http://i.imgur.com/ZG8Qn.jpg

Recreation isn’t wanted by one very vocal resident, Mr. Disingenuous who wants his own private Idaho hiding behind the “it’s for the wildlife and the levy fund, the greater good”. Poppy cocky, it’s for Tony Jones.

The link you provide depicts only the north 200 acres purchased by Boise that we refer to as the Crow Gliding Area. The other 500 acres to the south can be seen in Figure 1 on page 2 of the document http://www.thecliffsidaho.com/documents/landuse_14jun06.pdf
This map depicts the entire 700 acres now owned by the duped Boise taxpayers. At the upper left is the area your map enlarges. At the lower right, we see the southern portion of the development boundary just above the Cliffs and Discovery Park. This much larger area, not visible in your map, is the 500 acre Plateau we refer to as Hammer Flat. If you look closely you can see they are separated by a creek ravine running from east to west towards highway 21 and a hill side just south of the creek. Hammer Flat is on an ancient river bench and is well above the area next to the existing homes seen in the upper left. The far lower right, just above Discovery Park and on the Plateau, is where the above mentioned mythical canisnimbyminorus resides.

In your map http://www.thecliffsidaho.com/documents/landuse_14jun06.pdf please observe that just to the right of the note “Amphitheater Park” we see a dashed line running up and to the right. This is the existing road to the top of the Gliding Hill that we discussed . Where this dashed line meets the red north/south property line is where our windsock used to be and where the existing fence line separates the State land from the land now owned by Boise. This is the fence that we see the guys walking along next to the deer in Aaron’s film clip. Please observe that the road continues on up the ridge line past the point where Aaron’s video http://vimeo.com/24237064 shows gliders launching. West of the fence and red line not yet State land.

Now, take a close look at the elevation noted in the contours. You may have to zoom in, but you will see that where the dashed road line intersects the red property boundary on the toe of the hill is elevation 3440′. Now if you look left into the middle of the proposed development you will see the green area labeled “Windmill Park” whose elevation contour is 2950’and is just about where we see the gliders landing in Arron’s cool video. Since 3440′-2950’= 490′ feet, Aaron was very close when he mentioned the gliding hill is 500’feet high.

So there you have it. A 500′ hill located in Boise recreation property that can never be replaced. Thanks again for following along and for the detailed topo map. BTW, if you see that happy dog bounding along and enjoying his private Idaho with Ed Bottum, throw him a wolf chewed bone. There should be plenty up there after all of those evil people are locked out from their public lands.

JK

John is correct as well: The Crow Gliding Area, foot trail from the R2R highland valley trailhead, launch and the l.z. are all included in the NW portion of the land that was purchased and referred to collectively as hammer flat, but you are correct that they are two geographically distinct areas.
Check out this map that shows launch and l.z. as black dots overlaid on the purchased section of the Crow Gliding Area: http://www.aaronbeckphoto.com/fly/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/hammermapmodified2.jpg

Also flying was part of the planned recreation at the cliffs development:
http://www.thecliffsidaho.com/Outdoors/recreation.html isn’t it wild they’ve still got all that info online?
Also the hang gliding ridge is mentioned on pages 8 and 9: http://www.aaronbeckphoto.com/crow/cliffs/Element%20F08_BiologicalEvaluation_Rev1_041706.pdf

Also, the ridge is almost 500 vertical feet, here’s an introduction to the site: http://vimeo.com/24237064

boisecynic: comparing a glider park to the kayak park is a stretch only in what is required for each to exist, but not in regard to the positive elements each can provide to an active and engaged community. You can’t build a glider park – flying sites are geologic and meteorologic gifts. The river park involves an incredible undertaking – I’m reminded each morning when I’m woken up by the pylon driving rig.

Thanks, everyone for the conversation.

Life is Grand!

Aaron

No hearings have been held by Boise in regards to balancing uses on the Hammer Flat property.

In 2001 Boise Taxpayers voted and taxed themselves for a Trust that was to Acquire property to do 5 things.

-Protect Water Quality
-Preserve Wildlife Habitat
-Provide increased recreational areas for walking, biking, and other outdoor activities.
-Limit overdevelopment and traffic,and
-protect natural vegitation that prevents mudflows and washouts

Please note the key words in our as Trust such as Acquire. (Please note that Brokering property for F&G or any other third party is absent from the agreement with the taxpayers.

In addition, please note the connecting word used in the list following the fourth item. The word AND. (Please note that the word OR is not in the Trust.)

F&G does not own this property. The Boise Taxpayers do. The only question is will the Mayor and the City Council honor the letter and the intent of the Levy or will they violate the law and the trust of the Boise taxpayers so that Fish and Game can grow animals to be trapped and/or shot.

The State of Idaho owns the top of the Gliding Hill from the existing fence eastward. From the West side of the fence, including the launch area where our wind sock used to be prior to being removed by the F&G, all the way down the hill to Eastwood Place and the 60 homes is about 200 of the 700 acres purchased by Boise. The BLM is not involved and does not own the gliding hill.

The remaining 500 acres of the purchased land extends southward up onto the Hammer Flats Plateau above the cliffs. The South end of this Plateau, is where the happy dog, above mentioned, will live out his days barking at ungulates secured by our tax dollars, electric bills, and hunting fees if the big deal goes through.

When we drive across the big Highway 21 bridge towards Lucky Peak, the Gliding Hill and subdivision is on our left and Hammer Flats is on our right above the cliffs. They are separated by a creek drainage.

In regards to the road to the top of the hill and its historic use; The road was used by gliders in years past with permission from the ranch owner at the time. Other folks later bought the property and we stopped using the road to the top per their request.

For those who have been to the top the hill, the road continues past the gliding hill to the top of the main ridge. When we consider the severe risk of range fires in this area, this road to the top of the Gliding Hill presents an important fire break and provides critical fire fighting access. Neighbors should be very concerned if F&G or anyone else decides to plant brush on this ridge line and abandon this road. The BLM and their expert firefighters would have more information about this issue.