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Congress is moving to rescind the Roadless Rule, dismantling protections on millions of acres of wild lands that backcountry skiers and snowboarders adore, such as this zone in the Lake Tahoe backcountry. | Photo: SnowBrains<\/p>\n\t\tCongress is moving to rescind the Roadless Rule, dismantling protections on millions of acres of wild lands that backcountry skiers and snowboarders adore, such as this zone in the Lake Tahoe backcountry. | Photo: SnowBrains<\/p>\n
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a landmark 2001 policy that protects roughly 45 million acres of national forest across 37 states. Conservation groups and athletes warn the rollback would open prized backcountry terrain to logging, road construction, and development\u2014and the public has until Friday, September 19, to weigh in.<\/p>\n
Snowboarding pioneer Jeremy Jones<\/a> said the potential loss of protections hits especially hard in the Sierra Nevada. \u201cLooking at the threatened land is sobering. Sickening is a better word, considering in the Sierra some of our most sacred land is on the chopping block,\u201d he wrote, pointing to zones in the Sierra, central Wasatch, Chugach, Tetons, and beyond. Jones noted that rescinding the rule could jeopardize over:<\/p>\n 25,000 miles of trail Professional snowboarder Nick Russell<\/a> also called on the outdoor community to speak out, emphasizing the rule\u2019s role in preserving what makes U.S. recreation unique.<\/p>\n \u201cFor nearly 20 years, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule has protected these wild spaces from logging and road construction,\u201d Russell wrote in a social media post. \u201cRescinding this rule will have drastic impact across 20 states within our National Forests, directly affecting wildlife, clean water\/air as well as backcountry recreation\u2014shredding, hiking, biking, climbing, rafting, fishing, hunting and simply wandering through the woods.\u201d<\/p>\n Outdoor advocates stress that the repeal would not only threaten clean drinking water and wildlife habitat but also fundamentally alter recreation in some of the country\u2019s most iconic ski zones. Popular backcountry areas in Colorado\u2019s Wolf Creek, Berthoud, and Rabbit Ears passes, the Bitterroot and Salmon-Challis forests in Idaho and Montana, and Alaska\u2019s Tongass National Forest all fall within roadless designations. Skiers and riders rely on these areas for untracked powder and the sense of remoteness that defines backcountry travel.<\/p>\n While proponents argue that more roads would help forest managers mitigate wildfire risk, conservationists counter that roadless areas already allow selective thinning without the need for large-scale road building. They warn that once roads and development move in, the untouched character of these landscapes will be gone for good.<\/p>\n The USDA\u2019s planned rollback has triggered a 21-day public comment period ending September 19. Outdoor groups including the Outdoor Alliance are urging people to submit comments<\/a> and contact members of Congress. Advocates are also pressing lawmakers to permanently enshrine the protections through the Roadless Area Conservation Act, though the bill faces an uphill battle.<\/p>\n Roadless areas make up just 2 percent of U.S. land but hold some of the country\u2019s most pristine terrain. Losing protections could permanently change the landscapes forever. For skiers, snowboarders, anglers, and hikers alike, the coming days may prove decisive. As Jones put it: \u201cWe have fought this off before and we can do it again if everyone makes their voices heard.\u201d<\/p>\n For those who seek to take action in protecting America\u2019s wild spaces, the link to submit a comment on the Roadless Rule can be found here: https:\/\/p2a.co\/znxxuvs<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t
\n10,794 miles of mountain biking routes
\n8,659 climbing routes
\nand 768 miles of whitewater.<\/p>\n