Colorado including our Roaring Fork Valley. Mountain bikes are banned in Wilderness and therefore any areas designated will be off limits to mountain bikers forever. Wilderness areas already account for approximately 33% or the White River National Forest and, if passed, the Hidden Gems would increase the total areas that exclude mountain bikes to 45%. RFMBA is continuing to work with Hidden Gems proponents, local stakeholders, our elected representatives, and IMBA to represent the local riding community during these critical times. We recently met with members of Wilderness Workshop and The Wilderness Society to convey ongoing concerns about the current Hidden Gems Proposals. We are also working closely with a new IMBA representative whose job is to help local mountain bike advocacy groups in situations like the current Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal. The biggest recent news concerning the Hidden Gems Wilderness campaign is that the proponents have split the original proposal into two separate parts each focusing on a single Congressional District:
Recently, the Jared Polis (CD2) proposal was submitted by proponents to the Congressmen to create a bill that will then go before Congress. At this point, that proposal is in the hands of Polis staff who are continuing to work with local constituents. So this process is not over but we are at a critical juncture. The main remaining areas of concern in the Polis (CD2) proposal are Basalt Mountain and Red Table Mountain. Hidden Gems proponents are proposing a large swath of Wilderness area that would perpetually block direct mountain bike access from the Basalt Mountain riding area to the Frying Pan valley. RFMBA is proposing border adjustments and the use of a non-motorized corridor that would maximize new Wilderness while retaining this valuable riding connection. While we still don’t have an outcome either way for the Polis proposal and are even further off from one with the Salazar one, we are in high hopes that continued discussions with Hidden Gems proponents and Congressional staff via IMBA are our best options at this point. We are continuing to maintain a positive tone in these dialogs and request that members do the same for now. More Information
Other Resources Other Access Issues The International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) works to promote bicycle advocacy throughout the United States and beyond. They track access issues and request your help in responding to them. Click the link below to see how you can help IMBA protect our riding opportunities.
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