Letters to the editor May 15

Wilderness treasures

After 20 seasons guiding wilderness treks and river journeys in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, I have witnessed significant changes in wilderness visitors.

As a teenager I hiked from Ovando to Essex, scrambled in the Mission Mountains, and skied from Benchmark to Holland Lake. Years later, adventures through the Bob were family highlights. I have a 45-year perspective on backcountry and the people who venture there. It was common to share the journey with deeply appreciative guests humbled by the 30-mile trek and the river float. We traveled light and left little trace.

Recently I’ve noted increased human impacts and a decreased respect for wilderness. The scattered human excrement and toilet paper flowers, and excessive fire rings filled with garbage, have altered the experience and place. I have witnessed individuals riding mountain bicycles and others flying drones.

Expectations of the guided outing have changed. Two years ago, I shared a trip with a group of men outfitted with float and fishing equipment normally witnessed in a non-wilderness setting. They fired rounds of ammunition at late hours and blasted music as other wilderness goers floated past. Some in the group roughly handled trout before releasing them. These men exited the wilderness like carnival goers finished with the entertainment.

Last spring’s news that a couple had actually helicoptered into the Bob on a fishing outing and simply had to pay a minimal fee speaks to a lack of wilderness trespass accountability.

This past winter I skied into a rugged patch of the Mission Mountains, seeking to reconnect with my favorite local wilderness. What I discovered were snowmachine tracks criss-crossing that majestic landscape. Other skiers have recently witnessed similar trespass.

To all who truly value Northwest Montana, can we renew our efforts to safeguard the wilderness treasures that help make it such a remarkable place?

—Joseph Biby, Kalispell

Supports Regier

An article in the April 23 Daily Inter Lake was a shameless hit piece on Senator Keith Regier and by association, his family as well. Senator Regier is a very intelligent, kind man who truly cares about and listens to his constituents. For the reporter to cherry pick quotes from Senator Regier’s rightful defense of HB 702, in order to portray him as some tinfoil hat-wearer, shows how those opposed to good bills like HB 702 truly have no substantive arguments against it. Therefore they have to stoop to character assassination and outright falsehoods.

I am very thankful to Senator Regier, his family and all of our good legislators who fought so hard for our liberties during a very exhausting legislative session. My proverbial hat (not made of tinfoil), is off to you all.

—Julie Martin, Kalispell

Questionable leadership

I’m amazed at what our political leaders are doing in Helena all in the name of Flathead County’s citizens.

Do we really believe that microchips have been added to the Covid vaccines, as Sen. Keith Reiger hypothesized?

Do we really believe that elected county commissions should supersede the recommendations of health officials during a pandemic, as supported by Sen. Carl Glimm?

Do we really believe the best way to control wolves is to allow snares which will catch bear cubs and hunting dogs as supported by Sen. Mark Blasdel?

Do we really want the court-packing bill introduced by Sen. Keith Reiger, which allows the governor to directly appoint judges to vacant district and Supreme Court seats (which isn’t even allowed on the federal level) by eliminating the current nominating commission that has been in place for over 50 years?

Do we really believe that the election that elected our Republican governor, state legislators, and federal legislators was so flawed that we needed an election security law aimed at college students, as carried by Sen. Mike Cuffe of Eureka?

Do we really believe the biggest issue faced by high school students today is a transgender student participating in high school sports as believed by Rep. John Fuller?

Do we really believe that any religious objection from any religious group should supersede the rights of all American citizens, especially those of the LGBTQ community, as supported by Sen. Carl Glimm?

Do we really believe that Montana should set up a permanent legislative commission to review any federal law for possible nullification by the Montana legislature as proposed by Rep. Derek Skees?

Do we really believe the way to improve Montana’s economy is to cut the income tax for high earners in an effort to attract out of state entrepreneurs as proposed by Sen. Mark Blasdel?

I look at these regressive measures on wonder if live in the southern United States rather than the southern end of the Flathead Valley.

—Lana Batts, Lakeside