Snowmobiles at Artist Point! WTF

...You should send complaints to Mt Baker ski area, ask them if they know what is going on.

And send comments to the MBSNF as they are the land managers and track such occurrences...

Would you have preferred to see snowmobiles on that trip?

Tim Place writes that snowmobiles are prohibited at Artist Point by the Mount Baker Ski Area through its agreement with the Forest Service. As a former MBRC board member, he should know.

So there's no "if" about it. Despite being outside the wilderness boundary, snowmobiles aren't allowed up there. This thread has been useful at clarifying this, which was Donnelly's original point, I think. The whiners were right.

So is this is just a trivial little thing? I don't think so.

The road to Artist Point was built in the 1920s. It pre-dates both the Mount Baker Ski Area and the Wilderness Act. But ever since the 1920s, Artist Point has been a de facto wilderness in winter. It has been a ski destination. Other than Paradise on Mount Rainier it's the oldest truly alpine ski destination in Washington.

I'm glad the ski area doesn't allow snowmobiles up there. This place is hallowed ground. It should never be motorized in winter. If it ever becomes necessary, skiers should fight to keep it that way.

Skiers tour near Artist Point, circa 1959. UW Special Collections, Bob and Ira Spring Photographs, print #18891.

Thanks for that Bob and Ira Spring photo: what a gem of a place!

If it's legal, my bad.  

Even if it was legal ... When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty (T Jefferson). There is nor reason for snowmobiles being allowed to cruise around there. Climbers need permits to set foot on glacier on Mr Rainier and at the same time they are speeding up and down the Easton Glacier on Baker (seen and especially heard them yesterday).

Oh you probably saw me then 



What were you saying?

Honestly, I think snow mobiles should be confined to designated roads and trails and only allowed when there is 2' or more snow on the ground. It's easy to see the disturbance of underlying soil and damage to vegetation in areas where snow mobile use is popular. It's not really their use in areas with deep snowpack but the approach and trail head areas where damage is done. Even when they're in areas with deep snow they must traverse sections with low or no snow and you can see the damage. Why should snow mobiles be any different than their dry land OHV counterparts? I'm not anti snowmobile, I just think their use should be treated like ATVs and dirt bikes.

Couldn't that same 'damage' argument  be applied to 'climbers' trails and areas that are damaged by hikers around passes and lakes?

Yes, to a much greater extent, and not only at "passes and lakes", but every inch of the trail!!
Plus, the nice addition at established camps of "toilet paper behind every tree", piss and shi*t by the bucketload...
FAR greater damage is done by hikers!!!!