Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal, specifically the Williams Fork area in Summit County.

The Williams Fork ridge has been a very popular hang gliding site for over 30 years. It is one of the very few areas in Colorado that offers a great launch and an excellent LZ. The landing area is currently threatened by a proposed power line along Highway 9 for a new marina, now the launch is threatened by a proposed wilderness area.

The Williams Fork mountain range is a premier site to fly hang gliders.

I have always been quite supportive of wilderness areas, and have backpacked extensively in wilderness areas throughout the American West. I have never understood why a hang glider was banned in a wilderness area. It is a very low-impact sport, quiet, and harms no one.

Many years ago the hang gliding community was faced with a similar issue regarding power lines as the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposed installing high-voltage power lines along the top of Williams Fork ridge. Investing quite a bit of our time our time, effort, and RMHPA funds, we worked with WAPA, the Forest Service, land owners, and our congressional representatives to reach a compromise solution that placed the lines below the top of the ridge to where they are today. It would be quite a shame to lose our flying site now after all of that effort in the past. I seek a similar solution to mitigate the restrictions the proposed wilderness area would present to hang glider and paraglider pilots flying there today.
 

For the full story: http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100418/LETTER/100419862/1078&ParentProfile=1055