Snowies - Special Interest Area off K trail?

[Coldfinger]

I saw a new map and it shows a special interest area up north of X, off of K trail and says to stay on the trail.

I can't say I ride up there often or at all, but I don't recall this area in recent years.

The most recent map I have next to me is from 2004 and it shows no area like that.

Is this a new area we're banned from? It looks pretty large.

I'll call this the Special K area.

http://wyotrails.state.wy.us/pdf/southeast.pdf

 

[Himark]

interesting...I am looking at 9-10 map and dont see anything there. Wonder what the "special interests" are.

 

[toddb]

I have a 11-12 map and the area is included on that. I seem to remember something on here last year about this.

 

[WyoRMK]

I have a 11-12 map and the area is included on that. I seem to remember something on here last year about this.

You are correct, it is a special habitat area!

Here is the info I got on it!

This Special Interest Area was created by the Medicine Bow Forest Plan revision several years ago. It is essentially something the Forest deemed to be a sensitive area environmentally, and therefore the decision was made to restrict snowmobiles to the trail route versus closing it entirely to snowmobile use. It is real and it is a done deal, and really should not impact overall snowmobiling access.

The amusing thing is that this designation has existed for probably 10 years - and the local Forest Service staff have just recently figured out that it should be signed and have an advisory on the map.

 

[CO 2.0]

Aren't there a bunch of cabins in that "special interest area"?

 

[WyoRMK]

No it a marsh, and ponds I believe! Granted from the sat imagery it looks to have been logged at some point! From what I was told there is a rare species of frog or toad or something in the area, there for the protection.

 

[tmk50]

We discussed it a little bit last year and Dan looked into that for us. As he mentioned, last year was the first time it was on a map.

EDIT - last year's discussion: http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277827&highlight=special+interest+area

I did a quick comparison yesterday between last years and this years maps - I didn't see any changes in 'closed' areas, but did notice that they cut back on grooming on the far south end (south of Fox Park). Everything else looked the same to me.

Did anyone else notice any other changes that I missed?

 

[KAWGRN]

That just SUX that area was way cool lots of little untracked fire roads and virgin lakes and lots of untracked powder