Hey Everyone,

I apologize for the spam type email, but this is important and affects all of us a lot. To sum up what is going on, as part of bringing the Cibola NF plan up to date, the USFS is reevaluating what should be "wilderness". This new plan will guide how the USFS manages the Cibola NF (Sandias) for the next 15 years and possibly longer. As it stands the proposed expansion makes the area from the Ski Area down to Doc Long in the Sandias all wilderness, so no more shutting 10k. It also makes, roughly, the foothills from the Elena ranger station down to the Montgomery TH wilderness as well as the area form the Elena Ranger Station up to the water tower and west to the NE Heights wilderness. So you couldn't start form the Montgomery or Spain TH and make a loop. You also couldn't go to the water tower or access Elena from anywhere in the NE Heights because all those trails would become wilderness. If none of us speak up this will all be off limits to mountain bikers within the next few years (they are aiming to have this plan in place by summer 2017).

I have already contacted AMBA (Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association), our local IMBA chapter, and they are contacting IMBA's Southwest Director. Hopefully we can get IMBA involved. There are a few ways that everyone can help. You can:

1. Go to an open house public meeting and voice your concern. They are having two meetings in the ABQ area. One in Albuquerque on Coors Blvd. August 5th and one in Tijeras on August 12th. The information for those meetings are in their press release which can be found here (20150715PublicMeetingAnnouncement.pdf). I plan on attending the Tijeras meeting on August 12th.

2. Comment on the interactive map. Here is a static map of the planned changes (http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...prd3846188.pdf). The land in blue is set to become wilderness. They also have an interactive map located here (https://my.usgs.gov/ppgis/studio/launch/39829) that allows the public to comment on the proposed expansion areas. They will then use these comments as well as the comments at the public meetings to determine whether an area becomes wilderness or not. To comment do the following:

-Click on the link above
-Check the box next to the red text that says("Check this box to continue with the next step:") to continue.
-Zoom in on the map to the blue patterned areas (areas scheduled to become wilderness).
-In the upper left of the map click "Draw Point"
-Click in the blue patterned area and then fill out your information along with your comment in the popup box.
-Submit

3. Spread the word. I am normally not a huge activist, however this affects all of us in a big way and the more people we get to comment the more the USFS will see how many people use this area to recreate with their bikes.

Thanks and let me know if you have any other questions.

Kenneth