National Forest Snowmobile lawsuit

Also Regulations and boundaries of where snow-machines can operate are all well and good -- but given how few resources the forest service has for enforcement, it's a mystery to me how they will get implemented in an effective manner.  Sleds routinely "stray" across wilderness boundaries on Mt Baker and in the Teanaway with little consequences.  (except when they fall in a crevasse on the Easton)

Good point about enforcement difficulties.  And we skiers are pretty powerless to do anything about it if we witness the infraction from the field.  But that isn't a good reason not to create some boundaries. 

Enforcement is part of a well crafted travel management plan, budgeting for enforcement is part of such a plan.

I've seen snowmobile tracks high on the south ridge of Silver Peak in February. I was surprised to see them there, since it seems like that spot is well guarded by steep forest. I don't know what route they took to get there.

It is pretty common now. They even have dropped into Humpback Creek in the past. They access via the groomed trail system out of Crystal Springs toward Lost lake and up to Mirror/Cottonwood lakes.
Great candidate for a winter non motorized zone that could have boundaries similar to that of the roadless area within which much of it sits. ( note: I have not read through this entire thread yet, just saw the post on this particular area.)

The last time I was at Yodelin we saw some sledders in the normal ski spot on the north (highway) side.  This would be a great candidate for a non-motorized zone, especially given the long, documented historical skier use (e.g. former ski area).

Smith Brook Road is another good place for non-motorized designation.  If it isn't already, Heather/Skyline Ridge should also be non-motorized.

These are all great and very logical ones, historically. Add Arrowhead/Henry Creek road system--I always assumed would stay geographically and logistically (parking) protected but with the snow bikes now on the bed of a P/U??

Rainy Pass could be the Smithbrook boundary. Snowmobiles have really only used Smithbrook parking for less than ten years once they figured they could bash a ramp into the hwy plowberm.

I think the key in any sort of effective management is that most snowmobile restricted areas be drainage-wide. That would allow for segregation of use. For instance no snowmobile parking being allowed in the north fork of the Teanaway, but snowmobiles being allowed in the Salmon La Sac area. If the vehicles that tow snowmobiles aren't allowed to park in certain drainages it is much less likely that the same areas are going to be violated by users who don't give a damn.

I think the key in any sort of effective management is that most snowmobile restricted areas be drainage-wide. That would allow for segregation of use. For instance no snowmobile parking being allowed in the north fork of the Teanaway, but snowmobiles being allowed in the Salmon La Sac area. If the vehicles that tow snowmobiles aren't allowed to park in certain drainages it is much less likely that the same areas are going to be violated by users who don't give a damn.

I agree. Making it easy to enforce and making the rules obvious should be the goal. For every guy that doesn't give a damn, and for every poacher, there are probably three that simply don't know that they are violating the rules. Making it obvious (as in "don't park here if you want to go snowmobiling") is the best way to handle it.