Scott Morris
2152 N Edison Terrace
Tucson, AZ 85716
520-881-4052

To: Erin Boyle, Assistant Forest Planner


I would like to comment on several of the potential wilderness areas 
outlined by the draft forest plan.  First, many of them have a glaring 
omission in the "current use" section.  Mountain biking is not mentioned 
as a current use in any of the documents.  Yet, in some of the areas I 
would argue that mountain biking is a primary use -- even higher usage 
than hiking on some trails (specifically in the East Catalina PWA and the 
Samaniego Ridge PWA).

I have personally enjoyed numerous mountain bike rides in the following 
PWAs:

     Dragoon Potential Wilderness Area
     East Catalina Potential Wilderness Area
     Mt. Wrightson Addition Potential Wilderness Area
     North Chiricahua Potential Wilderness Area
     Samaniego Ridge Potential Wilderness Area
     Tumacacori Potential Wilderness Area

I know of many other mountain bikers who enjoy riding in these areas, as 
well.

As a former wilderness ranger I have studied the wilderness act in detail 
and have visited many wilderness areas by foot.  I also enjoy long bicycle 
rides and choose to live in Tucson due to the great opportunities for 
mountain biking in this area.

In my opinion, none of the 10 wilderness areas outlined by the draft 
forest plan are suitable for designation as wilderness.  Roads criss cross 
many of them, and signs of mining and other human intrusion run 
throughout.  Most are far too small to get any sense of being "out there" 
or any true sense of solitude, as intended by the Wilderness Act of 1964.

Further, I do not see the need for these additional wilderness areas in 
southern Arizona.  Residents of metro Tucson already have sufficient 
access to Pusch Ridge and Mt. Wrightson wilderness areas, both of which 
have areas where it is easy to get away from 'the crowds.' Adding in other 
regional wilderness areas to the picture gives a wealth of wilderness, 
foot-only opportunities.

Meanwhile, mountain bike access is already severely limited by current 
wilderness areas.  One prime example is the Arizona Trail.  Bikepacking 
(backpacking with a mountain bike) is becoming an increasingly popular 
activity.  Bikepackers following the Arizona Trail must detour around 
wilderness areas (e.g. Mt. Wrightson and Pusch Ridge WA's), forcing them 
to ride on busy and unsafe highways.  Wilderness areas cause a significant 
safety concern in this way.  Traveling on busy roadways is also 
emphatically not the experience that bikepackers are looking for.

For these reasons, I trust that none of the outlined potential wilderness 
areas will be seriously considered or selected as preferred alternatives. 
I urge that the evaluations be updated to accurately depict current 
mountain bike use, as well.

Sincerely,

Scott Morris