I think a bigger issue that everyone is ignoring could be easily regulated at this juncture.
Skiers, what don't you like about snowmobiles? Is it that someone laid a track? That someone exists? That someone is going to fast?
Or is it the NOISE and SMELL?
I'm guessing the later, and those are easy to fix and easy to regulate. Just have "special use" areas that are only open to snowmobiles that can effectively demonstrate a low dBa and low emissions. Basically a modern 4-stroke without any mods, or perhaps even a "FS Special Use Area" additional catalytic converter/muffler combo slip-fit extension.
Snowmobiles would sell more brand new snowmobiles to sledders looking to access these areas, so they'd love it.
Aftermarket would sell cat/muffler combos so they'd love it.
It would be significantly quieter and smell better so skiers in mixed use areas would love (okay tolerate) it.
Also, it would reduce the amount of (relatively speaking) horrifically polluting two-strokes so it fits FS enviro mission statements better.
I think you're actually wrong in your "easy to regulate" assessment here. The current system is very simple: There's a pie slice on one side of Baker open to sleds of any kind. And yet the riders routinely violate the boundary (St. Helens and elsewhere, too), with no consequence, because there is zero enforcement. And what I've been told is that there is zero enforcement because "it's too difficult".
So I don't see how a more complicated rule could be easier to enforce than the existing simple rule, which isn't enforced at all.
My issues recreating around snowmobiles, in no particular order:
- Noise
- Stink
- Litter
- Speed/safety (this is true of any two activities with order of magnitude speed differentials trying to share space)
- The attitude about parking: I need enough room to park my giant rig and trailer so I can drive my sleds off and leave everything as-is for my return. So don't you DARE park too close to me.
