Montanans, old, young, and in between, disabled and able, want to get away from motorized use areas to enjoy the quiet solitude of the natural landscape. That is one reason for reasonable restrictions on motorized use. Our proposed abundant motorized corridors provide access for all these people to enjoy our public land. Our proposed non-motorized areas provide the quiet solitude and natural landscape.

Letters in the Billings Gazette

Many Letters to the Editor have been printed in the Billings Gazette during November and December 2007, expressing a wide range of opinions on Travel Planning for the Pryors. Click here to see ALL the letters.

Editorials and Guest Opinions in the Billings Gazette

D.C. stalemate limits forest funding for travel plan GAZETTE OPINION: December 16, 2007 We should strike a better balance between quiet, ORV use in Pryors By BERNARD ROSE: October 6, 2007 Pryors vision -- Toward roads less traveled By PAUL SNEED Montana Wilderness Association: May 1, 2004

Assorted Articles

Thrillcraft: The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation How many Bad Apples are there in Montana? Sparing the Pryors   --T. J. Gilles: Billings Outpost, August 30,2007 OFF-ROAD ABUSE TEARING UP NATIONAL MONUMENT IN ARIZONA Sonoran Desert National Monument Overwhelmed by Off-Road Traffic and Impacts West Reno neighborhood torn over scarred hillsides RANGERS CALL OFF-ROAD VEHICLES BIGGEST THREAT TO PUBLIC LANDS --Rangers for Responsible Recreation Launched to Combat “Wreck-reation” Foresters try to find balance in travel plan   --Brett French, Billings Gazette November 10, 2007. Concerned Families Releases New Study on Child ATV and Bicycle Injuries Showing Skyrocketing Hospitalization Rates and Medical Costs   --Concerned Families for ATV Safety

Organizations

Concerned Families for ATV Safety Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

The following links tell the stories of older people who enjoy hiking in the Pryors, and of a physically disabled person who was the victim of a hit-and-run ATV rider. He was attempting to hike in an area closed to motor vehicles. One suspects that the unknown ATV rider was not physically disabled.

Red Lodge Hiking Club attracts retirees with passion for outdoors (Billings Gazette--8/02/2007)

Burgeoning Ravalli County grapples with outlaw ATV riders (Billings Gazette--6/24/2007)

"The Montana Native Plant Society encourages the Forest Service to limit road building as much as possible in order to protect biological diversity, sustain the economic values of weed-free land and maintain recreational opportunities for everyone. Similarly, MNPS urges the Forest Service to curtail off-road vehicle use and prevent the unauthorized creation of de facto roads by off-road vehicles.... MNPS also urges the Forest Service to close or remove existing roads whenever possible." ...from A letter recommending that road building be limited because roads facilitate invasion by noxious weeds (from Montana Native Plant Society "Conservation Issues" -- March 2004)

Resolution about "Off-Highway Vehicles" passed by the National Association of Counties (July 2003)

Custer National Forest