Advocacy Group for BC skiers and riders

I was reading the ski blogs today and saw a piece by Lou Dawson lamenting some of the access issues developing regarding trails being abandoned and BC access becoming more difficult and his thoughts on the need for an advocacy group to protect the remaining access that BC riders and skiers have.

I am somewhat frustrated by this issue as well as many of the roads and access points that where destroyed in the "Big Flood" have not been repaired. Now, I know that in some cases , money is the issue and I know in some cases there has been a decision to not repair as a conservation statement. I agree with conservation and I know the issue is complicated but access has become increasingly difficult in this state and the NPS are still going top try and deny access to the park from Crystal Ski area sometime in the future.

My question is the same as Dawson's namely, is it time for a non-profit advocacy group to be formed to specifically join the conversation with the Conservation Groups and Feds and State and promote the access issues important to BC skiers and riders.

I've often wondered why there wasn't a nationwide group like The Access Fund, but for skiers... perhaps the lines are blurry enough that it's an area AF would spread into, with a proper showing of support.

it certainly is time for such a group.  As far as conservation goes, I spent 40 years in conservation research (old growth/spotted owls/etc.).  That said, there is an ascending field in  conservation called conservation biology that seems to believe (belief/faith in the absence of knowledge/science) the answer to every question is to reduce or eliminate public access to wildlands (access for the biologists, of course, must be maintained for the good of the country, motherhood, and apple pie).  This approach also has been adopted, get ready ..., by the Bush Admn  because conservation of biodiversity (btw, I wrote a book on that) can be used as an excuse for not spending any money to maintain existing access infrastructure or to create new opportunities.  This is not only affecting the parks, but also the National Forests, which previoulsy maintained its transportation system using timber revenues that have now disappeared, but woefully inadquate funds have been appropriated for rehabilitation, restoration, maintenance, and construction of new roads and repair to badly failing roads.

there is a host of issues in recreational access, ranging from trailhead fees to access for OHVs. OHV people are extremely organized and active.  The few access meetings I've attended had large groups of OHV people but few to no hikers, skiers, boarders, etc.

Perhaps TAY is the start of this advocacy group...

there is a host of issues in recreational access, ranging from trailhead fees to access for OHVs. OHV people are extremely organized and active.  The few access meetings I've attended had large groups of OHV people but few to no hikers, skiers, boarders, etc.

Excuse my ignorance but what does OHV stand for?
I agree with your post and I am not advocating any new access into the parks or wilderness areas but surely maintaining existing access is sensible.
Many will say , "well you can still get there but it'll take you more effort", and that is true but it limits access to the people who have suffficient time off and athletic prowess to accomplish that.

As to TAY being an advocacy group, I'm not sure that would work as we all have such independent voices and diverse views, which is good and healthy but we can't even agree on a simple fact like Dynafit bindings are fustrating. Only joking!

I'm scared of the future regarding access and can see the day when we won't be able to hike to the King from Crystal and the Cascades and Olympics become even more difficult to access than they already are ( which I know will please the conservationists) .

Excuse my ignorance but  what does OHV stand for?

Off Highway Vehicle. Dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles etc...

while these are techically street legal bikes the trail here is designated for OHV use by the USFS