No dogs in the Bob

New Lolo National Forest Supervisor Tim Garcia and his so-called Lolo Forest Leadership Team are prohibiting smokejumper trail crews from bringing a well-trained retriever on trail projects in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Garcia, after serving as a legislative affairs specialist at the Forest Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., reported to the Missoula supervisor’s office on April 17.

He explained that dogs were not allowed to accompany volunteer workers on field projects in the Bob Marshall Wilderness because of safety and liability concerns. This includes the entire Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and surrounding areas. The Lolo National Forest covers 2.1 million acres.

He is supported by Northern Region Forester Faye Krueger. Her region encompasses 25 million acres over five states. Both are headquartered with the U.S. Forest Service in Missoula. Garcia possibly hails from Utah. His academic background is not identified ... unknown.

Ever since 1999, smokejumpers from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and later have been volunteering to clear trails in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The trail maintenance program was created in 1999 by Missoula jumper Art Jukkala. Hundreds of miles of trails have been maintained through this program by smokejumper volunteers.

Comments relating to this intrusion by an outsider to our Montana heritage, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, are appreciated.

Manny Haiges

Rexford