You may be surprised to the sudden letter from a stranger. I am a Japanese who love Kelso Mountain Trail for several years. I heard that Kelso Mountain trail was going to close. If it is true, I am afraid that you lose a wonderful trail and an important heritage forever. I visited Kelso Mountain Trail 2 years ago. I had been interested in BWCA from the point of wonderful natural beauty. So Mr. Kubik, who payed efforts to keep Kelso Mountain Trail, took me the trail. It was a wonderful trip for me. The trail was very different from other trails which many trekkers walked. The trail was absolutry quiet so that I could hear my pounding heart and footsteps of squirrel. I felt that I resonated with nature. Even in Japan, I could not find such a beautiful, wild and quiet trail so many. And more, I understand that Kelso Mountain Trail is an important heritage in U.S. I heard the trail had been used for forest-fire watchers. Actually I found old corroded tin cans at the end of the trail. I could see their trade marks of these cans of coffee or soup. And there was a little hut with a toilet. I imagined an watcher lived in the deep forest alone. He climbed the tower everyday and saw beautiful sunset lonely. He ate canned soup with hearing wolves under a dim lantern. I could see all scenes like a movie because of trash and houses. Everyone may not believe a human lived in the deep forest long time ago, if he or she would not look the trail. I wonder the trail talked a lot to hikers who visited here. And this is a precious history for us to learn your frontier spirit and struggling for existence with nature. You know it is easy to swallow down narrow abandoned trail for forest. And after it has done, we could not take back again. Today, Japanese preserve any trails to keep environmentaly-sound nature. The plan include not only hiking trails but also old tiny trails for villagers and old long-fogotten roads. They are Japanese culture, history and heritage. They are priceless. It is same as Kelso Mountain Trail. It is your U.S.'s heritage. I hope you would review your plan and preserve Kelso Mountain Trail. I will do anything as I could for Kelso Mountain Trail and great U.S. forest, like Mr.Kubik and you do. Let me know what I could.
Best Regards,
Fumi Soma
soma@hiroshima-parker.co.jp cfsoma@mac.com
35-13-308 Oyamacho Shibuya-ku TOKYO, Japan postal-code 151-0065
The Kelso Mountain Trail Club received this letter from Fumi Soma, a Japanese who paddled to hike on Kelso Mountain Trail in October 2001. We thought you might like to read it. How do you feel about the Kelso Mountain Trail? What would happen if the trail was reopened? What will happen under present "decomissioning" status ?
We made to the top! Former Kekekabic Trail Club president Peter Sparks, Big Bird, Fumi Soma and Martin Kubik on top of Kelso Mountain, October 2001. Did you know that Kelso Mountain, at 2,100 feet tall, is one of ten highest peaks in Minnesota?
USDA Forest Service poster proclaims its concern and commitment to protecting the history of the land. (From the kiosk at the Sawbill Lake landing.)
The Kelso Mountain Trail Club asked the USFS to be consistent with the laws relating to management of the BWCA and restore the Kelso Mountain Trail to the trail inventory.
On the Kelso Mountain Trail.
Even in rain, Peter and Missy are having fun hiking the Kelso Mountain Trail. Experiences like this at young age help to foster the idea of public stewardship of the land.
