After 19 years of participating in two forest plans , one travel plan and one lawsuit, all focused on the Clearwater National Forest in N. Idaho I am pleased to announce that the Forest Service and snowmobilers are in agreement that the Great Burn area of the Clearwater NF is a primitive back country alpine riding area that could not be duplicated anywhere else in the lower 48 and deserved to be re-opened to snowmobile activity.
The Clearwater NF issued a Final Record of Decision (ROD) on Jan 10/2025 that identified two historic riding areas that will be removed from the Great Burn Recommended Wilderness Area (RWA) and “identified as suitable for over snow vehicle use.”
This only happened due to engagement in the Forest Planning process. Numerous individuals and snowmobile groups attended multiple meetings and submitted truckloads of comments and presentations over a long multi year period. Backcountry Sled Patriots and Idaho State Snowmobile Association lead the charge that took us all the way to Washinton DC.
More specific details on the areas detailed in the ROD and the next steps can be viewed on our website www.sledpatriots.com /latest news
Equally noteworthy to this unprecedented re-opening of areas that were captured in a RWA is the fact change can be accomplished within huge government agencies if you get engaged and stay united in the message.
THE WILL TO WIN IS IMPORTANT...THE WILL TO PREPARE IS CRITICAL