Jake Bigham

Maybe it is the Republican convention. Maybe it is my argumentative

nature. I should know better to join in on a divisive rant session with

a rant of my own but-

I lived in the gorge for 8 years and although for the past three years

I have called Stump-town my primary residence, I still have a place in

the gorge and the gorge has a place in my heart. I spend time trying

to make the scenic area act work through my efforts on the Oregon

Investment Board - a branch of the administration of the act that seeks

to reduce the economic disadvantage incurred by local communities

within the Scenic area by the adoption of the Act.

I have a fair amount of experience in what it means to be told what

one can and cannot do with your own property because of the Scenic Act.

I cannot say it is always great fun, like the time I was told that the

only acceptable "earth tone" color for a house was black. There are

extreme views on both sides. It is often difficult to navigate a

sensible course between them.

I first got into road biking in the gorge. For those of you who have

not been there for a ride I can only say it is THE BEST. I have been on

riding trips in the East (great fall foliage), in Tuscany (it is

wonderful), here, there, and other places... The Gorge is road (and mt.

bike) heaven.

All the hardships of property ownership in the gorge do not compare

with the rare beauty and awe I see and feel in those preserved areas of

that place.

Oregonians- do not cut the nose to spite the face. We are blessed with

a small miracle. It is ours to cherish or make it the same as ever

other place.

Having said that and in response to another post - I cannot believe

there is no middle ground between wilderness and a State Forest that

has great single track. I cannot reconcile the idea that mt. biking and

wilderness are mutually exclusive.

Anyway,I hope all you libertarians will forgive me for saying that the

Gorge is special and the National Scenic Area Act keeps it that way.