WMC Update 2012

Why not? Too expensive? Not the right terrain (at least near Wenatchee)?

I'm primarily a skier but I feel like this sort of improved access might serve me better. It wouldn't be easy but writing it off doesn't sound like a step forward for me as a skier. I'd like to know why its not on the table for WMC.

Me too. The promise of a plowed road up the Teanaway would really motivate me, and probably many others, to put major energy into limiting snowmobiles in the area. Right now I have no real stake in the issue, as I can't get there until the roads melt out anyway. I could see myself spending many winter weekends if there were a plowed road. I'll bet this puts the fear in many a motor head.

Me too. The promise of a plowed road up the Teanaway would really motivate me, and probably many others, to put major energy into limiting snowmobiles in the area. Right now I have no real stake in the issue, as I can't get there until the roads melt out anyway. I could see myself spending many winter weekends if there were a plowed road. I'll bet this puts the fear in many a motor head.

The point was that the road would increase access to the wilderness in winter time. It wouldn't tick any motorheads off at all...

Me too. The promise of a plowed road up the Teanaway would really motivate me, and probably many others, to put major energy into limiting snowmobiles in the area.

It would at least motivate me to be out there and be another pair of eyes to witness incursions. Participation matters and you only get it if the access is reasonable. Access matters more than acreage.

The point was that the road would increase access to the wilderness in winter time. It wouldn't tick any motorheads off at all...

I think when we start pushing for nonmotorized areas between the plowed road and the wilderness boundary it might. In any case, I'd rather push for a plowed road and worry about new nonmotorized areas later.

I think when we start pushing for nonmotorized areas between the plowed road and the wilderness boundary it might. In any case, I'd rather push for a plowed road and worry about new nonmotorized areas later.

When does the push for non-motorized stop? Are you guys such haters as to not want anyone enjoying the forest except for the way you want it? Perhaps that's why you only hear "no" to any proposal of more non-motorized areas......greedy and selfish.....

Ever thought that it was due to snowmobilers being involved and donating time, energy, and resources to get these projects done?  Ever thought that it was due to the local communities wanting these projects to be done?

You're right about that, but the funding situation situation probably helps as well.

The budget for the 'Snowmobile Account' - administered by state parks to run the snowmobile focused pieces of the snow park system - was about $4.5MM over the last biennium. That money comes from user fees (snowmobile registrations) and a pro-rata share of the gas tax, as I'm sure many of you know. The gas tax support accounted for just under $2MM of the $4.5MM total. As I understand it, local groups can apply for grants/partnership agreements to receive funding under this system for things like trail grooming and other things that enhance snowmobile access. That participation is really great to see and it definitely strikes me as something that a number of local clubs and communities sincerely value.

The non-motorized account is much smaller - about $1.5MM. Its got less robust revenue sources (just snow park permits, no gas tax access). So there's less money to go around. Its also true that getting the kind of access that skiers are really excited about is just more expensive. It has to be closer to the alpine and above snowline, which limits the options. You basically have to be near a plowed state highway or park road (if the gate is open....urrrghh...). Either that or you need miles and miles of plowing.

Snowparks aren't the entire access picture, but the state snowpark budget certainly is an important part of this. Check out the State Parks budget if you want a sense of what the program's size has been in recent years:

www.ofm.wa.gov/budget09/detail/cl465.pdf

Getting better access to the wilderness boundary for skiers will probably require funding and maybe some creative approaches that don't require constant plowing over miles or road.