Sledders, Please Steer Clear of Hog Loppet Ski Race on Feb 26
- Thread starter mdmead
- Start date
D
deepdiver
Well-known member
Applecountry snowmobile club used to groom the route and staff the vollunteer sled rescue positions. I did it once and after picking up a hurt skiier and giving them a ride not so much as a thank you. These are the same people that try to get snowmobiling shut down. If they want to have a big race then they should just pony up and pay for the services that they need IMHO.
They have a non motorized snow park just a few hundred yards away. There is a huge staging medow on the Swak road. I dont know why they have to use the blewitt snowpark. It is not off limits everyone is legally able to use it no different than anybody else, get there early..however it will be a cluster Fauacak. There will be vehicles and tents in the turn around garranteed.
They have a non motorized snow park just a few hundred yards away. There is a huge staging medow on the Swak road. I dont know why they have to use the blewitt snowpark. It is not off limits everyone is legally able to use it no different than anybody else, get there early..however it will be a cluster Fauacak. There will be vehicles and tents in the turn around garranteed.
Tim Foss is doing what he can. He doesn't have to remind us of the upcoming event. He only does so because he recognizes the possibility of user conflict... and wants us to be aware. This type of open / preemptive communication via Tim is vital to our interests as motorized users, and keeping our riding area's.
The attitude of "F it" it's a motorized area and I'm gonna ride it regardless of a ski event is juvenile. It's one day folks.... we need to grow up and get over it. Better yet, volunteer to man an intersection. I was going to volunteer but have a prior commitment, with my son, on that day. I was planning to ride Blewitt (great area for beginners)... but have changed plans and will access via Reecer... or go somewhere else entirely.
Remember, when we can no longer get along and the land gets divided between user groups, us motorized users are going to LOSE .... guaranteed. Events like this, going bad, are just the ammunition the other groups will use against us.
Thank you, Mr Foss, for the heads up / reminder.
The attitude of "F it" it's a motorized area and I'm gonna ride it regardless of a ski event is juvenile. It's one day folks.... we need to grow up and get over it. Better yet, volunteer to man an intersection. I was going to volunteer but have a prior commitment, with my son, on that day. I was planning to ride Blewitt (great area for beginners)... but have changed plans and will access via Reecer... or go somewhere else entirely.
Remember, when we can no longer get along and the land gets divided between user groups, us motorized users are going to LOSE .... guaranteed. Events like this, going bad, are just the ammunition the other groups will use against us.
Thank you, Mr Foss, for the heads up / reminder.
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I have to wonder what you might know about Motorized user conflicts in our state. Are you aware of the NOVA funds Theft? or the Rietter closure and
DNR BS or the assault on every single Off road riding area in our state?
We took the high road at Reitter,Did what DNR asked. They said a winter closure. Its been nearly 2 years, No reopening in site and what might be open in 5 years will be donated to the hikers. I helped make those trails and have ridden there for 30 years.. This is the future of off roading in Wa ST.
The time is here to wake up and get pissed as well as active. Being passive about "its only one day" and that those who think its BS are Juvenile, in my opinion is irresponsible to the rest of the motorsports community.
If you think that these issue only affect the dirt bikers and ATV enthusiast think again, they will eventually infiltrate the snowmobiles as well.
The skiers have plenty of places they can go without conflict, areas where we used to ride but are no longer permitted to do so.
Since it is a multiple use area, they have the right to be there,but dont tell us to stay away. IMO everyone should show up and go for a nice trail ride.
I'm curious to know how much $$ the ski race is donating for grooming, or is that also on our backs?
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Jesus. This is one fawkin day, one race. Go ride the area all you want if you want to spend your day dodging ski poles. FYI, for someone to park their car at a sno-park, motorized or not, a sno park permit is required. Sledders get them when they register their sled, others must purchase them.
http://www.parks.wa.gov/winter/permits/
I'm not going to go ride the area.. Just trying to shed some light..
Your next in line to loose your riding areas
To me there is a whole lot more involved than 1 day and sleds
Its not just one day one race.
Its a attitude against Off road vehicles in general..
Look up the NOVA funds theft, doesn't seam as though you care?
How about some of the legislation currently going threw Oly against
Off road vehicles. You should be aware of what other user groups are
up against. If you think its not coming your way, you are surely mistaken.
Why are folks getting their panties in a bunch over a one-day event that's been going on for years, for which a VOLUNTARY accommodation is being requested? Acting like we think we own a mixed use area WILL lead to the loss or limitation of our access rights, guaranteed. Face it, many disinterested people (perhaps the majority even) aren't fond of the idea of sleds ripping around in the woods. No surprise there. How we deal with that perception will have a huge impact on whether we keep our current access rights. Nobody says you HAVE to avoid the area, just that it would be BETTER to avoid it on that day, so as not to cause a clusterf*ck. If you can go elsewhere, that would be great! If not, then at least be courteous. That might mean shutting down while on the groomer to let folks go by. Is that really such a big deal? We have a chance to make sledders look like good guys with events like this and instead you guys are making us look like a bunch of selfish a-holes (or worse, dangerous gun toting crazies). Guaranteed that Tim Foss reads this thread. Way to go fellas, you just shot yourselves (and the rest of us) in the foot!
I disagree, And hope Tim is reading this.I'm sure most will stay away from the area and I would hope be respectful to the racers..
If you roll over and worry about what everyone thinks you will loose in the end.. Again.. look at the off road community as to what will happen in the future of sledding.
How many are aware of the meeting in front of the capitol TOMORROW. The Off road enthusiast will be there fighting for your rights to continue riding..
