DNR / Ahtanum Status 2010-2011

[Tampico]

Snodawg,

"Did you get any fliers at Owens, Valley and Premier (parts counter)?"

Yep, all 3. I would have hoped they would have made more copies. I was at valley this morning (got some barely used HCR skis); I forgot to look also. I will hit them next week with more.

A sign would be nice; Baggers idea is great also. I think I just need to stand and hand them out one morning.

Another blurb will be in Tuesdays paper.

Have a good one,

Tampico

 

[94fordguy]

Good deal


I was considering donating a Saturday to perhaps set up a BBQ at the snow park with some hot dogs and pop and ask for donations toward the cause... If we could get the awareness out AT THE SNOW PARK that we need help, I think that would open a LOT of eyes to the problem.... I am sure we could gather up some of the 'official' info and maybe make a big poster or something to hang off of one of our sled decks to get some attention.

I'd be perfectly happy to buy a reasonable amount of supplies toward the little fundraiser, but I would kinda need some help (or at least some company).

Anybody up for that... I think I heard someone mention the idea earlier???

 

[Snodawg]

You can count me in and I'm sure that Bagger would help out, as probably Paul, SummitRMK and some others.

We could probably do several different dates if we could get some more volunteers. I know it's hard to be sitting in a snopark when you could be out riding. Maybe a late afternoon ride would have to take place for the vols.

 

[Tampico]

I put about 25 (I needed about 10 more) fliers into doors at the main sno-park this afternoon and talked to about 4 sledders. Lets see what kind of response we get. I think Snodawg is right that we just need to be there early one (probably the first day after they plow and groom) morning and have a couple of us get firm donations on the spot as people are unloading. I skipped Yella Belly's rig and those of some other people I knew. I think I inadvertantly fliered 94's rig.

I will meet with DNR and the groomer operator Wednesday morning.

 

[94fordguy]

I put about 25 (I needed about 10 more) fliers into doors at the main sno-park this afternoon and talked to about 4 sledders. Lets see what kind of response we get. I think Snodawg is right that we just need to be there early one (probably the first day after they plow and groom) morning and have a couple of us get firm donations on the spot as people are unloading. I skipped Yella Belly's rig and those of some other people I knew. I think I inadvertantly fliered 94's rig.

I will meet with DNR and the groomer operator Wednesday morning.

Good deal, I spoke with a couple sledders on the hill about it today too.

Nope, wasn't my rig, there was nothing on any of my windows this evening, lol. (loaded up about 4pm)

I still don't think that the new way of parking is gonna work, the lot was almost full today and it sure didnt feel like there were a ton of rigs there.

 

[Snodawg]

Good deal, I spoke with a couple sledders on the hill about it today too.

Nope, wasn't my rig, there was nothing on any of my windows this evening, lol. (loaded up about 4pm)

I still don't think that the new way of parking is gonna work, the lot was almost full today and it sure didnt feel like there were a ton of rigs there.

I'm starting to like that sled deck even more...Ha Ha

 

[Bagger]

Hey Guys a couple thoughts.....

I think we could raise awareness with a food booth in the snopark. I would think that something donated from all would make it easy on everyone.
I make a wicked breakfast burrito, and will make up 200 to donate to the cause. These are big enough that if you eat two you are gonna be stuffed. (ask anyone that came to the old Arrowfest) We sold 'em for two bucks apiece, so that should still be a good price. (These things are awesome in a muffpot)
I'll make a call tomorrow, and am pretty sure that I could get some beef patties and dogs donated for the cause. If I can get that, maybe someone else could get buns and fixin's.

Also, instead of giving up a whole Saturday to ride, we could coordinate and split days. So someone could go out and ride a half day, then come back and take over so the AM guys could go get a ride in.

So, put Diana and I down for two Saturdays (preferably half days) and 200 Breakfast Burritos for sure. I'll see what I can do about some beef patties and dogs and let you know.


SnoDawg, you help me cook you can eat all day.
Tampico, you buy me a beer and I'm going to be forced to buy you one right back!

