Snowmobiles on skyline ridge Why?

Yes!  We wenatchee locals are now working on an initiative to restrict access to Castle Rock and snow Creek wall based on your area code!  509'ers will get preference of course! Contact me for all your Hyperspace plans!

BTW, when do I get my tow to Stuart?!

Good to hear you haven't sold your skis to fund another trip to Yos! I will gladly exchange a ride (extra sled = no towing) to Stuart for a rope gun up Hyperspace. Looks like it's going to corn up next week, which would make next weekend a go.

My personal opinion is that the Liberty Bell area should be a no-sledding zone. Too much history of winter use by locals and the heli op, and there's already demand-based conflicts between users in that spot. But, I don't think that regulation always needs to be all or nothing.  Why not allow sleds some of the time in the mutually desirable zones like Clara Lake or Mission Peak or S side of Navajo, etc.?  They do that on some mountain bike trails, like Mt Constitution on Orcas, and it seems to work.    

Interesting. Clara Lake and Mission Peak areas are non motorized in the dry months why should that area be open to motorized use in winter? In areas around Mission Ridge snowmobiles render a lot of the terrain unskiable for long stretches due to our drier climate. How would you alternate use in this case? I think the day is coming when snowmobiles won't be able to access areas adjacent to Mission Ridge not because of regulation but rising snow levels. The last few years the window for snowmobiles to get into Stemilt Basin and Lake Creek basin has been very short due to lack of low elevation snow at access points. With these low snow conditions damage to underlying soil and vegetation is more apparent while trying to access the higher terrain from places like Devil's Spur and Beehive. How do you address the situation if snowmobiles have to cross bare ground and vegetation to access snow?

Lowell - that is a good point and well reasoned. We have to work with the public process and make our preferences known. It will be contentious, unfortunately due in my opinion because the FS failed to address this issue of winter recreation management when it should have some 25-30 years ago. It seems our public land managers want to be forced to make hard choices via the courts and public opinion instead of what is good resource management.
I believe there is ample room for both the snowmobilers and the skiers to have separate play areas and thus eliminate the user conflicts. And yes there are conflicts, what the sledders don't seem to understand is that their sport - the deep ruts, the noise, the avy potential on skiers, and the amount of terrain that one sled (much less 2-3) can ruin for someone following them on foot affects us. Yes, I know that you can ride legally in most of the BC sweet spots but do your realize that your enjoyment of your sport ruins my use of that same area? We really need to have separate areas for snowmobiles and skiers.

The important point is that the recent motorized invasion into terrain that has been historically used for non-motorized travel not only conflicts with the peaceful enjoyment of that public land, but more significantly, with the SAFE use of that public land. 

Can you elaborate on this?

I have not experienced safety issues related to mixing motorized and non-motorized users. I have only experienced aesthetic issues.

If you can describe significant and common safety issues, that would be helpful. But if you're just hand waving, it hurts your case. People won't respond well if they think you're stirring up a smokescreen to mask your real concerns.

Be specific.

The important point is that the recent motorized invasion into terrain  that has been historically used for non-motorized travel not only conflicts with the peaceful enjoyment of that public land, but  more significantly, with the SAFE use of that public land. 

www.cinemastrikesback.com/?p=2449

Lowell, i think that people don't respond well when they are disrespected. Such lack of respect comes in the form of personal attacks upon folks through name calling,such using words like yahoo or sled neck. Disrespect also can come in the form of implying nefarious hidden motives where none exist and no factual proof is offered.

I think you're referring to me, correct?

My intent was not to disrespect, but to push back. Here's why:

A lot of your postings on this site have made vague accusations about the safety record of your local Methow Valley guides. I have no idea whether this is a real problem, or whether you're picking on them for some other reason.

I think it's fine to point out safety issues. But if you're going to be credible, you need to be specific.

So, when you say the safety of motorized winter recreation is more significant than its aesthetic problems, I wonder where this concern is coming from.  Safety has not been a big issue in the arguments about winter use that I've heard. That's why I pushed back and asked you to be more specific.

Over here, there have been several situations where snowmachines have followed skin tracks up into avy terrain and then go above the skiers who set the track ...

It is a fact that snowmachines exert greater  point loading stress to the snowpack then skiers do, thereby increasing avalanche and remote trigger probability for all concerned. Not a good mix in the BC or anywhere.

Okay, that's helpful.

It seems to me that these problems could be addressed through education.

On the other hand, the aesthetic conflicts between motorized and non-motorized winter recreation are irreconcilable, in my view.

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Edited to add:

I see that you updated your post as I was composing my reply. I hope my reply was specific enough.