02/26/10

It looks like a major paragliding event is coming to the Wood River Valley; but, first the public gets to comment on the use of public land.

The 2010 U.S. Paragliding National Championships have requested to use the 9,000 foot Bald Mountain as a launch site. The championships return after 3 years with quite few competitors catching the wind.

Julie Thomas, Sawtooth National Forest said, "We had about 100 participants the last time that this event took place in 2006."

The Sawtooth National Forest Service is conducting an analysis on areas that are proposed launch and landing sites.

Paragliders would use Bald Mountain as the launch pad and then land on other areas in Stanely, Salmon and the Lost River Range.

Thomas says, "The reason we are asking for comments is it is on national forest land and we need to make sure that we cover all the question that concern, that the public might have regard such an event of this size."

The public comment would only pertain to the use of Bald Mountain and national forest land, and the proposed landing sights in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

If you would like to make a comment, send the written letter to Ketchum Ranger District PO Box 2356, Ketchum, Idaho 83340, Attention Joe Miczulski (mi-chul-ski), comments must be in no later than April 2nd.

The paragliding championships are set for August and September.