Also, I can bring my trailer and we could hang a banner/sign on it..... anyone got a source for getting a banner made up? (Pepsi/coke folks are pretty good about it...) Then we could use the trailer as a cookshack/billboard.

If we don't get something scheduled........


Bag

 

[Tampico]

From Bagger:

I think we could raise awareness with a food booth in the snopark. I would think that something donated from all would make it easy on everyone.
I make a wicked breakfast burrito, and will make up 200 to donate to the cause. These are big enough that if you eat two you are gonna be stuffed. (ask anyone that came to the old Arrowfest) We sold 'em for two bucks apiece, so that should still be a good price. (These things are awesome in a muffpot)
I'll make a call tomorrow, and am pretty sure that I could get some beef patties and dogs donated for the cause. If I can get that, maybe someone else could get buns and fixin's.

That is a good idea, but there is an email (within the DNR) going around that we now need permission for anything of any size on DNR lands, such as taking money for food. I will get more details by next week on this. Bottom line, we have to be carefull on this. Nothing is easy...

I did hand put fliers out to all the rigs yesterday after the grooming meeting at the workstation. More on that in the Tampico snow report thread. a member from the ski-benders was there and also spoke to a group later that day about the flier and what is going on.

So far no calls/donations from the 25+ that I put out last Saturday (I spoke to 3 groups that day also).

Big crabfeed this weekend! We hope to collect some there; hope to see some of you there.

Tampico

 

[Bagger]

Well, if the food booth gets sunk in the red tape, let me know. They CAN NOT stop me from flying a banner from my truck.
Also, if nothing else, I'll figure the cost of the goodies I was gonna cook up, double it, and just donate that.
(Don't worry Snodawg, I'll still cook some for us!!)

New way to park? Man I haven't been up there for so long I may get lost!

Bag

Post Script, D, if you'll email me the flyer your handing out, I'll print some up and post 'em around here. I'm sure there are some other guys from here that ride over that away.

 

[Snodawg]

Same here on the fliers, Devin. (I'll PM ya)

Bagger, ya had me worried for a minute that I wasn't gonna get a B.B. (that's a breakfast burrito, not better boards ).
No worries!

 

[Red Dog]

This is great info. Us tri-city riders need to step-up to help.I had vanamberg install a new track on ny m1000,and just gave him my stock 162 to sell for a donation to DNR.Mike was very addimiment aboot us all in Washington State stepping up to help out.Great Post!, Cheers Red Dog.

 

[94fordguy]

Any report on the fundraising effort and how far we have left to go at this point?

 

[Tampico]

As of 12/18/2010, the Ahtanum fund has over $12,600 in the bank, and another $7,500 in firm commmittments, making for just over $20,000 in funding. We need just under another 5k.

Big thanks to all the dealers(all 3) and businesses in town who support this effort.

Tampico

 

[TBONE]

JUSTIFY

Can you "JUSTIFY" asking for more when you can't even get a grooming schedule or trails groomed? Someone need to be accountable for the lack of OVERSIGHT...WOULD THAT BE THE GROOMING COMMITEE OR THE STATE PARKS?

 

[Tampico]

TBONE;

Can you "JUSTIFY" asking for more when you can't even get a grooming schedule or trails groomed? Someone need to be accountable for the lack of OVERSIGHT...WOULD THAT BE THE GROOMING COMMITEE OR THE STATE PARKS?

The State Parks Department is responsible for the contracting of the grooming and sno-park plowing; the grooming committee is only an voluntary advisory voice. I am the grooming coordinator for the Ahtanum, and I am as frustrated as you (read the Tampico snow thread). I have had numerous conversations with the groomer and the Washington State Parks representative (a good guy, he is not the problem) concerning the situation with the current groomer operator. This is the same problem we had last year. The groomer contracts are multi-year, but are evaluated on a points system annually. I did write a fairly lengthy, accurate report on last years groomer/plowing performance, including the late start and the heated January groomer meeting of last year. State Parks made their decision to keep the current operator for this upcoming season, not the grooming council.

