Atlas Snowshoes Joins Coalition to Lobby for California Wilderness Protection

A company spokesman for Atlas Snowshoe Company has announced that, alongside other outdoor industry partners, it has secured a Congressional hearing in Washington DC for legislation that would protect 300,000 acres of public land. Karen Righthand of Atlas Snowshoes, along with Lisa Myers of Patagonia, Alex Kutches from Marmot, Laura Keresty of Wilderness Press and Devaki Murch from prAna, recently traveled to the nation's capitol alongside representatives from The Conservation Alliance to lobby in support of legislation that would protect 300,000 acres of public land on California’s North Coast.

The legislation received a Congressional hearing in July, bringing the bill one step closer to final passage. The outdoor business delegation met with eleven congressional representatives and delivered the message that new wilderness designations on California’s north coast benefits outdoor businesses and California’s tourist economy. “There is a growing consensus that wilderness has real economic value,” stated John Sterling, Director of the Conservation Alliance Program. “As California’s rural economies shift from resource extraction to tourism and recreation, protected public lands become a community’s most valuable natural asset.”

The legislation (H.R. 233/S. 128) is championed by Representative Mike Thompson (D-Napa), and Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), would permanently protect 300,000 acres of land, including the King Range and Lost Coast, the longest undeveloped stretch of coastline in the lower 48. The bill would also secure Wild and Scenic River status for 21 miles of the Black Butte River. Karen Righthand, Marketing Director for Atlas Snow-Shoe Company, added that “Outdoor businesses need protected wild places for our customers to recreate and enjoy our products."