Sledders, Please Steer Clear of Hog Loppet Ski Race on Feb 26

[mdmead]

Tim Foss, Cle Elum area Winter Rec Manager for the USFS, asked me to post the following:

Hog Loppet Ski Race February 26, 2011

The annual Hog Loppet ski race from Mission Ridge ski area to Blewett Pass will be February 26, 2011 this year. Although the race course is not actually closed to snowmobiles, snowmobilers can have a more enjoyable day – and promote goodwill among all users - by avoiding that area that day. The race area includes the Haney Meadow area, the “rockslide”, and the Blewett Pass Sno-Park. As an alternate access to the meadows on top of Table Mountain, we recommend the Reecer Creek Sno-Park, or Mineral Springs (via Durst Creek, Snowshoe Ridge, and 3507 road). Most snowmobilers have been very considerate in the past, and we’re once again asking for your help to make this a successful day for everyone.

 

[newtrout]

Thanks for posting this. Mr. Foss has our best interest in mind. Let's do what we can to cooperate and generate some good will here.

 

[diamonddave]

Good Call

I agree...one skier stabbed my wife in her neck with a ski pole during one of these events about 10 years ago as we were stopped on the side of the trail to let a few skiers go by. We didn't know about the event and were going to retrieve a buddies broken down sled outside Haney Meadows from the day before. If he hadn't been with the sled waiting for us, I would've turned around and headed back for the truck.


And don't expect the Chelan County Sheriff Officer on his sled to enforce assault laws on crosss country skiers. Luckily her coat and scarff thingy prevented some of the 6stitch gouge in her neck.

 

[papa bear]

Glacier Cruisers have a club ride up Reecer this weekend.......

 

[snoboy]

Good Call

I agree...one skier stabbed my wife in her neck with a ski pole during one of these events about 10 years ago as we were stopped on the side of the trail to let a few skiers go by. We didn't know about the event and were going to retrieve a buddies broken down sled outside Haney Meadows from the day before. If he hadn't been with the sled waiting for us, I would've turned around and headed back for the truck.


And don't expect the Chelan County Sheriff Officer on his sled to enforce assault laws on crosss country skiers. Luckily her coat and scarff thingy prevented some of the 6stitch gouge in her neck.

b



I won't get in their way. Great now with that said...Dave your story brings back a a couple memorys. We had a the same thing happen but no actual contact of skin from the ski pole. Scared the hell out of my wife, she almost rode off the trail to avoid being stabbed by a ski pole. It was on the North Fork Teanaway rode up past 29 Pines but still on the groomed portion (which is Multi use). A whole bus load of these sons a bitche$ were on the groomed road because they were too damn lazy to ski up Jungle creek which we handed over to them a few years prior. Another time my step brother went wayyyy around a group trying to be nice and ended up in an 10' creek bed, and these people just skied right on by, didn't even ask if he was alright they just kept on skiing. Any hoots, I pretty much made up my mind that the next one of these bastages that pokes a pole at me is gonna end up on Youtube for the whole friggen world to see. Then when the filming is finished... I'll get just as mean and nasty as them.

whew

 

[shmuckaluck]

Good Call

I agree...one skier stabbed my wife in her neck with a ski pole during one of these events about 10 years ago as we were stopped on the side of the trail to let a few skiers go by. We didn't know about the event and were going to retrieve a buddies broken down sled outside Haney Meadows from the day before. If he hadn't been with the sled waiting for us, I would've turned around and headed back for the truck.


And don't expect the Chelan County Sheriff Officer on his sled to enforce assault laws on crosss country skiers. Luckily her coat and scarff thingy prevented some of the 6stitch gouge in her neck.

Hey guys,
Did you chase the mother F-er down and beat the living S out of him. nobody has the right to do that crap.

 

[xpspenziv]

Good Call

I agree...one skier stabbed my wife in her neck with a ski pole during one of these events about 10 years ago as we were stopped on the side of the trail to let a few skiers go by. We didn't know about the event and were going to retrieve a buddies broken down sled outside Haney Meadows from the day before. If he hadn't been with the sled waiting for us, I would've turned around and headed back for the truck.

that's what the 45 is for.self defense.My wifes life was threatened.

A shot to the neck for a shot to the neck.Officer its not my fault his jap ski pole isnt as effective as my 45 smith.

