Voluntary Non motorized areas?

[Van Epps]

I have been poring over maps looking for new riding areas. I found a couple drainages in my area that look like decent riding areas as far as topo and access. Come to find out they are designated "Voluntary Non Motorized".

Anyone know how this happened and why? Seems to me we as a group should not be willingly giving up riding areas. I don't understand how/why this has happened? Anyone know the facts?

Thanks

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

Well, I know of one are near U. Just out of the snow-park at Salmon-La-Sac, if one heads uphill (north), it's a voluntary closure. Area is put aside for X-country skiers........I've ridden up there on a dirt bike, takes you to Jolly Mtn.

I'm not sure how good winter riding would be, but I respect the closure for this reason: If we don't they will make it a mandatory closure and probably close other areas in addition.

Not defending the practice, just following the herd.......

 

[Van Epps]

I am for seperate mechanized vs non mechanized areas, but I don't understand why representatives of our sport would "volunteer" areas as non motorized. Was this the FS saying "volunteer the land or we shut it down" scenario? I will respect the closure but I sure don't understand willingly giving up ANY riding areas.

Guess I need to educate myself about this more by going to the FS for the details.

 

[greenskeeper]

well I will try and remember where some of thoes areas came from. years and years , maybe more years ago, about 12 or so, we in this area were faced with some sharp closers by the forest service, a group of us snowmobilers were called togather with some skiers to try and work out an agreement that would help both sides, skiers and sledders, (hope I can remember and get thes close to right,) at that time we set up some areas that were duel purpose, and some volunteered closure, a couple of the areas we were working on was the Scotty creek area by Blewett pass set up the pipe creek snopark, and the Wilson creek area off of lions rock, the last one was a duel purpose area but last year or so I saw it said closed to motorized ........dont think so...........Please remember that at the time some of these areas were set up, we had no grooming in thoes areas and the sleds were a lot less capable of going were we go now days, I dont think that issue has been revisited since than...........there were other meeting in other areas also held, but I did not attend any of thoes..............who would have thought that our sport would have come this far in such a short time............sorry for the problems in this time........