Snomo in couloir

Hey kids, get over your personality squabbles and consider the issue of how to reduce conflict among users of the winter accessible terrain where most of the conflict occurs. 

There will be separate zones for motorized and self-propelled users in the future.  How those zones get divided will depend on community input. 

This scenario is being played out in the Forests that have nearby high population densities throughout the West... like both sides of the Cascades.

Start pressing the local National Forest staffs now. 

Exactly right.  No comment on the squabble thing, though, except to say that Scotsman's, and some others, make a reasonable point about some level of sharing (was that in the Mt Baker thread?), and cordiality.  Many trail heads and other access points, will always bring both classes of users in close contact.  Nice to see the WMC strategy moving toward synthesis.  I will concur with them, though, that the regulation process is backwardly organized - default regulation should not be to allow willy-nilly access with burden of proof on the non-smokers.  I can confidently promise that wildlife is adversely affected by winter machines in the wild - but, i can not say by how much.

Asking how much of the landscape should be set aside for one 'side' or the other is like asking how much old growth forest is enough - unlikely to get strong, if any, agreement.  But as TE and I and others have suggested, regulation is coming - in fact is happening around the West.  Hopefully, the hate can be minimized and manageable

Right on DavidG.
The current situation on all National Forests not just those here in WA State is not sustainable as to the lack of a clear winter management plan. The future appears to be going toward eventual regulation of where snowmobiles will be allowed and trust me it will not be as extensive as it exists today. The general public will come down hard when the word gets out that snowmobiles are illegally entering Wilderness areas and causing environmental harm in many other respects. This will all eventually be hashed out in the national spotlight and the overall result will be a shift back to a more equitable sharing of the winter landscapes among all stakeholders. Is is very much like the old debate about smoking in restaurants - eventually it will come to pass that the greatest harm to the public was in not regulating where snowmobiles could roam. If I was a snowmobile rider it would be in my best interest to sit down and talk to the other user groups and work out a mutually beneficial plan so that everyone is happy with the end result.
And yes the impact a single snowmobile has on the other user groups out there is much more significant than the other way around. One sled impacts many.

I fear for the lack of entrepreneurial spirit in America.... it's what you used to be all about.
Every problem provides an opportunity for a profit-making solution.

Electric battery powered hovercraft snowmobiles... silent, don't touch the snow..... helllo!

I want some of what he's having..     Beyond that,  spot on..

Very ironic given WMC's identity. haha

Oil and vinegar always end up seperate, but it's still in the same bottle...

Do we really require the government to solve this problems for us?  MUST we have the government decide who gets what and when?

It makes me think about when I was younger, and my parents scolding my sister and I when we didn't behave.  Once we got older, and respected and treated each other better, the need for parenting was reduced.

Anyone else see the similarities?  Or is this just late night posting gone awry?