Letters to the editor

Ruining skiing

I have been X-country skiing at MacDonald Pass for the past 30 years and have watched it evolve from a "break-your-own-trail" place to a groomed area used by thousands of all ages. No matter how the National Guard biathlon proposal is packaged, those of us who treasure tranquil skiing within a half-hour of Helena will irrevocably lose that experience from its use as a national sport/military venue with roads, a grandstand and parking lot for 50, and noise from gunfire.

To further destroy our local experience, the scheduling of biathlon events and practices is proposed to be precisely when Helenans have just finished their Saturday morning coffee and are ready to take the family skiing: in short, in direct competition with evening and weekend time slots when the majority of quiet use now occurs on the trail system.

Biathlon courses exist in Bozeman at Bohart and at West Yellowstone where snowfall is far more reliable and of longer duration than on the Pass. Rather than spend millions of taxpayer dollars on a site with variable snow conditions and local opposition, how about teaming up with a community like West Yellowstone that would welcome the business.

Lisa Bay

31 Division St.

Aussies visit

For the past week, the members of the Friendship Force of Helena have entertained 19 Australians from Sydney. The Aussies toured the Gates of the Mountains, the Capitol and the Montana Historical Society Museum. A Pitchfork Fondue at the Tizer Gardens provided an additional bit of Montana hospitality. The group also took a two-day trip to Virginia City, Quake Lake and Yellowstone Park.

For further information contact:

Jesse Long

516 Burnham Pl.

443-3352