Snowmobiles in Wilderness in the Wenatchee World

[2Thetopp]

When it comes down to it I just don't understand what is being accomplished by adding Wilderness to the southern border.

It gives WMC their honey hole.

 

[Dogmeat]

When it comes down to it I just don't understand what is being accomplished by adding Wilderness to the southern border.

Somebody owns land that borders the existing forest land and if they can get it designated as wilderness they've essentially "bought" a prime tract of land from the public for pennies on the dollar.

Thats how its typically been especially in Wyoming but also UT and CO ... I'm sure WA is no different.

 

[Midwest_Cat]

Please think carefully and soberly about how many and whom are the winter non-motorized users of the Forest. Like you folks here, non-motorized users are entitled to use the Forest.

It is tough to get this next idea across, but I have a concern that someday the big Organizations will, as a result of no management of snowmobiles, win a Courts decision that will just hammer or ban snowmobile riding. We work with Organizations, some would have both snowmobiles and non-motorized use on the Forest, and I fear some would be happy to just shut off snowmobile riding. .

This just about sums it up. Pulling a trump card to use your "sources", and get "organizations" (probably REI) to fund a lawsuit against snowmobilers. judging by your comment, there's no meeting in the middle. all you're trying to do is p|ss everyone off so you can take it to court.

of the places ive lived, and ridden (MI, IL, WI, WA), this is the only place people butt heads about land "ownership". and i just dont get it.

the add on craigslist is the best meeting in the middle piece of litturature i've read. someone finally had an epiphany that we CAN co-exist. i want to print and frame that CL post on my wall. finally someone gets it.

 

[tek9tim]

edit to add- the NEPA process, a required process for just about anything, has never been done for snowmobile riding on the Wenatchee Forest. We have asked this question directly of USFS officials. They have answered that no, NEPA has not been done. I would invite all here to consider what are the real threats to your sport, beyond us pesky skiers wanting some of our own areas. USFS has never properly processed and designated any off-road snowmobile riding on the Wenatchee Forest, thus it is a hollow shell, not an established and lawful activity at all.

Actually in the current version of the forest plan, cross country motorized travel is perfectly legal, as long as you aren't doing resource damage. They have been working on a new Motor Vehicle Use plan, which would restrict cross-country travel. In any version of this plan on any forest I've seen, it does not restrict cross country travel of snowmobiles at all, only rigs and ORVs.

So yes, off road snowmobile riding is an established and legal activity, as long as you don't do resource damage. And if you do, they can only fine you for that, not for the fact of being off a road.