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I listened to the recent KRFY morning program featuring Bonner County Commissioner Dan McDonald. The Bonner County Natural Resource Plan was the focus, but then the discussion moved to the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, I was alarmed at the mis-information given by Commissioner McDonald.

Considering the commissioners just voted to place the wilderness proposal on the May ballot, and in light of how many years this proposal has been under discussion, I assumed that Mr. McDonald would have done his homework before being interviewed.

His most egregious remark was regarding the number of people allowed on the trail at one time. His statement was: there is a limit to 12 heartbeats on the trail at a time. He went on to say, so if it takes on average 4-5 hours to hike the trail, then “only 12 people can literally use it in a day.” This is blatantly incorrect.

Nowhere in this wilderness proposal is there a limit to the number of people that can be on the trail at one time. It is true that in any wilderness there are possible restrictions on the size of the party that can start (usually between eight-12 heart beats,) but there can be any number of groups hiking the trail at the same time.

I find it frustrating that one of the heads of our county doesn’t seem to care enough to gather accurate information on what now has been deemed a critical issue for our county (critical enough to warrant a ballot), and I hope he re-evaluates some of his statements and issues a correction.

CELESTE GRACE

Sandpoint