Improved signage at Salmon la Sac

This is a public thank you to Todd Stiles, the winter recreation coordinator for the Cle Elum RD (not sure of his exact title) and others in the RD for the much improved signage in the Salmon la Sac area. <br><br>Here is a pic of the new large reader board that was installed around the first of the year, with a map showing the non-motorized areas. <br><br> web3.foxinternet.net/lrobinson/pics/oldandnew.jpg

In the background, beyond the 'road closed' sign is the old non-motorized sign, the text of which could have been read - if one wished - as an invitation to motorized use.

Here is a pic of one of the brand new non-motorized signs.

web3.foxinternet.net/lrobinson/pics/newsign.jpg

It's larger and has a professional appearance instead of looking like a temporary sign. Since the reader board went up around the first of the year, there have only been a few snomo tracks in the NM area on Road 4315, far less than last year. However, conditions for snomos have been largely unsuitable, so the test will be when the snowpack firms up. In past springs, a small group has chosen not to abide by the NM vol. restriction and have heavily used the area. We'll see what happens this year.

I'd like to mention that new signage like this as well as other improvements for NM usage doesn't just happen. Cooperative input to the local ranger district plays a big part. In the Cle Elum RD, I understand that the Ellensburg Ski Club has worked a lot with the RD to improve the NM skiing opportunities.

I guess I'm just suggesting that you get to know the people in the RDs where you like to ski. Just drop in and say 'hi'. Do it often, whether you have an issue you want to discuss or not.

Larry

Larry, thanks for the update on the issue of the signs. It sounds like the new sign is an improvement, and let's hope that it helps with the non-motorized issue there.<br><br>That's a very good point about letting the rangers know about non-motorized use in the area (any area, really). It's easy for skiers to just slip in and then out without anyone taking much notice, but that doesn't really help when later trying to make the case to maintain some non-motorized areas.