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Earl and I recently camped out at Whitney Pockets. There were several of us who took our ATV and hit the trails. But……. to our dismay, we found many trails closed. Signs were posted of big fines and “restoration in progress”. We were told that “Friends of Gold Butte” supported the Bureau of land Management in the closing of trails in the Whitney Pockets and Gold butte area. I looked up the definition of friends and it said, “person one knows well, likes, and trusts”. Besides the definition the dictionary gives, I would add friends are what I like to do thing with, share things with, give to my friends, and be there for my friends if they have a need. We have a beautiful public area that is now closed to our “friends”. Our children will no longer be able to see this Public land and the beauty and history that are there. We are told that we must walk if we want to see any of these sights. We find it hard to walk in fenced off areas with barb wire. Plus many people have handicaps that don’t allow them to walk that far (hips replacements, knee replacements, heart problems, and respiratory problems). It was brought to my attention that we have a law that says all handicapped people should have handicapped access. I realized these people aren’t friends; maybe the word should be Acquaintances of Gold Butte. Friends want to share and not ban their friends from our public land. God made this land for ALL.

When I complimented your Gold Butte Chat message, I forgot to add that I believe it to be "Age Discrimination" too. The area is now restricted to the young and the fit!!!!

I am frustrated like no other. I, too was out in the desert by Whitney Pocket and found all the trails to the neat places obliterated. I don't know how they can do that. Those roads, especially the one to Dry Pond and Sheep Rock have been there for 100 years. The story about re-vegetation and erosion control is a bunch of crap. I can't wait to see Nancy Hall. She told me that they would not close any existing roads or trails out there, just the ones that were deemed unnecessary. What a load of bull. I will personally go around their revegetated area because that is OUR LAND and our resources and they don't have a right to keep us from it.