The Bitterroot Forest sent out 786 hard-copy letters and about 9,260 emails to people and entities who had commented on the travel plan to notify them of the new objection period, Fox said.

Daines said Thursday he is looking forward to receiving a response from the Forest Service on his request to open that process to the general public.

“Increasing access and recreation to our public lands is essential to growing Montana’s outdoor economy,” Daines said. “That’s why I wrote to the Forest Service asking them to allow all Montanans an opportunity to comment on the closing of over 100 miles of bike trails in the Bitterroot Forest, especially for those who recently lost their ability to recreate.”

Pysher said there were some local mountain bikers who did comment during the travel planning process and have therefore been able to offer objections.

“Right now there is a handful of us,” he said. “We feel that the process should be opened up to everyone who didn’t have a chance to comment earlier … We feel with all the hoopla there is right now over the WSAs, everyone should be given a chance to talk about it.

“If the goal is have more open conversation about the WSA issue, then it seems counterproductive not to allow it,” Pysher said.