Advocacy Group for BC skiers and riders

a few years ago, the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest decided to promote "high-quality recreation" which they defined as horseback riding and OHV use (and, thus, put less emphasis on "low-quality" recreation such as hiking, climbing, skiing). Two reasons for this, I believe, was very vocal demand for such activities and the forming of partnerships with user groups who maintain and mark trails, build shelters, etc. Thus the excellent facilities at Marblemount/worm flows route and not much attention to Climbers' Bivouac (at least the last time I was there, a few years ago).

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

those bikes are known as dual-sport bikes vs. dirt bikes; dual-sport biking is becoming increasingly popular in the PNW; they tend to stick to roads (dirt, gravel, paved) and very good trails; their clubs often measure and limit engine/exhaust noise, etc. Dirt bikes, on the other hand, prefer trail, the rougher the better. Dirt bikes are illegal on forest roads; dual sports are legal on all roads.

There is already such a group: Winter Wildlands Alliance,
check them out at: www.winterwildlands.org

happy summer and 4th!

There is already such a group: Winter Wildlands Alliance,
check them out at: www.winterwildlands.org

Thanks for the link; I read there home page and about us page. It seems they are an advocacy group for muscle-powered snow sports over motorized snow sports. I have no quarrel with that at all, but that is a different issue than we (at least me) are facing here, with loss of access period; but I'll explore them more.

The closing (and removing in many cases) of roads to trail heads in the National Forests, the closing of roads to trail heads in the parks (e.g., Carbon R. rd and Westside Rd. in MRNP), markedly increasing frequency of winter closures and delayed winter openings, early plowing of roads with delayed openings in MRNP; the collapse of the sno-park system this winter due to running out of dollars with rising gas prices; the abandonment of sno-parks by the GPNF and others; delayed openings of roads to campgrounds (like Mt. Adams); lack of funds to repair and maintain forest roads and trails after destruction by storms or long periods of poor maintenance--all the problems associated with declining budgets in federal agencies (due to republican philosoph and even "payback" for the public demanding reduced logging), changing philosophy in agencies (from preservation of biodiversity and access for enjoyment of such to preservation of biodiversity by precluding access), and just plain old increasing costs of maintaining roads, trails, and other recreational facilities.