 

[snojunkee]

it's called assault with a deadly weapon

too many people, including myself have had a ski pole swung at them while on a groomed SNOWMOBILE trail, these jackalopes ski our trails with their UNLEASHED dogs. I used to be respectful and slow way down so no one would get hurt, that just made it easier for them to get me with their ski pole. I won't slow down for them anymore. a f.s. ranger at marble mtn told us we could press assault charges if we wanted, no injury so we didn't. but we did stop and chastise the leaflickers. not smart bringing a ski pole to a gunfight. I for one am tired of sharing the trails with people(?) who don't respect it as shared use. STAY ON YOUR OWN TRAILS IF YOU DON'T LIKE SNOWMOBILERS, and also park in your own area, not trailer parking because the lot is 30 ft closer to the trail. you're skiing to get exercise anyway. I will respect the hogg loppet race and not ride the area, but on the other days,STAY ON YOUR OWN TRAIL IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ENCOUNTER SNOWMOBILERS,AND LEASH YOUR DOGS WE DON'T NEED THEM CHASING THE WILDLIFE!!!! I'M FED UP WITH THIS CRAP!!! and don't park in the turnaround jackass...

 

[off road rider]

I'm all for co habiting our areas. However, At the risk of sounding like a complete jerk off. Do they contribute to the grooming fees??
There is a running race held in Tanuem every year, the runners whine about the dirtbikers using the area that we pay for, yet the runners pay nothing and want to use the trails we work hard on and support with our $$$s.. seams a bit ridicules to me..Im tired of paying for others enjoyment who want to keep us out of the woods, steal our trails and generally feel motorsports should be banned.

 

[rmk2112]

Thanks for posting this. Mr. Foss has our best interest in mind. Let's do what we can to cooperate and generate some good will here.

I totally agree, Tim is a huge supporter of sledders and is one of our biggest allies in the Forest Service. I am on his mailing list also and got this letter a few days ago

 

[_AJ_]

I gotta say I'm a bit upset with these skiers also to put it nicely. Two years we were on an Eastside family sledding trip. We had no idea that there was an event there.

The snopark was packed with subarus including the turn around. They also lit a campfire right on the asphalt in the center of the turn around.

We found one of the last parking places on the opposite side of the highway and steered clear of the people as we rode up the open area on the right.

My wife, two young daughters and I headed up the trail trying to get to the open meadows where the kids could hone their skills. We encountered the skiers on the way up the trail at the slide area. We pulled off to the way right side and shut down our sleds to watch them pass. We got alot of dirty looks, nasty comments and more than one skier jab poles at us. It was totally uncalled for and put a serious damper on our day. The kids were nervous to go back.

IMO- These folks do not have any right to take complete control of our snopark, have exclusive rights to our groomed trails. To read here that others have had the same aggressive experiences from these guys is appalling. The police should take action and start arresting these folks.

Don't we pay a fee to have access to our few snow parks? I don't mind sharing the trails, but this is getting out of control.

We recently rode an entire weekend at Fish lake and shared the trails with the dog sledders during their race. I never felt threatened and everyone got along great.

Respect is a two way street. The event coordinators of the Blewett pass ski event need to show some respect and be reasonable when we share our trails with them. They need to promote a culture of cooperation. This could really be a non issue if folks could just get along.

I plan to ride over there this weekend with my daughter and the Glacier Cruisers. I have no issue accessing the area from an alternate location such as Reecer Creek and appreciate the heads up here on Snowest.

 

[94fordguy]

Thanks for posting this here to help get the word out.... best to just avoid the area for the weekend to ensure a smooth and enjoyable weekend for everyone including ourselves.


Better for all to just pick another location for the weekend and have some fun tearing up the fresh snow we are finally getting again

 

[no_uh]

I just want to throw some balance into this thread that will probably get me some negative rep, but oh well.

If skiers are doing something ignorant, ie lighting a fire in a turn around, messing up parking, talking to them goes a long way. Most of them will be very surprised when you approach them peacefully and with respect, and it will completely disarm them. If they remain hostile, just get the hell outta there and call the cops.

There's always going to be the lunatic fringe who will try to stab you with a ski pole, but we just gotta represent our sport as well as we can and not assume that they're all like that. Also, if they go after you with a ski pole- calmly walk up to them and punch them in the face. Poles may be sharp, but the tip is about 1/2 in. I understand having your wife or gf there presents a difference scenario but everyone has the right to self defense.

Just remember for every horrible story we have about them, they have one about us. For every ski pole, there's a skier that got hit by a sled... FYI, in Valdez a few years ago a XC skier stabbed a sledder with his pole who was trespassing (no serious injuries), got a lot of heat from the community, and committed suicide. Kind of random I know, but nobody regardless of side tolerates that isht.

