WMC Update 2012

And again, does the opposition to winter non-motorized recreation think it wise to oppose such an area that is on the hit list for several major organizations to prohibit snowmobile riding? In other words, would it be better to defend other areas for snowmobiling? Or does the opposition firmly believe that nothing will change, that snowmobiles will indefinitely have the run of the Forest by default of omission in management?

Wow, those sure are some interesting statements.

Jim Hill, Arrowhead, Tunnel Creek, Wellington, Skyline Ridge, Lichtenberg, Smithbrook, Rock Mountain, Nason Ridge. All are well known for skitouring, snowshoeing, snow camping, quiet non-motorized winter recreation. All are areas that may be lawfully accessed by snowmobiles, many of those areas and also other areas from Smithbrook Road and even into the Wilderness there are already incurring snowmobile use. In the future, these areas not currently heavily used or not used, by snowmobile riders, will need winter non-motorized designation if skiers wish to reasonably continue their use. Otherwise, these areas will be as is much of the Forest, single-use of snowmobile riding in winter, not multiple-use at all.

Skiers must consider areas that are favorite ski tours that are non-Wilderness but not yet accessed by snowmobiles. Eventually it is very likely for those areas to be used for snowmobile riding. This further illustrates the need for USFS to designate which areas of the Forest outside Wilderness are appropriate for motorized use in winter, and which areas are appropriate for winter non-motorized recreation. As discussed at length here, modern snowmobile capability allows snowmobile riding now on nearly any slope that would be useful for skiing! For example, this thread  www.snowandmud.com/forum/f14/mmm8-invita...tlegar-bc-30234.html    shows extreme terrain that is used by snowmobile riders in Canada.

WMC is attempting to inform and mobilize skiers to this issue and ask for skiers to comment to USFS in regard to the need for management for areas designated for winter non-motorized recreation. WMC is proposing in the area familiar to us for USFS to manage new and significant appropriate areas of the pristine crest of the Wenatchee Mountains (Van Epps Pass to Mission Ridge, west and east of Blewett Pass) to be designated as non-motorized winter areas. We see this as a new model of citizen activism directly to the Forest Supervisor, otherwise in privacy, so as not to incur the usual aggressive replies and actions of opposition to non-motorized recreation advocacy.

Contact information: Mail, email, or call
Rebecca Heath, Forest Supervisor
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 664-9200
Email: Rebecca Heath, OWNF Supervisor, and the Forest Plan Revision Team: r6_ewzplanrevision@fs.fed.us
Carbon Copy Us: wenatcheemountainscoalition@hotmail.com. We need to track our support and to capture additional thoughts and ideas of non-motorized recreationalists. Your privacy is paramount, we will not share your contact information or reveal your identity.
Help us Succeed. Please forward this message to your skiing/snowshoeing friends. Ask for their involvement.

Cut this movement off at the knees.
Prevent the FS from making a unilateral decision without public discussion , mandate or funding to enforce.
WMC has shown absolutely no intention to negotiate or reach a mutual user agreement.

Contact your senatorial candidates and tell them that if they support this proposal you will take your vote elsewhere.
The public lands are for all to decide how they are managed not just this group who won't compromise.

murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe

www.dinorossi.com/

Cut this movement off at the knees.
Prevent the FS from making a unilateral decision without public discussion , mandate or funding to enforce.
WMC has shown absolutely no intention to negotiate or reach a mutual user agreement.

Contact your senatorial candidates and tell them that if they support this proposal you will take your vote elsewhere.
The public lands are for all to decide how they are managed not just this group who won't compromise.

murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe

www.dinorossi.com/

Indeed we support US citizens in contacting their elected officials, and we have from the start asked for citizens to comment to the legitimate authority at USFS. We have had as much or more discussion here with those who state they are snowmobile riders as with any. Are we now discussing writing to our elected officials with a poster who is not a US citizen, or do you actually vote? We ride snowmobiles and skitour (for decades)- are we seeing someone who does not ride snowmobiles advocating on their behalf? If, as we believe, snowmobiles are dominating the Forest at the expense of non-motorized users what is there to be given up in negotiation? WMC asks for new and significant Forest areas for winter non-motorized use, it does not ask for regulation or prohibition of snowmibile riding outside of non-motorized areas.

