I've been backcountry skiing in the ranges around Leavenworth and Wenatchee for years and have never had a user conflict with snowmobiles or seen snowmobiles tracking a slope that I wanted to ski. I don't know of any popular (or unpopular) backcountry ski areas where snowmobilers ride.
The one area you site in your article, Mt. Lillian, may be the one exception. The west face of Diamond Head is a wind blasted scree field that rarely if ever looks appealing to ski.
So you prefer the status quo. Your TRs are areas that do not get snowmobile traffic, Wilderness etc. What is your position, do you ride a snowmobile, or want to support snowmobile riding over skiing as is seen here often? Do you enjoy the sound and ruts of snowmobiles around you in the mountains?
Your post is rather non-specific about areas and where you have been. There is plenty even here on TAY about snowmobile conflicts and snowmobile Wilderness trespass, long before WMC came along.
The entire Teanaway crest, as well as the ridge from Blewett to Mission Ridge has been taken by snowmobile riding in my observation while skitouring and snowmobile riding since the 1980's. USFS would not limit snowmobile riding in that area, instead USFS has labeled the Teanaway areas as Proposed Wilderness- which yes, limits snowmobile riding if it becomes Wilderness. BTW USFS has never properly designated snowmobile riding offroad on the Wenatchee NF per law, regulation and Executive Order. That is quite significant.
The OP above illustrates that the Forest IS wide open, snowmobiles may be ridden wherever it can be managed. No management of snowmobile riding by USFS. If you check online you can find examples of snowmobile capability that are impressive. Perhaps the reason that snomos are not in more places is perhaps the riders do not know the mountains- where to go- similar to some bc skiers who have limited experience overall to the area. Or perhaps some riders can stay busy with snomo Wilderness trespass from Stevens Pass to Cle Elum- to the present day in spite of everything- can do so without risk of consequences! The "Voluntary closure areas" of the Teanaway are openly discussed as some 'favorite' snowmobile riding areas, and were areas prominently defended for snowmobile riding in Comments to the Draft Forest Plan Revision.
t would be a great start to have management of snowmobiles managed per the law. If so, there would be plenty of quality snowmobile riding and plenty of quiet-use, accessible, non-motorized areas on the Forest-
www.archives.gov/federal-register/codifi...ive-order/11644.html
www.epa.gov/compliance/basics/nepa.html
We must ask the USFS land managers to stop the unlawful offroad snowmobile free-for-all on the Forest and even in the Wilderness.
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