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

For months, Tim Foss has been trying to get volunteers on sleds to be on the trail and ask sleds to stay off the route.

As of Tuesday, it is just myself and a guy from Easton. He needs a few more....

Also, parking will be very congested at Blewett.....Kittitas County Search Rescue and the Forest Service will be running their operations out of the sno-park......

Hope I don't get stabbed with a ski pole?

 

[snoboy]

I just want to throw some balance into this thread that will probably get me some negative rep, but oh well.

If skiers are doing something ignorant, ie lighting a fire in a turn around, messing up parking, talking to them goes a long way. Most of them will be very surprised when you approach them peacefully and with respect, and it will completely disarm them. If they remain hostile, just get the hell outta there and call the cops.

There's always going to be the lunatic fringe who will try to stab you with a ski pole, but we just gotta represent our sport as well as we can and not assume that they're all like that. Also, if they go after you with a ski pole- calmly walk up to them and punch them in the face. Poles may be sharp, but the tip is about 1/2 in. I understand having your wife or gf there presents a difference scenario but everyone has the right to self defense.

Just remember for every horrible story we have about them, they have one about us. For every ski pole, there's a skier that got hit by a sled... FYI, in Valdez a few years ago a XC skier stabbed a sledder with his pole who was trespassing (no serious injuries), got a lot of heat from the community, and committed suicide. Kind of random I know, but nobody regardless of side tolerates that isht.

The XC skier was a wack job long before the sledder trespassed. I call bull$hit on a skier getting hit for every ski pole being raised. A large percentage of these people are whacked from childhood. I don't have any scientific proof except for listening to them make up absolute lies at land use hearings, watching them at snoparks and watching herds of them disembark the ski bus. I'm convinced that something happened to them to make them think like they do. Anyone that takes a teabag into a restaurant and asks for a cup of hot water then leaves a quarter for a tip needs an a$$ kicking. What really sucks is there are way more of these nitwhits running the country then there are sane people.

 

[winter brew]

Just curious.....is this the only place sledders are being encouraged to not use the snoparks and trails they pay to have maintained and groomed? Or will there also be someone or a sign at the snopark asking sledders arriving at the lot to go elsewhere?
Not to sound like a a$$, but with the recent fresh and sun in the forecast, asking sledders to avoid what might be their favorite area on perhaps one of the best weekends of the year so those that want sleds eliminated can enjoy it.....well, that seems a bit much. JMHO-
How would skiers react if we held a snowmobile race in a area primarily for skiing and asked them to avoid the area???
Sorry.....the whole thing just rubs me wrong.

 

[skidooklimer]

Ya, what winterbrew said!Could not say it any better.

 

[no_uh]

The XC skier was a wack job long before the sledder trespassed. I call bull$hit on a skier getting hit for every ski pole being raised. A large percentage of these people are whacked from childhood. I don't have any scientific proof except for listening to them make up absolute lies at land use hearings, watching them at snoparks and watching herds of them disembark the ski bus. I'm convinced that something happened to them to make them think like they do. Anyone that takes a teabag into a restaurant and asks for a cup of hot water then leaves a quarter for a tip needs an a$$ kicking. What really sucks is there are way more of these nitwhits running the country then there are sane people.

Yea for sure there are tons of whackos, but all i'm trying to say is that there's plenty on our side too. Not that a skier has actually been hit for every ski pole- but certainly there's a damning story for every ski pole from their side. Personally, I can't for the life of me understand why a skier/big foot would want to use a motorized sno-park when they can take on any wilderness/non-motorized park and get 100x more out of it...

 

[snojunkee]

I totally agree, Tim is a huge supporter of sledders and is one of our biggest allies in the Forest Service. I am on his mailing list also and got this letter a few days ago

I just got off of the phone with mr. Foss as I am on the mailing list also, he's looking for volunteers to man the intersections. according to him there were many disrespectful snowmobilers tearing up the trail that the skiers were using, and high marking across the trail the skiers were using. I'm going to call BS on Tim being our ally. there was a slide at hawkins a few days ago that he stated was caused by irresponsible snowmobilers high marking. i've seen plenty of slides where there was not a track made. ALLY MY EYE...

 

[sidehil]

I agree with everyone on our right to use but believe me its a zoo up there until the race is over. We been camped at the snowpark during a couple of the races and its pretty bad. If you do brave it go early and take a right at the top,head to lion rock and beyond. Come back late and you will miss the whole circus.