Pass Sellers Picketed National Forests

Sun., June 18, 2000

Staff

Foes of the Forest Service’s trail pass program requiring hikers to pay to park at many trailheads in the Northwest are sending form letters to vendors of the passes, saying they will no longer do business with them.

At least three businesses in the Oregon’s Rogue Valley have quit selling the passes in response to the letters.

“Last week we decided to stop selling them,” said Eric Renteria, comanager of Sims Cycle in Medford. “We felt it wasn’t worth it to sell a couple more passes and lose a bunch more business. The letters we received were from good customers, and none of our employees really agree with the passes.”

Scott Morrell of Medford, an outspoken critic of the fees, said he originated the letter campaign, rounding up help from a group called Free the Forests, with about 40 members in the Rogue Valley.

Jim Heck, assistant recreation staff officer for the Siskiyou National Forest, said the campaign is going to hurt customers, not stop the program. “The vendors that pull out of our program are doing a disservice to their customers,” Heck said. “They’re going to cause customers to violate the fee demo program and risk a citation. If some of these places don’t sell them, people are going to be out of luck.

This year the Forest Service combined several passes into one “Northwest Forest Pass,” giving holders access to numerous recreation sites around the Northwest. The cost is $30 annually and $5 per day. For info passes sold in Spokane, call 368-3131.

Violators are being fined $50 beginning this year, after getting one chance to mail in the fee.

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