Snowmobiles Where They Shouldn't Be- Discussion

This thread is for any posts related to this topic except for actual documentation (sightings, tracks, etc), which should be posted in this thread .<br><br>[hr]<br>Chris Hamel and I tried to ski the SE slope on Mt. Stuart. ÊNo we didn't quite make it - it's a long ways for a 2 day trip and we should not have wasted time, having fun skiing in Beverly Creek basin the evening before. ÊIt's a surprisingly beautiful route, opening up wide and smooth a few thousand feet up the gully.<br><br>Snow machine tracks covered much of Beverly Creek Basin. ÊWe don't know exactly how they got there, but Chris thought it was legal. ÊNot legal though is going over the Beverly-Turnpike Pass with a snow machine and down into Ingalls Creek Basin (Alpine Lakes Wilderness). ÊAnd there were tracks going a long ways down and then diverting from our route. ÊI'm going to complain and hope that one day the FS takes this problem seriously. ÊThere is no evidence that they do yet! ÊI've also seen them in the Mt. Baker Wilderness (Welcome Pass and Church Mtn) Êand the Pasayten Wildeerness (Buffalo Pass and the West Fork of Pasayten River). ÊI suspect they are in these places every winter weekend.

SB,<br>Thank you very much for your report. I think it is imperative for us backcountry skiers to protect the wilderness. I'm thinking a strategy is to not only report our observations, but to document and photograph them as well-then forward these to the F.S., and demand enforcement. Without our concerted, public, documented evidence, the F.S. will continue to ignore these ongoing transgressions under the guise of inadequate resources. Perhaps a strategy would be to combine our observations with a collective demand for winter buffers around the wilderness, thereby helping to insure wilderness integrity and protection. With documentation backing up our witnessing, we can request allied clubs and greater organizations to support our efforts! Only by making enough noise can we get F.S. attention, and then get the attention of the snowmachine organizations - who will recognize the danger to their playgrounds, and cooperate by helping police their own errant cowboys. Your thoughts?<br>GerryH

I have been thinking about starting a thread in which we could compile evidence of snowmobiles in places they are not supposed to be. Having all reports collected in an ongoing thread would make it easy to reference when contacting the proper "authorities" (using the URL of the thread). I could make the thread stay at the top of its board so it wouldn't get pushed down and lost. Photos could be included. What do you think about this idea?

Charles,<br>Great idea! By preparing now, and even adding what we can in the waning part of the season, we'll all be prompted and ready for next season's observations. We should figure out a notification/presentation strategy for the F.S., BLM or NPS, as appropriate. The sooner they know we're publically tracking these events, probably the better? What might really get peoples attention would be some miscreant photo's, in the act, with veh. id #'s, etc., which could be used to force the FS to prosecute? That would take a little more doing, and is certainly the their responsibility as we provide real evidence. Let's keep these thoughts going!<br>GerryH

This is a really good, useful idea.

I'm very supportive your suggestion, Charles, to have a central place where we can document incidents of snowmobiler violations that can be used in commuication with the FS.  <br><br>My experience a few weeks ago on Baker is a case in point, although I don't know for sure if they were outside their "approved" boundries on the Easton at 9000' (if not, it should be).  <br><br> www.turns-all-year.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB...splay;num=1082045060

I did take some pictures of snowmobilers at the Sherman Peak crater rim earlier in day.  I'd be glad to post those and assert my thoughts on the matter regarding the crevasse rescue situation.

Thanks for your suggestion and taking the initiative.