FS-2025-0001-510117

As a an 80 year old with degrees in Biology and Public Health, and as a hiker, backpacker and camper in roadless areas, primarily in Montana, I strongly oppose any changes to the 2001 Roadless Rule that would weaken its scope. While anything can be improved, there is no indication now or in recent years, that a review of this rule would result in anything but negative consequences for the remaining undeveloped portions of our national forests. My activities over decades in national forests, wilderness areas and other roadless country in Montana gave me astounding beauty, intimate connection with nature and wildlife, and a peaceful respite from our busy 20th and 21st century lives. The benefit of these areas to human beings only grows in importance as the world becomes more developed, ever more noisy, chaotic. The quiet and beauty of the natural world soothes, and creates an environment in which we can closely observe the patterns of nature and how we are an integral part of it. I particularly remember my few encounters within these protected areas - in particular grizzly bears on the Rocky Mountain Front, and a wolverine when we got off trail in the Crazy Mountains. Those were elemental experiences, taking my breath away as I felt myself drawn back in time when our species lived more closely with these animals. I deeply value the wildness of the Rocky Mountain Front, the Pioneers and Tobacco Roots, the Absarokee, even the Crazy Mountains, albeit a checkerboard of roadless and leased BLM land. Without the protections of roadless areas within these ranges, we would lose so much - carbon sequestration in the forest canopies, the cohesion of the ecosystem allowed to evolve according to its original design, the habitat for our emblematic species - Bear, Moose, Elk, Wolverine, Wolf -, the protection of the watershed, the springs, creeks, streams that converge to form our largest river systems, from Columbia to the Missouri and on to the Mississippi. This is a high price to pay for allowing more logging roads where there are marginal timber resources. Also the claims that more roads and logging would reduce wildfire risk are not only unfounded and unverified. The majority of our huge wildfires of late have been caused by humans, or sparks from their cars on back woods roads. I have also closely observed old stands of second growth fir and cedar in the Cascades, and can see how their thick coating of bark would protect them in a blaze. There are other reasons not to revise or repeal this rule. The existing road network carries billions of dollars in maintenance backlog. It is irresponsible to add to that. Roadless national forests are intact and filter water naturally, providing clean drinking water to millions of Americans. Roadless national forests contain old growth stands that store significant amounts of carbon I have two grandsons, and want them to have the experience of a wild country. I experienced that when I first croed into Montana in 1965. I had spent my first 19 years in Los Angeles and watched the city expand in all directions, rivers with concrete banks, land consumed by shopping centers, freeways and developments. I was young and had no particular judgments; I was just noticing. But something deep in me changed as I dropped into the Centennial Valley, looking across to the Snowcrest and Gravelly Ranges, down along the Red Rock River through the open ranch land and into the Big Hole. I understood nature, the patterns of the work growing crops or feed, the seasons, the growing cycles, and how I fit into it all. I felt I was Home for the first time. The immediacy of this feeling is still with me six decades later as one of the most important experiences of my life. It situated me in the world, in this country, within the landscape. I was no longer separate, walking above the ground, a barrier between the earth and me. It was grounding. I was grounded All humans need to feel connected to what supports them, to see ourselves as part of and perhaps responsible for the earth that gives us life - oxygen, sustenance, water, clothing, shelter. We can find this in wildness, be it National Forests, Wilderness, Roadless Areas, free flowing rivers, the shore, a dark star-lit sky. We are lucky to be a large country where so much of it is still open. Let’s keep some of it that way. There are plenty of areas of public lands that have roads and other amenities to provide other types of recreation and access. In closing, I strongly ask the Forest Service to reject any revision, repeal or weakening of the 2001 Roadless Rule. We as a people, who have a say in governmental decisions, need these lands to be protected so that wildlife habitat, clean water, recreation, solitude and yes, connection with the earth can be there for generations moving forward. Thank you for this opportunity to speak on this important issue - in support of the many wild places that I have grown to love.