Snowmobiles on skyline ridge Why?

This clearly describes one of the reasons that the MBSNF needs to implement a Winter Travel Management Plan.  WTMs are already in place in NFs that actually address winter sports and habitat management.

These tracks were most likely laid by a Stevens pass lift operator/ employee that has saved their hard earned money ( at minimum wage) to purchase a less than ideal sled to live the dream of adventure that we all seek. They most likely live at the pass, within the parameters of this location. You could say that Skyline is THEIR backyard, and All others are in"appropriate" for walking right through their front yards and out their backyards.
They may not have the funds or the time to truck out to these more distant areas, that you speak of.

I'm not following this line of reasoning.

You're saying that somebody who's an employee of a ski area, presumably living there just during the winter season, can claim public land that has been used by thousands of people for decades as his back yard?

It's like somebody who just moved into the rental house down the street, and who's working at the local movie theater during the summer, gets to claim the neighborhood park as his back yard, and ride his dirt bike there.

Or am I missing something?

Lowell, My point was only that they have just as much of a right to use the area as do those that have been using it for 30 to 40 years. It is not illegal to ride there. That is all.

I do think that the time has come that all the stakeholders begin the discussion of separating some uses and delineating some areas as non-motorized. 

How about non-motorized users get to ride in the wilderness, and snowmobilers don't?

Ruffie, you clearly state exactly why a Winter Travel Management Plan is needed:

How about non-motorized users get to ride in the wilderness, and snowmobilers don't?

Winter recreational management usually protects the Wilderness and addresses the attainable recreation.

Thanks!

I had to laugh when Shred described these snowmobilers as poor unfortunate kids who don't even have a trailer.

That's a cop out and a load of bull. I think it is unfortunate a road is now maintained on this Skyline ridge to access the microwave tower. These "poor unfortunate kids" are using the road instead of perfectly good young legs to access skiing on Skyline Ridge according to Bscott. If they were considerate enough to stay on the road instead of cutting up the south slope of this ridge there would be a lot less to complain about. But they don't, they tear up the slope that is and has been the normal decent route for skiers for decades. And skis and snowmobile ruts are not compatible.

Stevens Pass, Inc., as the permit holder for this Forest Service land may well have the capacity to disallow the use of snowmobiles on this section of land by denying access through their housing buildings.