New non-motorised snoparks

Are you just doing this for conversation to fill up time in the summer or are you actually looking to organize (inferred in a previous post of yours)? Either one is totally valid, but I feel like you're trying to lead up to something. If so, get on with it . If not, what's the point of seeking concensus? Fantasizing isn't a bad pastime.

With more thought on the subject, I think an excellent location for a non-motorized snowpark would be the Merritt Lake Trailhead:

-It has a reasonable drive time from both the westside and Upper Wenatchee Valley.
-It has a history of ski touring in that area. (See Burgdofer book, Route 49, Mount Mastiff)
-The access road is relativity flat and would be easily drivable in most conditions, even by fwd cars.
-Snowpack is much deeper and more reliable than locations further east, but the area gets more sun and less snow than the crest/pass.
-From the 3000' to 4000' there is excellent tree skiing in midwinter conditions.
-Above 4000', lots of interesting lake basins to ski and explore.
-Relatively easy and less steep access route to both western and eastern ends of Nason ridge. (At least compared to Rock Mountain route.)
-Snow is deep enough for skiing most years from December till May.

I have ski toured a couple times into this area, and have really enjoyed the variety of terrain, nice views of the surrounding peaks and the slightly more reliable weather/snowpack than further east or west of the crest.

It would be awesome if the ski and snomo community could come together on something like this. Still might be a pipe dream, but doesn't seem all that unrealistic to me.

And to add something constructive: I'd love to have better winter access in the Teanaway Valley.

Toby it seems that the Longs Pass area is not included in the Proposed Wilderness in the DFPR. Also, neither are the VanEpps and Lake Ann areas. Even with the Proposed Wilderness on the Teanaway/ Ingalls crest, it is a division of the available resource, not a complete prohibition of snowmobile riding.

This discussion is just distraction by the snomo guys aided by their TAY syncophants. If anyone is serious about these ideas, they need to get it into the OWNF DFPR comments. Such tangible Proposals would get our endorsement and could garner endorsement of serious Organizations that we work with.

Most importantly, some need to wake up and realize that if new Sno Parks are created, they will be for the benefit of snowmobile riding, since the Wenatchee Forest outside Wilderness does not restrict snowmobile riding except for few small exceptions. WMC and our other affiliate Organizations will continue to work to bring management of snowmobile riding into the Wenatchee NF to replace the current free-for-all that benefits the snomos for use of the offroad Forest.

I would caution the snomo-admirers here that the written principles of WSSA and SAWS state that they will not compromise, they will yield no land for any other use, and are against Wilderness in general. These are the folks being admired here on TAY, an alleged website for skitouring enthusiasts.

We ask that winter non-motorized Forest users describe how and where they recreate, and also share their thoughts about this issue and this need with the Forest Supervisor and the Forest Plan Revision Team. Contact Forest Supervisor Rebecca Heath and the Forest Plan Revision Team: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801    r6_ewzplanrevision@fs.fed.us

Are you just doing this for conversation to fill up time in the summer or are you actually looking to organize (inferred in a previous post of yours)? Either one is totally valid, but I feel like you're trying to lead up to something. If so, get on with it . If not, what's the point of seeking concensus? Fantasizing isn't a bad pastime.

I am not looking to organize back country users, but that doesn't mean that I don't think they need to get better organized.  Not my prerogative, and my time needs to be spent keeping access open to the very small Alpine experience that sledders have available to them.

I think it would be awesome if the non-motorized back country users got together with all the big companies and pushed for more / better access to the wilderness / forests, instead of continually closing it off to more and more people.

Most of the recent threads on that I started on here was to get your perspective.  I was curious so I figured I would ask and see what a small sampling of non-motorized users thought on the subjects.

I'm rather late to this thread, but my first choice would be:

* Schriebers Meadow on Mt Baker

Second choice is so far behind it isn't worth mentioning. This would be an extremely popular area for snowshoers and skiers (of all types) if it was closed to snowmobiles. They could close the road a few miles below this and turn it into a plowed snow park. The folks who want to access the upper country would have a long day of it, but it wouldn't be too hard. The novice cross country skiers would ski the road and then go cross country into Schriebers Meadow. The terrain is rather moderate, so cross country skiing is easy through there. Since most folks wait until the snow has melted (and the snowmobiles are banned) the skiing is much tougher. It is tricky to navigate through the patchy snow.

Also, if the original author wants more input, you might consider posting on nwhikers. I think you are likely to get more input from snowshoers and the cross country skiers who generally stick to logging roads and moderate terrain.