We are proposing our solution to a set of problems and trying to create support after describing the issues. This is a great discussion on TAY, we have seen discussion that added to this issue in new directions.

WMC does not believe that it or any group will dictate to USFS, we are presenting our views and asking for Forest management that includes our uses. We have not attempted to stifle or falsely characterize any other's views. We have stated that we have had communication with other snowmobile riders in the past in regard to these issues and as a result do not expect compromise or concern for other's uses from the opposition, but we would be happy to see that from the opposition. We have never stated that we are unwilling to meet at the appropriate time, this has been discussed. WMC has not yet finalized a map and has not yet sent a final and formal proposal, all of which are being produced.

The point of reaching out to the snowmobile groups is valid, has been discussed here, and has been considered by WMC. Thus far, aside from TAY, no interest or fair discussion has been directed at us by snowmobile riders or by their Organization. In fact, before snowmobile riders and Scotsman knew what WMC was about, when the discussion was not even started, opposition was presented.

Thanks for continuing the discussion, there is much discussion yet to come among stakeholders in these issues.

Are we now discussing writing to our elected officials with a poster who is not a US citizen, or do you actually vote?

Is this Arizona now? Do you want to see my papers???

This group wants an expansion of wilderness to specifically exclude other legal users so they can get their their powder turns in the area they want.
They constantly talk about being snowmobile riders as well but its clear they see snowmobiles as logging road tools only. They don't want to sit down with the snowmobile groups and try and negotiate a mutual user agreement similar to what has been done in other areas. To do so would be messy and at times uncomfortable but then democracy can be messy.
They want the USFS  to unilaterally declare huge areas of land inaccessible to current legal users without study and in their favor based upon their concept of fairness and their inherent dislike of motorized recreation.
If they succeed, they won't stop there, they will want more and more.
When you try and reach some common ground with them.. it doesn't work.. they aren't really interested in any compromise.

As I have said , see this for what it is.... not a bunch of ski-tourers complaining about not getting enough untracked powder... but an attempt to fundamentally alter the current legal public land use ..forever.. and without study.

Their argument that parity in demographics shouldn't count because of increased area coverage by snowmobilers is philosophically flawed,
"My vote should be worth more than a snowmobiler's when divvying up the territory". Really ?

Write to your officials, legislators, senatorial candidates, the USFS and anybody who will listen and stop them in their tracks ( or in this case their lack of tracks)


murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe


www.dinorossi.com/

So where are all of these individuals supposed to go with their families to snowshoe? We don't have access to the wilderness areas in this area (OWNF). Outside of wilderness the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, and all national forests for that matter, are dominated by one user group - snowmobiles. The current situation on the National Forests outside of wilderness is open to motorized users. What snowmobilers have is a defacto motorized play area on the vast majority of the forest. I support WMC in trying to find equality between the user groups, as it stands now. These figures above do not even include skiers, snowboarders, dog sledders, etc.
I hope and expect the FS to provide us with both access and acreage to be able to enjoy the forest in the same way that snowmobiles are allowed access and acreage to enjoy their sport. I would like to be able to drive to a FS road and step out to a non-motorized plyaground just as like you do.

There are large areas in the Snoqulamie Pass region that are easy access and non-motorized for snowshoeing.  You don't need wilderness to snowshoe.  It is not hard to find what your looking for.  Sometimes it appears the motor-less traveler is looking for confrontation to make a point rather then just having fun.  There is so much forest out there it is very easy to find trails to travel with all the aspects of what your looking for.  If it is confrontation your looking for, there is that too.