This year the ohv's were shut out of most of the Black Hills of South Dakota including roads and trails not designated for their use. Whether you agree with this action or not it is a porthole for a look into the future of snowmobiling in the Black Hills, in the next few years we will be relegated to trail riding only and eventually we will be shut out like the ohv's. The part of the new ohv plan that caught my eye was the part that said that a decibel level will be enforced, I guess it is environmentally "OK" for 250 thousand Harley's with straight pipes on them to cruise the Hills for most of the summer but by God we better not catch an ohv with an aftermarket silencer on it!!! It makes me wonder if this about saving the forest or is it about money ? Don't get me wrong I don't care if the bikers have straight pipes or not, if they are like me I like to hear something when I ride it but it is interesting how certain groups like ohv'ers and sledders are singled out for new restrictions and closures and others are given a pass and you may use Yellowstone as an example.
Sleds are the next target
- Thread starter onlyrotax
- Start date
I'd like to see someone do an economic impact on the Black Hills and show what kind of loss they would see if snowmobiles were targeted.
I don't think there's another recreational vehicle out that leaves as little of a footmark on the earth as a snowmobile, other than watercraft. Sure, we might run over a few small tree's but most of them pop right back up, other than that..... when the snow melts you don't even know we were there.
I don't think there's another recreational vehicle out that leaves as little of a footmark on the earth as a snowmobile, other than watercraft. Sure, we might run over a few small tree's but most of them pop right back up, other than that..... when the snow melts you don't even know we were there.
i kinda figured the ohv's would be banned soon as driving down the interstate in the summer and even spring many vehicles are pulling trailers of 4 wheelers. Looking at all of them out in the hills there I can see the ruts forming on old trails and such...
I sure hope they do a study to show the little impact that snowmobiles do, and prove our point. all in all we just need to stand up and fight for our side of the story
I sure hope they do a study to show the little impact that snowmobiles do, and prove our point. all in all we just need to stand up and fight for our side of the story
Divide and conquer is the game. The greenies see us as all the same. Solid arguments against sleds are tougher because as you mention, we leave no trace.
As an example of how rediculous it gets, on Molas Pass Lake near Silverton CO, the local yo-yo's tried to ban sleds from riding on the "lake", whch being a native Minnesotan is just a small pond at best. They claimed snowmobiles running across it in the winter were polluting the lake. They tested the water...guess what? No pollution, they had to re-open it to sleds but will be testing the water periodically to make sure.
There is a snowmobile tour business operated not 100 yards from this lake. The owner has gone so far as to purchase the cleanest greenest 4 stroke machines possible and they still are taking away half of the usable terrian in the area with the next forest plan.
The greenies are completely irrational, and have NO concern for economic impact. Don't you know? It is their birthright to keep you and I off of the land at any cost. They wont use it when we are gone but that doesn't matter, it is all about the fight and proving some point.
Too bad it is going to get to the point where we have to lose a ton of rights before we fight back. Of course the guy on Molas has been fighting a losing battle for 10 years now. I have been fighting for three.
Eventually we are going to need a HUGE effort to try and get land back. I wish I knew the answer but participating by attending meetings in mass and letter writing to forest managers and politicians is about all we can do for now, and I haven't seen much success so far.
As an example of how rediculous it gets, on Molas Pass Lake near Silverton CO, the local yo-yo's tried to ban sleds from riding on the "lake", whch being a native Minnesotan is just a small pond at best. They claimed snowmobiles running across it in the winter were polluting the lake. They tested the water...guess what? No pollution, they had to re-open it to sleds but will be testing the water periodically to make sure.
There is a snowmobile tour business operated not 100 yards from this lake. The owner has gone so far as to purchase the cleanest greenest 4 stroke machines possible and they still are taking away half of the usable terrian in the area with the next forest plan.
The greenies are completely irrational, and have NO concern for economic impact. Don't you know? It is their birthright to keep you and I off of the land at any cost. They wont use it when we are gone but that doesn't matter, it is all about the fight and proving some point.
Too bad it is going to get to the point where we have to lose a ton of rights before we fight back. Of course the guy on Molas has been fighting a losing battle for 10 years now. I have been fighting for three.
Eventually we are going to need a HUGE effort to try and get land back. I wish I knew the answer but participating by attending meetings in mass and letter writing to forest managers and politicians is about all we can do for now, and I haven't seen much success so far.
All off road users
Should work together. ohv, sledders even mount.bikers. What affects one eventually affects all. Ive seen motorcycle trails shut down due to the mountain bikers then those same trails closed to the M.B. due to the hikers.Even though the dirt bikers had originally built and payed for the trails. What happens today to the off road community will have an impact on your sledding.
Land use issues are a major concern of anyone who uses our public lands. by working with other interest groups our #s will be higher. In Wa we l;ost a major off road riding area several years ago.The majority of the sledders didnt seem to care. It is still open to sleds, but I think those days may be numbered now as well.
Should work together. ohv, sledders even mount.bikers. What affects one eventually affects all. Ive seen motorcycle trails shut down due to the mountain bikers then those same trails closed to the M.B. due to the hikers.Even though the dirt bikers had originally built and payed for the trails. What happens today to the off road community will have an impact on your sledding.
Land use issues are a major concern of anyone who uses our public lands. by working with other interest groups our #s will be higher. In Wa we l;ost a major off road riding area several years ago.The majority of the sledders didnt seem to care. It is still open to sleds, but I think those days may be numbered now as well.
Like anything, those of us who see the train coming sound the warning and the masses still stand on the tracks like deer in the headlights. Accept that we are going to lose one heck of a lot more before people wake up and participate.
The USFS document being used to close an addition 440,000 acres in the San Juan Forest clearly identifies sledding as one of the five fastest growing uses on forest land. They still want to take more! They know we exist, the acknowledge it clearly, they blatantly ignore us becaus we are not well organized.
Organizing is the answer, 20,000 registered sleds in Colorado, only 2000 members in the state snowmobile club. With stats like that, we will continue to lose ground.
The USFS document being used to close an addition 440,000 acres in the San Juan Forest clearly identifies sledding as one of the five fastest growing uses on forest land. They still want to take more! They know we exist, the acknowledge it clearly, they blatantly ignore us becaus we are not well organized.
Organizing is the answer, 20,000 registered sleds in Colorado, only 2000 members in the state snowmobile club. With stats like that, we will continue to lose ground.
OuraySledder said:
So are you a member of SAWS? If not, why not?
We could really use people like you in CO. Yes, I am asking for help down there.
We will not win this war to keep our riding areas open without more people that care enought to get involved.
I am now!
Let me know what I can do to help. I am already a CSA club Pres for Ridgway, and deeply involved in the San Juan plan. The 3'x4' USFS Columbine district over snow map is on my living room floor right now. I am getting ready to to form a comment from my club and contribute to CSA's comment as well as provide "talking points" for my fellow club members comment letters. Red Mountain Pass is MY backyard and playground. They want to take half of it away. I also am connected with some guys looking at Molas Pass and have a possible connection that knows the terrain being taken near Rico.
Please call me.
Sent you a PM.
Sent you a PM.
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