TAOS — Cyclists are seeking to have part of the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area set aside for mountain biking, but they are meeting with resistance from some wilderness seekers.

The Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Coalition has been working for years toward a full congressional wilderness designation for the 46,000-acre area between the Latir and Wheeler Peak wildernesses. The Columbine-Hondo was designated a wilderness study area in 1980, and the coalition has gathered hundreds of letters of support from local individuals, organizations and governmental bodies.

However, the federal Wilderness Act prohibits the use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment and other forms of "mechanical transport" — including bicycles — in designated wildernesses. The Taos Cycling Coalition is requesting that approximately 19 percent of the Columbine-Hondo, including parts of the Bull-of-the-Woods, Long Canyon, Gold Hill and Goose Creek trails, be designated a National Recreation Area that would allow cycling.

Cycling supporters Sean Cassily and Charlie McGarity addressed the Taos County Commission on Dec. 6, asking for the county's support for a "companion designation." The commission passed a resolution in support of the wilderness designation nearly a year ago.

Cassily told the commission mountain bikes are not detrimental to the land, wildlife or trails and have a positive economic impact. "It draws people to Taos," he said.

He said the South Boundary Trail is well-known and brings people to the area for a day, but a national recreation area would attract bikers for longer stays, encouraging them to eat, shop and stay in local hotels.

He also argued that mountain biking is more popular than hiking with today's youth, and to raise future conservationists, it is important to get young people into nature with fun, engaging activities.

"We want to protect our ecosystem," he said.

Cassily also spoke of cyclists' efforts to maintain trails, including clearing downed trees and ensuring storm water drains properly.

Wilderness Coalition members also spoke at the commission meeting, saying mountain biking has never been legally sanctioned in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area.

Member Peggy Nelson said there are "dangers" in changing course from the attempt to get full wilderness designation at this point. She said other groups with new requests could start coming forward during a separate national recreation area process.

She also said the Wilderness Coalition is working with limited time. The group is hoping Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., will introduce wilderness legislation for the Columbine-Hondo before he retires at the end of next year.

Wilderness Coalition member and outfitter Stuart Wilde said the urgency for wilderness designation is intensified by H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011.

The act was introduced by U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and co-sponsored by Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., among others. Wilde said releasing wilderness study areas from wilderness protection could open them up to "motorized access, timber sales, mining and other forms of development.

"Senator Bingaman is leaving office next year, and there may not be another chance to see this New Mexico treasure permanently protected for future generations," Wilde wrote in an email to The Taos News. "The Columbine-Hondo is truly under threat, and the time is now to seek wilderness designation for this special place."

According to a statement from Bingaman's office, he is "focusing his attention on his bill currently before Congress to designate the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area, and is working hard to pass that legislation during the 112th Congress.

"There is clearly support for the proposed Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Area, and he will be taking a closer look at it in the year ahead," the statement reads.

Commissioners suggested the cycling and wilderness coalitions continue to work on a joint proposal before coming before the county again.

County Manager Jacob Caldwell, who told the commission he is a mountain biker himself, said the commission could meet for a work-study session sometime in the future if it would care to reconsider the county's position. "There is a real need for some compromise here," he said.

Unintended consequence

International Mountain Bicycling Association Public Lands Initiative Director Ashley Kornblat warned against "throwing the baby out with the bath water" by excluding bicycles from the Columbine-Hondo. She said in the creation of many wildernesses, the closure of bike trails is a "side effect" or "unintended consequence."

"There are places where the need for this additional protection has nothing to do with protecting against bicycles," she said. "The issue here is not that bicycles are hurting the land. ... When the Wilderness Act was created, mountain bikes didn't exist."

Kornblat said laws can be tailored to give a piece of land all the protections of a wilderness but still allow mountain bikes.

"When you write the legislation, you take care of that," she said. "You can write in whatever protection you want."

The association also argues for allowing mountain biking on economic grounds. According to a 2006 study conducted by the Outdoor Foundation and publicized by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, cycling contributes more than $6 billion annually to the economy of the Rocky Mountain region, including $3.7 billion in bicycling trip-related expenditures.

Taos Cyclery owner Doug Pickett said most cyclists visit Taos to ride the South Boundary Trail, but cycling in the Taos Ski Valley area is unique in the state because of the views.

"It's one of three areas that I send visitors who come to Taos who we're trying to get to stay for more than just an afternoon or a day," he said. "I always recommend the Long Canyon ride because it's the most scenic mountain biking in all of New Mexico."