Meril Ebbers
Meril
Ebbers is the president
of the Idaho State Snowmobile Association. We interviewed him in May near
Fourth of July Lake in the White Clouds.
What do you think about the proposal to designate the Boulder-White Clouds wilderness?
“As far as wilderness, this state has four million acres of wilderness right now. We as a state association, we believe that we do not need anymore. For 25 years this area has been managed well. We do not think that it should be wilderness…You can look at past history. If you close one area, more people go to other areas. It puts more use on that area and creates more problems…It really doesn’t make sense because if you close an area, the benefits to the local area will be less, especially to businesses. Keep it open to multiple-use.”
Can a compromise be reached between the different user-groups?
“We will always talk…I think that the local groups are the best people to work with because they know the areas and the problems…When you try to draft legislation and bring it onto a national level, it does not come back the way it started…There’s a tremendous resource back here that has been well managed. There have been some conflicts, but I think that the local people are working through those. Let the process work.”
What do you enjoy about snowmobiling?
“It’s God’s country in all of its splendor in the winter…It’s
the chance to get out in the areas that most people can’t get to.
To enjoy the country with your family and friends. A lot of it is coming
back home and telling the stories.”