King's Hill, MT. Trail Closures

[Givemeaboost]

Anyone that rides King's Hill should get a new map before you go hunting or riding sleds. I was up Sat. and found rocks piled up with signs sticking out of them saying foot and horseback travel only, no motorized allowed. I haven't seen the map yet but can tell you that we can't go past the trees into meadows that we have played in for years. The road between Jefferson Bowl and Weatherwax has signs on the south side stating this. The Great Falls Snowmobile Club is having its annual membership drive and pizza party at the east side VFW Club, 47th st and 10th ave so tomorrow night10/7/09 at 7 PM. Come on out and join the club so we have more voices in what's happening to our sport, Ken.

 

[FASTRAC]

Ken, are they printing new maps? Let us know what is going on please. Thanks Jason

 

[Givemeaboost]

I think the maps are allready printed. I'll find out tomorrow night and let you know.

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

Didn't this forest go through a recent Travel Plan update? If so, what you are most likely seeing is the result of the finished TP.

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

I just checked and the ROD for the TP was completed two years ago. Here is a link to the Final Winter Travel Map:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/projects/lbcc_final_travel_plan/rod_map6_winter_rod.pdf

Looks like most of the forest (pink areas) are now closed to off-trail snowmobiling. What a surprise, not. Same thing happening all over Montana and other western states on Forest Service managed lands.

My guess is that they are just now getting around to posting the signs to inform people that the forest is now closed.

 

[SnowSnob]

Why can't we do what the greenies do and SUE!!!
That's complete BS, where are the people from Great Falls supposed to ride if they close off King's. Really there forcing them all to Linclon, then they'll go and say there's too many people riding in Lincoln and close that down.

Ken, I say we get a little beer drinkin BBQ going in one of the more popular "ground pounder' p-lots and harass greenies all day. THEY'LL want to reopen some areas back up just so we leave them alone after enough harassing.

 

[JHG]

Wow, that's a huge loss. Unfortunately this travel plan has been in the making for several years and very few snowmobilers put in any input.

 

[Cheekster]

Looks like most of the forest (pink areas) are now closed to off-trail snowmobiling. What a surprise, not. Same thing happening all over Montana and other western states on Forest Service managed lands.

and 'they' will site the 'success' of the Kings Hill area in making recommendations else where.

sad but true

 

[Givemeaboost]

According to those in the know at the meeting last night those signs that I saw will be coming down after hunting season, but we still lost about half of our land on this new travel plan.

 

[hilinerider]

i thought there was a suit brought on this and it couldn't be implemented till it was settled??

 

[kraftymike]

I belong to several different organizations and send in money regularly to help try to protect the motor sports I am passionate about. You have to understand we are dealing with groups of very powerful and well funded “fanatics” who perceive these closures as their legacy on earth. While we are at work during the day trying to make a honest living these people have created nonprofit companies out of printing leaflets, creating skewed statistics and most important raising huge monetary contributions for their elected officials from whom they can call on for favors such as a new wilderness bill here and maybe a new earth friendly Forest Service manager appointed there. At least with the Republicans at the helm we could slightly impede their progress, but now every environmentally related policy is being rammed through a gapping door without resistance. Lately I have closely watched and attended Forest Service meetings over recent such closures as the Gallatin travel plan, and Badger/Two Medicine shut down. I can tell you two things. As long as the “Friends of the Earth” are in charge of the Forest Service and continue to dictate our National Forest Lands use and as long as the Federal Government can steal our state public land and lock it up as Wilderness, we are fighting a losing battle. Enjoy it while you can because under these circumstances the only “legal” entertainment our children will have in ten years will be to sit in front of the TV and smoke medical marijuana.

 

[T-Bone]

Well it sounds like we lost another riding area. Now that skyland/two medicine and kings hill have been pretty much closed off. Hard to get excited about sledding or spending any money (I had myself convinced to buy a new sled, this year) when there will be pretty much no riding within 3 1/2 hours of me.

 

[B C]

Wow, that's a huge loss. Unfortunately this travel plan has been in the making for several years and very few snowmobilers put in any input.

NOT true. The meetings held in Lewistown were very well attended. 50+ sledders vs. 3-5 cross country skiers. However, no matter how many comments were made, as usual they didn't listen. This has been going on for years at every travel plan meeting I've attended, no matter what area. No matter the attendance, no matter the comments; we still lose.

From now on, we'll ride where we want. They don't have near enough people to enforce any of these closures.

 

[Cheekster]

Sad but True

I still have plenty of riding close to home, but we do not know for how long.


One day it may come down to a new program I have thought of.

Designated Driver Sledding Style


IF you draw the short straw, your the driver.

You will have to drop us off at point A and pick us up at point B

Everyone will have to keep up with the herd,
or be the sacrificial lamb.. at least we will know where you were.

 

[roughrider99]

where can us canucks to come down there to ride regularly get a map. the others are gonna be pissed when they find out about this as the locals here absolutely love kings hill.

 

[Cheekster]

Little Belt Map

IF you did love KH area, do not click on this link with a full stomach.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/projects/lbcc_final_travel_plan/rod_map6_winter_rod.pdf


IS this the last one.. I think so.. but I am not positive.

this one is BAD, so it is probably the last version. 7-13-07

Legend is in the lower left hand corner.
One of my favorite areas, is now limited to a trail ride in.. and a trail ride out.

 

[2XM3]

They really have gone way 2 far....i'm done with this,i'll ride where I want when I want. Scr#w um. It's my form of non violent protest, just like the greenies.

Guess what everybody rides in a "closed" area,its not closed anymore. Done deal. I cant stand what the FS has become anymore. I pay my taxes,its public land, I am going to use it. Just like any unjust law there comes a time when u just gotta say " sorry goverment u just crossed the line"

 

[SnowSnob]

I still have plenty of riding close to home, but we do not know for how long.


One day it may come down to a new program I have thought of.

Designated Driver Sledding Style


IF you draw the short straw, your the driver.

You will have to drop us off at point A and pick us up at point B

Everyone will have to keep up with the herd,
or be the sacrificial lamb.. at least we will know where you were.

Totally agree, it'll make riding MUCH more exciting anyway.
Who's up for riding the BOB?
Maybe when they get sick of us riding areas that SHOULDN'T be ridin they open BACK up the areas that SHOULD!.....dam it.

 

[rockin rmk]

The trails in Kings Hill have always been closed from the Oct 15 to Dec 1 because of hunting season. It has been like this for years they now have to post signs because alot of people can not read maps and follow the rules. When you look at the map for the closures the area where showdown is marked going south is the ski hill you have never been able to ride there. Pophyry Peak is the top of the triple chair lift and the ski run extends to Mizpah Peak. Then it all heads down hill to the highway. South of Mizpah Peak is solid trees and unrideable. North of Showdown there is blocks 22 and 27 that are closed. Not sure where that is or if there was any riding there.

 

[Givemeaboost]

One of the roads in question is an established road and the signs used to say you had to stay on established roads during hunting season. now this road is closed off and it's still bow season not Oct. 15 th yet.