National Forest Snowmobile lawsuit

Careful folks, don't make your decisions on whether there is "conflict" now. If off-road motorized access is allowed, they will eventually get there. Think of the future and those who come after us.

Also, as addressing these issues progresses, don't ever accept (and don't allow the FS to accept) the argument "we have been sledding up here for 30 years". HUMAN powered came first!!!!

Good thread, there will need to be plenty of input, thought and action and this is a start.

Everytime I've been up there, including last Friday, I see machine tracks.  But I never see the machines.  They don't generally seem to make it far up into the bowl from what I've seen.  So to me there isn't "conflict".

Silver gets hit by snow-machines as soon as the Summit Nordic Center closes and until the road melts out lower down.  I've been buzzed by snow-machines in the NE basin -- I haven't ever see tracks over the N ridge and down toward Lake Annette, but there is no legal reason why they couldn't do that and with today's powerful machines I'm sure a skilled rider could do it.  One of the frequent riders in the area has a house in Hyak and also happens to be a WSP.

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)

Oh, I would also ban snowmobiles on Amabalis. Unlike some of the proposals, I don't think there are many sledders who would complain. It gets very few, but they are annoying. You have to pay for a groomed pass if you go up the standard route, but the sleds come in from the side. Amabalis is one of the easiest ways to get great views and an opportunity to do a little off road skiing. This makes it great for beginners and intermediate skiers. Sometimes they groom it all the way to the top. Either way, a skier who is comfortable on groomed snow can go to the end of the groomed and then (at a minimum) try a little road skiing. The snow tends to be better up there, so if the skier is still OK with that, then there are lots of moderate angle (as well as some steep) open terrain to explore.

Silver gets hit by snow-machines as soon as the Summit Nordic Center closes and until the road melts out lower down.  I've been buzzed by snow-machines in the NE basin -- I haven't ever see tracks over the N ridge and down toward Lake Annette, but there is no legal reason why they couldn't do that and with today's powerful machines I'm sure a skilled rider could do it. 

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.

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.

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.

I've seen them there too, as we came up from the Tinkham side, April 9, 2011. I don't think the trees are too tight to block access. Once to the ridge, it was easy travel for both skis and snowmobile; almost felt like a little bit of a road on the ridge?