On the Justify part, the donations are for the DNR oversight, not the actual grooming and plowing.

See the first post of this thread- The funding is for DNR supervision of its lands in South Eastern Washington. The funds that we donate only go to the DNR. The sno-park plowing and trail grooming are paid from your gas tax % and license fees, which run through WSPR (Washington State Parks and Recreation). The DNR and Yakima Ski-Benders do not control the grooming and who operates it.

Is this the better option (also from the first post)? We do not have the option of simply waiting this out, and hoping that grooming will come back in the future. Once we lose it, it is gone. With no grooming there are no berms, hence no closure to wheeled vehicles. With no plowing, there is no sno-park access (may be gated) so a mess on the North Fork Rd when the snow gets deeper.

I hope this answers your questions. The fundraising is done by the Ski-Benders, its volunteers, and other snowmobilers. Without them, and the many people who have ponied up to keep this going, there would be no sno-park or grooming (whenever it may start) in the Ahtanum either last year or this year. The Tampico snow thread also in this section also has more updates.

You can go on the State Parks website at http://www.parks.wa.gov/winter/trails/ This has an evalution form near the bottom (but doesn't work for me). State Parks relies heavily on this form. Please fill it out, send it in and keep a copy to give to me (PM me your email). I hope to have quite a few of these for the next groomer meeting.

Hope this helps.

Tampico

 

[Yella Belly]

Can you "JUSTIFY" asking for more when you can't even get a grooming schedule or trails groomed? Someone need to be accountable for the lack of OVERSIGHT...WOULD THAT BE THE GROOMING COMMITEE OR THE STATE PARKS?

T-Bone, first and foremost, thanks for voicing your thoughts!
So many just sit back and grump, and never try to help matters.


Mr Mason was at the first groomers meeting in Naches two months ago and was plainly heard by all in attendance that he was "ready to go, all we need is snow heh heh"

He was NOT at last months meeting for what ever reason.

This fund has nothing to do with the grooming aside from the fact that if the snow park is closed, they (DNR) will not allow grooming, so they sort of go together, however one does not fund the other, and from a contract perspective are completely separate.

This is the same hurdle we had to overcome last year with Mr. Masons lack of commitment to his contract and poor planning prior to the start of the season it gave folks the impression the DNR fund and grooming were one and the same.

Please fill out the report forms ( I think Devin has posted a link here some place) from the Washington state parks web site, or I think they are also available at most of the snow parks ( I hope by now)

Please consider attending the next groomers meeting. They are held the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm in Naches at the Ranger station. Go around to the back door for entry. It is a formal type meeting with time at the end, and sometimes during, for audience comments.

You can also bring the report forms and pass on to Devin, or myself, and we would be glad to mail them in for you.

And I agree with you that accountability needs to be taking place.

The forms are the only way State parks will review a groomers operation, sounds sort of dumb that they don't have anyone on the snow to actually look and see that things are being done, however I guess that's the reason for the form. They are also for reporting good conditions, like just about everything outside of the Tampico area.....So please use them for both.

(Devin was told Mason cut the side hill up to clover, however reports as of last evening were that he only went to Tree- Phones. Devin is riding on Friday, and will, I'm sure, have a full report for us here. )

Every season this is what seems to be normal operation for Mason, late start, and then does a sub standard job once he finally gets going.

That's my .03 about it all and I hope to see you on the snow some time, we ride Tampico quite often.

Yella'

 

[Tampico]

Full report on the Tampico Snow Thread, did the loop today.

 

[94fordguy]

Groomers Meeting Tonight @ 7pm @ the Naches Ranger Station.

 

[Tampico]

Ski-Bender Meeting, Tuesday 02/01/2011 at the El Rincon at 7pm. We will talk about the recent WSSA days. There will probably be a petition going around to support the current legislation (it changes almost daily) to keep our DNR lands open, probably with some sort of a fee structure.

I will post more in detail when I figure out what exactly we are going to do.

Tampico

 

[94fordguy]

Groomers meeting TOMORROW @7:00 PM Naches Ranger Station - rear entrance