Dear Mr. Brazell:

Please continue your recommendation of the Great Burn’s designation as a wilderness area. 

I was first introduced to this wonderful area when my wife and I served as campground hosts for 3 summers at the Trout Creek Campground in the Superior Ranger District. This experience played a central role in our decision to become full time residents of Superior, MT and I can tell you in no uncertain terms that if this experience had included sharing the trails of this area with motorized travel, my reaction would have been entirely different. Prior to settling in Superior, we had the opportunity to visit and hike many of our national parks but it was State Line Trail and Heart Lake that caused stay. 

I like to think that the result of this decision was a benefit to our community as well. Since I came into town a total stranger, I have become the Chief of the Superior Volunteer Fire Department. I’m sure Superior’s FMO will tell you he is now supported by a far more effective and better equipped department. I also now serve as chairman of our hospital board and as a board member of our health clinic. Our hospital is beginning the process of recruiting a new CEO. Attracting good people to Superior is not easy. I consider this beautiful area my ace in the hole to accomplish this task. When an old college friend stopped to visit while passing through last week with only one day to linger, State Line Trail south from Hoodoo was where I took him. After noting the hike as the best part of the visit, his comment on a blog about his trip was that “It is a wild and wonderful country”.

Opportunities for other uses abound. The State of Montana is developing a State Park in the Fish Creek drainage that will serve a multitude of users. This park is also designed to be a gateway to this unique wilderness and a failure to pursue designation would do great damage to the recreational balance wilderness designation for this area would provide. There is also far more timber available for harvest outside this area than the market demands. 

 

                                                                John Woodland

                                                                580 River Bend Rd.

                                                                Superior, MT 59872

