NEW FS start dates to riding????

[autowrench]

I would rather not piss off an armed sportsman by riding off trail this time of year. I had one such encounter and never want to do that again! It's just not worth it for me. Road riding, maybe. Here in Grand Lake, the gates will close to wheeled vehicles on Nov 18th and grooming can commence. I think I can wait that long.

 

[AndrettiDog]

Well, here's another angle...

We pay for vehicle registration for snowmobiles. Perhaps we should talk to Colorado State Parks about reducing the cost of our $25 tag to be $22.50. Silly? Yeah, maybe it is and it's not about the cost. But if our season is going to be reduced then maybe the cost of licensing our sleds should be too. I'm playing devil's advocate here because I strongly believe in the funds from licensed off road vehicles. Those funds in turn contribute to grooming trails that help us "adopt" areas that are to be kept for snowmobiling. But perhaps Colorado State Parks would then put up a fight to allow early season riding, or assist in making sure the USFS doesn't $hit on us.

 

[Qreiff]

No, that will never happen. BUT......How about a nice little sticker costing $30'ish on the tips of all cross country skiers ski's. They utilize the same NF we do and should pay to do so as well!

You want tit for tat........well how 'bout that!

Sick and F'ing tired of other getting the same ability of use without cost!

If the FS would look a bit deeper into the crystal ball, they may see a bit of a money-maker there and back off of us a bit. (OK that last part was total wishful thinking.)

 

[AndrettiDog]

No, that will never happen. BUT......How about a nice little sticker costing $30'ish on the tips of all cross country skiers ski's. They utilize the same NF we do and should pay to do so as well!

I get your point but we don't want that. We don't want that because then they get to decide what happens to those funds. Those funds should be used for motorized functions only. If they pay the tax then they will be empowered and feel they have more rights than they already think they have.

 

[polpro800]

I just hung up the phone with usfs and there is no date regulations for rabbit ears or buff pass, only regulation is there must be 15" inches or more of snow cover.

I just got off the phone with the USFS and they told me 12", but you aren't allowed to disturb what's under the snow.

 

[snobeel]

White River MVUM regulations

Sorry that I am joining this thread late. My name is Jack Albright and I am the Vice President of the White River Forest Alliance. We are the organization that represented recreationalists in the Hidden Gems Wilderness debate, including snowmobilers. Being an avid rider and living in the heart of the WRF, I have been aware of this and working on it all week. Some of the guys who got tickets are even friends of mine.

This is the third year that this regulation has been in place. It just hasn't impacted us until this year due to lack of snow. This specific set of rules is relative to the WRF travel management only. Rules will be different in other forests. We feel that a lack of communication of these rules is probably the most disappointing aspect. That said, it is our responsibility to understand the the regulations of our backcountry activities.

Specifically, I am working with the Forest Manager on clarification of two exemptions that are provided in the 36 CFR. The first is regulations regarding State, County, or other Local legal right of ways. This may give us the ability to ride on some of the same roads as other vehicles prior to November 23rd if they have the proper designation. The other is access via oversnow vehicles to private in holdings. This may be on a defined route, but it would be access all the same. In addition to these clarifications, I am working on getting an understanding for what it would take for special exceptions in the case of an extraordinary event in which wildlife concerns are no longer a factor and the snow depths would be adequate out side of the defined winter season.

Sorry this is so long, but I want everyone to know that there are people and organizations working to be sure that our interests and opinions are heard along with the other forest visitors by those in charge of managing our amazing public forest lands.

If anyone has any specific thoughts or questions, you can email me at jack@albright-associates.com.

 

[malogato]

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/whiteriver/home/?cid=stelprdb5328674

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I just got off the phone with the USFS and they told me 12", but you aren't allowed to disturb what's under the snow.

IMO, that's about 24-36" of actual snow then.

 

[03RMK800]

Take a look at what the Wyoming people did with this! Great effort on their part.
Sorry I don't have the link, but its a thread on the start dates in the Wyoming section.