It was a relief to read that the Tilbury Trail (South Fowl Snowmobile Access) lawsuit was finally resolved after dragging through the courts for 15 years. My understanding is that the cost for attorneys, courts, and Forest Service work connected with the lawsuit exceeded $300,000 and that number may be low.
I find it troubling that environmental groups engaged in this frivolous lawsuit (trail is outside Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and only three permits were issued in winter of 2013 for entry to BWCAW) brought forward to stir and manipulate emotions of those well meaning citizens who contribute to environmental causes.
A better choice of how to spend those hundreds of thousand dollars and hours of U.S. Forest Service employees would have been to clear the Pow Wow Trail which is currently impassable due to 2,000 downed trees and campsite still buried under tree falls from fire four years ago, or contribute that money to replacing the Temperance River bridge that has been closed.
I would rather be able to access our forests whether it is by road or a hiking trail, than to look at piles of paper left in recycling bins in the aftermath of unwarranted court battles.
Martin Kubik (ESL)
President, Boundary Waters
Advisory Committee
Founder, Kekekabic Trail Club
Vadnais Heights, MN
Leave a Reply