The fight to save climbing at Lost Horse Crag near Darby Montana remains unresolved. Comments from the climbing community and all recreational and interested parties are URGENTLY NEEDED TO SAVE LOST HORSE CRAG! The immediate need is to urge Commissioner Driscoll to vote against the quarry; her vote is expected at the end of August.

Kathleen Driscoll
Ravalli County Commissioner
C/o Glenda Wiles, Administrative Assistant
Ravalli County Commissioners Office
215 S. 4th Street, Suite A
Hamilton, MT 59840
commissioners@ravallicounty.mt.gov

Background: The Bitterroot National Forest and Ravalli County put together a proposal to begin mining operations for the removal of 125,000 to 150,000 cubic yards of hard rock for 10 years or more in Lost Horse Canyon. The plan would effectively close Lost Horse Canyon to all climbing activity during the mining operations, stated to be October to April, which are the best months to climb there. For background info and updates, see the Bitterroot Climbers Coalition’s website: http://bitterrootclimbers.org.

There are two issues: first is with the County Commissioners to not allow its Road Department to mine in Lost Horse Canyon. The County Commissioners are deadlocked in a vote at this time on the issue, with two in favor of the mining operation, two against it, and Kathleen Driscoll on the fence (abstaining her vote) until she gets more economic data from the Road Department. The USFS’s public comment period ended July 31st, 2007 www.accessfund.org/pdf/losthorse.pdf but the BCC is telling everyone to continue writing letters to Commissioner Driscoll urging her to vote against the quarry mining operation (see letter writing info below).

Lost Horse especially needs letters to Driscoll from people who have not yet written the USFS in order to show a broad range of support. If Driscoll votes against the Road Department's use, the Forest Service has said they will put up the quarry for open bid. This is our second big concern: to block the Forest Service from promoting this outstanding natural and recreational resource as a quarry.

A large number of letters from climbers and users is CRITICAL, so forward this to your climbing partners and friends! Go to http://bitterrootclimbers.org and http://firstascentpress.com/losthorse.html for updates and details on letter writing. For more information, email: steve@bitterrootclimbers.org.