While riders coming up Highway 108 from the West side obviously have the most to gain from this topic, any riders experienced in this area may want to take note and provide input before a final irreversable decision is made. After a "legal" crossing point is established, you can bet the area will be watched carefully and become an income source for the enforcers.
As most that ride in this area know, the riding area (see Hoover Wilderness Addition West) that used to comprise this;
http://mckeon.house.gov/pdf/HooverWest_42x50_080716.pdf
is now comprisied of this, (as labeled Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area);
http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/Wil...Gabriel/final_Hoover_legislative_map_0917.pdf
due to the Hoover West Addition recently being officially designated as full-fledged Wilderness with all the protections of.
One last thing to be settled is where to make an official "legal" crossing point over the Pacific Crest Trail at Sonora Pass and into the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area. The area under consideration is labeled in the above map as "Pacific Crest Trail Proposed Crossing Area".
IF YOU HAVE ANY INPUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER ON A PATH FROM SONORA PASS THROUGH THE PROPOSED CROSSING AREA...PLEASE DO SO ASAP. PICTURES, LANDMARKS, GPS TRACKS, WAYPOINTS, ETC. THAT HELP CLARIFY THE PATH WOULD BE HELPFUL. THIS AREA WILL BE HEAVILY ENFORCED AFTER THE DECISION SO OUR BEST BET IS TO ADVOCATE THE PATH WE WOULD LIKE TO USE RATHER THAN HAVE ONE DICTATED TO US! THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STAND FOR RELIABLE AND CLEARLY MARKED SIGNAGE AS WELL AS REASONABLE BOUNDARY DISTANCES ALSO!
Contact;
Bridgeport Ranger District
Attn: Jeffrey Weise
HC 62, Box 1000
Bridgeport, CA 93517
760-932-5824
jweise@fs.fed.us
It has come to my attention that the decision making process has begun and will more than likely be over and finished by the end of this years riding season. Before the start of Spring I believe. I contacted the Wilderness Manager in charge of this and was told the following:
1) Within the next few weeks, a group of snowmobiliers, trail advocates, and others are planning to visit the area by snowmobile and try to come to agreement on the best location for the crossing.
2) Input from riders who access the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area from the West side of Sonora Pass has been very difficult to obtain so far.
NOW IS THE TIME TO VOICE ANY INPUT YOU HAVE AS TO THE MOST REASONABLE WAY TO CROSS THIS AREA AND HAVE IT MADE THE OFFICIAL "LEGAL" CROSSING POINT!!!
YOU CAN DO SO BY GOING HERE;
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/recreation/motorized/osv/leavitt_osv.shtml
1) There will be a field day on February 10, 2010 with a group to try and identify a viable path. Any one interested is welcome to make this ride and provide input I believe.
2) There will be a one day meeting regarding this issue in Bridgeport at the Memorial Hall on February 11th, 2010. Further input will be accepted at this meeting. News Release and map here;
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/news/bridgeport/BWRA-press-release-2010-01-29.pdf
There are only three known snowmobile proponents making the field day and providing input at this time. There is one avid snowmobiler from the Tahoe area, one from the Bridgeport area, and one from the Mammoth area making this ride in support of the sledders. There will also be representatives from trail advocates. Feel free if you have the time to request to go yourself and advocate the path that sledders would like best!
As most that ride in this area know, the riding area (see Hoover Wilderness Addition West) that used to comprise this;
http://mckeon.house.gov/pdf/HooverWest_42x50_080716.pdf
is now comprisied of this, (as labeled Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area);
http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/Wil...Gabriel/final_Hoover_legislative_map_0917.pdf
due to the Hoover West Addition recently being officially designated as full-fledged Wilderness with all the protections of.
One last thing to be settled is where to make an official "legal" crossing point over the Pacific Crest Trail at Sonora Pass and into the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area. The area under consideration is labeled in the above map as "Pacific Crest Trail Proposed Crossing Area".
IF YOU HAVE ANY INPUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER ON A PATH FROM SONORA PASS THROUGH THE PROPOSED CROSSING AREA...PLEASE DO SO ASAP. PICTURES, LANDMARKS, GPS TRACKS, WAYPOINTS, ETC. THAT HELP CLARIFY THE PATH WOULD BE HELPFUL. THIS AREA WILL BE HEAVILY ENFORCED AFTER THE DECISION SO OUR BEST BET IS TO ADVOCATE THE PATH WE WOULD LIKE TO USE RATHER THAN HAVE ONE DICTATED TO US! THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STAND FOR RELIABLE AND CLEARLY MARKED SIGNAGE AS WELL AS REASONABLE BOUNDARY DISTANCES ALSO!
Contact;
Bridgeport Ranger District
Attn: Jeffrey Weise
HC 62, Box 1000
Bridgeport, CA 93517
760-932-5824
jweise@fs.fed.us
It has come to my attention that the decision making process has begun and will more than likely be over and finished by the end of this years riding season. Before the start of Spring I believe. I contacted the Wilderness Manager in charge of this and was told the following:
1) Within the next few weeks, a group of snowmobiliers, trail advocates, and others are planning to visit the area by snowmobile and try to come to agreement on the best location for the crossing.
2) Input from riders who access the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area from the West side of Sonora Pass has been very difficult to obtain so far.
NOW IS THE TIME TO VOICE ANY INPUT YOU HAVE AS TO THE MOST REASONABLE WAY TO CROSS THIS AREA AND HAVE IT MADE THE OFFICIAL "LEGAL" CROSSING POINT!!!
YOU CAN DO SO BY GOING HERE;
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/recreation/motorized/osv/leavitt_osv.shtml
1) There will be a field day on February 10, 2010 with a group to try and identify a viable path. Any one interested is welcome to make this ride and provide input I believe.
2) There will be a one day meeting regarding this issue in Bridgeport at the Memorial Hall on February 11th, 2010. Further input will be accepted at this meeting. News Release and map here;
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/news/bridgeport/BWRA-press-release-2010-01-29.pdf
There are only three known snowmobile proponents making the field day and providing input at this time. There is one avid snowmobiler from the Tahoe area, one from the Bridgeport area, and one from the Mammoth area making this ride in support of the sledders. There will also be representatives from trail advocates. Feel free if you have the time to request to go yourself and advocate the path that sledders would like best!
