Greetings Fellow Sledheads and Sledheadettes,,
No doubt the Burnt Tree was a very unique monument and a clever location for a plaque to honor a member of the West Mtn Snowmobile Club (WMSC) It's difficult to replace an original but, I know that the WMSC is laying the ground work to establish a new tradition/land mark that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
The interest in re-establishing the Monument and a Burnt Tree type of marker is heart warming, it underscores the sincere sense of camaraderie that snowmobilers have for one another....it's what defines our sport and separates us from the pack.
Dr. Rob and I have been trading e-mail with the WMSC elected officials and general membership, all of the above have been re-energized by the posts regarding the Monument and the Burnt Tree. I would be remiss if I did not pass on to everyone the heart felt gratitude from the WMSC, to those of you who took the time to post your thoughts as well as, Mtn_Extreme who started the thread and retrieved the plaque, thank you all!
I apologize for hi-jacking this thread but it is for a great cause.
While the Monument and the Burnt Tree is clearly in our cross-hairs as a project that unites snowmobilers it's an important issue that is surrounded by a even larger issue which is the ability we are taking for granted each weekend that we sled, that issue is accessing our favorite areas to ride. The WMSC with the assistance of the Idaho State Snowmobile Association (ISSA) has and is fighting for our ability to ride in areas that we have ridden for three decades or more. Developers proposing sub-divisions adjacent to the Andersen Creek parking lot. Ski resorts being developed on West Mt. and their desire to expand their profitability by increasing the land they can reserve for their paying customers. It should be noted that the ski resort in question is experiencing financial difficulties, to say the least, at this time. The history of new ski resorts is they fail two or three times before they turn a profit, the resort won't go away.
Who is our voice to fight for our rights to sled at West Mtn...WMSC and the ISSA. We have an election coming up on November 04, 2008 and it's all about the numbers on election day. Let me share some humbling numbers with you.
36,000 +/- registered snowmobile sled in Idaho
1,000 +/- ISSA members in Idaho
35 Family memberships in the WMSC
5 Business memberships in the WMSC
Please, read those numbers again....
Imagine our collective clout if registered snowmobiles equals ISSA/Club memberships.
The WMSC milestones:
1996: Groomer garage built
2000: Warming Hut at Four Corners
Slowly but surely our membership numbers have been dropping, which has forced our WMSC to discontinue our annual Fun Run and the race to Snowbank. Our club is in need of some 'new snow blood', so da speak.
Everyone is welcome.
My Bride and I are not rich people in a financial way but we do feel blessed to have great health, family, friends, horses and sleds to enjoy the mountains with. With that in mind we would like to invite each one of you who have posted a comment regarding the Monument/Burnt Tree, to attend our next WMSC meeting. My Bride and I will pay for your first year's membership in ISSA/WMCS. Mtn_Extreme, F-Bomb, Anchorman, RMKRider & IDPWDAGRL. You can't loose!
First meeting of the ride season is, December 13, 2008 a shakedown Club Ride 9 am at the Anderson Creek Snow Park followed by a WMSC meeting at 5pm at the Ashley Inn.
Collectively we will all benefit.
Keep your scratchers down,
Craig.