Certainly I am turning this into another issue, other than staying away from a certain area for a day.. That really doesn't bother me.. The TAKE TAKE TAKE of non motorized enthusiast is what I am concerned with.. You should be too.
I hope my Grand kids have a place to ride..
A few years ago we came up through the Naneum and hit the Beehive road on the day the skiers were up there. I waved to around 100 skiers and only two waved back.
Well, I'm not going to go harrass anyone, but I have to tell you that I've yet to see the "high ground" "turn the other cheek" attitude work out well.
Seems to me that people mistake kindness for weakness..... then they run over you cause your weak.
It does seem like a great opportunity to make some points by organizing better for next year....
I'm in, anyone else wanna go make a positive presence next year?
Bag
Seems to me that people mistake kindness for weakness..... then they run over you cause your weak.
It does seem like a great opportunity to make some points by organizing better for next year....
I'm in, anyone else wanna go make a positive presence next year?
Bag
With the new snow, a parking option is Liberty. Parked there today (Friday) and rode a 60 mile loop around the 3517 ....Just felt a few rocks under the snow on the way up the south side to the Reecer Rd junction.......
If it's worth anything, Blewett got rode hard today. You won't be missing much by just going somewhere else. Don't ask me how I know that. 
Yep. What'd you have in mind.
Thank you
A skier not a rider, I was the last one across the Hog Loppett course Saturday, taking advantage of a free ticket at Mission to ride up and get on the route ~10:30. Never saw another skier except the volunteers climbing back to the ski area collecting their route markers. I saw maybe a dozen sleds all day and was pleased to find the set ski track intact for most of the route. Thanks! A big huzzah to Tim Foss, too.
Skiing among riders in the Wenatchee Mtns since 1979, I know the protocols. On shared routes, when I hear you coming, it's off to side to smile and wave. I know if I screw up somehow, someone on a sled is going to save my ***. I'm not interested in non-motorizing new areas(WMC, wtf!). We're all users with common interests, let's work together. Thanks again.
A skier not a rider, I was the last one across the Hog Loppett course Saturday, taking advantage of a free ticket at Mission to ride up and get on the route ~10:30. Never saw another skier except the volunteers climbing back to the ski area collecting their route markers. I saw maybe a dozen sleds all day and was pleased to find the set ski track intact for most of the route. Thanks! A big huzzah to Tim Foss, too.
Skiing among riders in the Wenatchee Mtns since 1979, I know the protocols. On shared routes, when I hear you coming, it's off to side to smile and wave. I know if I screw up somehow, someone on a sled is going to save my ***. I'm not interested in non-motorizing new areas(WMC, wtf!). We're all users with common interests, let's work together. Thanks again.
Thanks for the kind words Glenn......I stood a post in single digit temps for 8 hrs and talked to every sled rider heading up.......With just one exception, all were kind and polite. Many changed their planned route to stay away from the skiers. Likewise, many compliments and thanks from the skiers.
The Forest Service and ski club agree this was the best one ever. Had 600 skiers register, busy day....I'm warm now......
Just thought I'd pass along Tim's letter on how things went as well as his take on the entire event. There are some names of people who posted in this thread....you all know who you are.
Thank you for being such excellent ambassadors of our sport!
Copy/Paste from Tim's email in it's entirety:
[FONT="]I am so pleased to report that yesterday's Hogloppit ski event was a big success , and a great deal of the credit goes to our intrepid volunteers from the snowmobile community, who braved the cold to stand at key intersections all day, and talk to every single snowmobiler! In my estimation these folks were the key to making a day with essentially zero conflicts between the snowmobiling public and 600+ skiers, and I would like to say a big Thank You to these folks: Johnny Cunningham, Bob Seelye, Robert Lind, Shelby Brown, Nick Whitman, and Tiffany Greene, as well as the whole crew from Kittitas County Search and Rescue. I also want to give an equally big thanks to the snowmobilers who came up to the area, and showed courtesy to the skiers. Some chose to avoid the area altogether, and those that did co-mingle with the skiers were careful and respectful. I heard no complaints from the skiers, but I did hear how much they appreciated the work these volunteers did . In fact, Bob Black, the director of Leavenworth Winter Sports Club who sponsored the event said it was the most successful Hogloppit ever! This just shows how far a little common courtesy will go. THANK YOU EVERYONE!![/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]Tim Foss[/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]Winter Recreation Manager[/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]USFS Cle Elum[/FONT][FONT="] [/FONT]
Thank you for being such excellent ambassadors of our sport!
Copy/Paste from Tim's email in it's entirety:
[FONT="]I am so pleased to report that yesterday's Hogloppit ski event was a big success , and a great deal of the credit goes to our intrepid volunteers from the snowmobile community, who braved the cold to stand at key intersections all day, and talk to every single snowmobiler! In my estimation these folks were the key to making a day with essentially zero conflicts between the snowmobiling public and 600+ skiers, and I would like to say a big Thank You to these folks: Johnny Cunningham, Bob Seelye, Robert Lind, Shelby Brown, Nick Whitman, and Tiffany Greene, as well as the whole crew from Kittitas County Search and Rescue. I also want to give an equally big thanks to the snowmobilers who came up to the area, and showed courtesy to the skiers. Some chose to avoid the area altogether, and those that did co-mingle with the skiers were careful and respectful. I heard no complaints from the skiers, but I did hear how much they appreciated the work these volunteers did . In fact, Bob Black, the director of Leavenworth Winter Sports Club who sponsored the event said it was the most successful Hogloppit ever! This just shows how far a little common courtesy will go. THANK YOU EVERYONE!![/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]Tim Foss[/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]Winter Recreation Manager[/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]USFS Cle Elum[/FONT][FONT="] [/FONT]
