McCall, Idaho - Would you like to voice your opinion on the potential over-snow special order to close approximately 4,730 acres on Granite Mountain to snowmobiles from Jan. 15 through March 3, 2014 in order to provide for superior backcountry ski opportunities?
On Oct. 2, 2013 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. the Payette National Forest will host an open house at the Forest Supervisor's Office at 800 West Lakeside Avenue to talk about the potential for another one season over-snow Special Order Closure for the Granite Mountain area in 2014. Skiers and snowmobilers are encouraged to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to collect public input on the success and/or problems that occurred as a result of the 2013 closure to snowmobiles in the Granite Mountain area.
Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom is considering issuing another Special Order Closure this year for the same area on Granite Mountain area to snowmobiles from Jan. 15-March 31, the same time frame as the past two years. The purpose of the closure is to provide for backcountry skiing opportunities without shared use with snowmobiles.
"We feel the special order has been successful," Jane Cropp, Forest Recreation Program Manager, said. "Comments from snowmobilers during visits to parking lots indicated that this closure has not negatively affected their experiences or use on the Payette."
The McCall Ranger District will take all comments received by the public, either at the public meeting, or in writing prior to Oct. 11, 2013 into effect before deciding whether or not to sign another special order for the Jan. 15 through March 31, 2014 season. If you have any comments you wish to submit to the Forest, you can contact Susan Jenkins, McCall District Recreation Specialist at (208) 634-0415 or Lisa Klinger, McCall District Ranger at (208) 634-0401 or mail them to the McCall Ranger District at 102 West Lake Street, McCall, ID 83638.