Letter: Thanks for protecting our lands

I am writing to thank the U.S. Forest Service for its recent decision to protect the Crystal River Valley and Thompson Divide area from future oil and gas leasing. This is encouraging news for my family-run business, Alpine and River Lodging, in Redstone.

Redstone’s economy is intimately tied to the public lands that surround us. In summer, you can hike, ride or climb the extraordinary peaks on nearby Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. In the fall, our region features some of the most picturesque leaf viewing around, and is an important base for big-game hunting. In the winter, our guests enjoy incredible snowshoeing, back country and cross-country skiing in Thompson Divide.

Our local forest supervisor, Scott Fitzwilliams, stated in his written decision that he “gave strong consideration to insuring these values, that millions of people enjoy each year, are maintained.” Fitzwilliams and his team at the White River National Forest deserve our thanks.

Sincerely,

Jeff Bier

Alpine and River Lodging