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About seven years ago I was on a Friends of Scotchman Peaks guided hike and met a couple from New York. While U.S. citizens now, they were born and raised in Switzerland and grew up hiking the Alps. Now they plan their vacations hiking in wilderness areas in this country. They spent two weeks lodging, dining, shopping, and hiking the Scotchmans and enjoyed a wonderful vacation. They returned for two weeks in 2015 during the smokiest part of that fire season and in spite of the smoke stayed and vacationed in Bonner County for two weeks.

Many western communities value wilderness areas not only for obvious benefits often touted, but for the positive economic impact of tourism. Sen. James Risch was wise to respond to this community’s request for wilderness designation.

CAROL JENKINS

Sagle