…..Mary A. Bomar, President Bush’s nominee to head the National Park Service, says she believes that snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks can continue. Bomar expressed her views about the contentious snowmobile issue in a written statement to Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo. Thomas had asked Bomar about her position on Wyoming issues during a committee hearing on Sept. 21. Bomar stated that she believes snowmobile use in the parks can continue, “without unacceptable impacts to park resources.”

A group in Eastern Newfoundland is lobbying the federal government to bend its rules and allow snowmobiling in a national park.

The Terra Nova Trail Riders want Ottawa to permit a corridor through Terra Nova National Park that would allow snowmobilers to access nearby trails.

It’s illegal to operate a snowmobile inside the boundaries of Terra Nova, one of two national parks in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Robyn Spracklin, who lives in Charlottetown – a community inside the park boundaries – said it’s unfair that she and others must drive for nearly 90 minutes to reach a trail.

“Everyone has to have a trailer, or a big truck or some way to tow their machine outside of the Terra Nova National Park boundaries, and to get to a location where they can go,” she said.

“It is quite costly and time consuming.”

The Trail Riders are appealing for federal permission to cut a 15-kilometre path from Charlottetown to another trail outside the park.

Park Supt. Jewel Cunningham said the park opposes such a plan, citing potential environmental impacts and concerns about disturbances to wildlife and habitat.
Source: CBC News

A long-time champion for responsible access to public lands will be placed into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF). Clark Collins, co-founder of the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), was chosen for this honor by a unanimous vote of the ORMHOF nominating committee.

Collins started the BRC, a national recreation organization, to counter the growing anti-access efforts of extreme environmental groups and their political allies. His goals were to make the off-road community become “politically significant” and to promote responsible recreational use of public and private lands. One of his “significant” goals was achieved in 1991 when the Symm’s National Recreation Trail Fund Act was signed into law by President George Bush.

Clark served as the BRC’s Executive Director from 1988 to 2006. Under his leadership, BRC has grown nationwide to include over 1,100 member organizations and businesses representing approximately 600,000 recreationists.

Jack Welch, president of the BlueRibbon Coalition said today, “I am proud that Clark has been recognized by the ORMHOF for his numerous and significant contributions to the off-road community. For many years, Clark worked tirelessly to champion responsible use of public lands and to build an organization that could defeat anti-access groups who had targeted our activity for elimination.”

…..The average snowmobiler spends $5,850 on a snowmobile; $1,100 on accessories such as clothing and a trailer; and an additional $3,000 plus on snowmobile related tourism. In comparison, the average cost of membership to a state or provincial snowmobile association or your local snowmobile club is just $20.

Governor Doyle signed legislation setting a 55 mile per hour nighttime speed limit for snowmobiles next winter. Supporters of the change say it’s designed to reduce crashes and fatalities. State snowmobile education administrator Gary Eddy has said a nighttime speed limit would make it easier for wardens to pull over riders they suspect are intoxicated. The Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs supported the new speed limit. Originally, the legislation would have put the speed limit in place for two years and included money for Department of Natural Resources enforcement teams to patrol state trails. But the bill Doyle signed into law puts the speed limit in place only for one year and stripped the money for enforcement teams.

An administrative appeal against a snowmobile trail proposed by the US Forest Service along the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was filed by a gathering of Conservation groups led by the Izaak Walton League of America.

The planned trail would run from McFarland Lake to South Fowl Lake on the eastern edge of the BWCAW. The Superior National Forest officials chose the route over others further outside the area.

The conservationists claim the route will require to much construction and would cause snowmobiles to be heard to far into the BWCAW. The other option for the trail would follow existing roadways – and is available as a secondary plan for the Forest Service if snowmobiles are found to violate regulations.

The Appeal was made to Jim Sanders, supervisor of the Superior National Forest. If they don’t get what they want from this appeal, it’s likely the groups will file in the US District Court.

US Forest Service agency officials restored a ban on 4,000 acres of the Wasatch Cache National Forest. The ban covers half of the Franklin Basin area of Logan Canyon. This area was closed as part of a 2003 management plan but was re-opened to snowmobiles in July of 2005. Now the new reversal will take effect on June 1.

A lawsuit was filed in December of 2005 by green groups fighting the opening. That suit has now been dropped with news of the ban reinstatement.

In a statement last Friday USFS officials announced the reversal and said that they will conduct an “environmental analysis” and collect public comment on the area. The opportunity for public comment is expected to begin this month, but comments will also be collected later in the summer as more analysis is completed

…..Starting with the 2005/2006 season, ISR racing rules dictate that the Snowcross Open Class is limited to 600cc 2-strokes, or 1050cc 4-strokes. Further, the 4-stroke rules state a 3-cylinder limit and no gear reduction. This means the Yamaha RX-1 and Apex motors are not elgible, but the Nytro/Vector engine is legal, along with the new 1050cc 2-cylinder 4-stroke from Arctic Cat!

…..The Needles Highway Snowmobile Trail (in Custer State Park) in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota is closed through March 1, 2006. This marks the third straight season the scenic trail has been closed because of ongoing timber sales in the area.

The west entrance of Yellowstone Park is scheduled to open December 21, snow conditions permitting. The park welcomes snow coaches, snowmobile tours, cross-country skiers and snowshoers from December 21 through March 12.
“We are excited about the upcoming winter activities and are eager for visitors to join the fun,” said Marysue Costello executive director of West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce. “Many people think we are closed during the winter months, but we have events all season long for winter sports enthusiasts and families.”
Many potential visitors get mixed information about the status of snowmobile use in the park. While some so-called environmental groups continue to use the courts to further their park closure agenda, the west entrance of Yellowstone Park will be open to snowmobiles on December 21.
“Roadways, groomed to perfection, give winter visitors access to many of the Park’s most famous features,” said Costello. “The annual reopening is a perfect time for people to explore the wonder of Yellowstone National Park during winter. West Yellowstone is a white carpet waiting for people to discover it.”
The west entrance allows up to 400 snowmobiles per day, all strictly monitored for emissions and sound. Every visitor, whether by snowcoach or snowmobile, has the benefit of being accompanied by a Park trained guide who will enhance each person’s experience with the interpretation of history, geology and wildlife.
During the winter season West Yellowstone is a full-service community. Great restaurants (like the famous Running Bear Pancake House) and bars (Stagecoach, anyone?); hotels (Holiday Inn Convention Center) and lodges, and retail businesses will all be open during the upcoming winter season.
In addition to the opening of the west entrance, there are many upcoming activities including “The World Snowmobile Expo 2006” on March 16-19. The World Snowmobile EXPO culminates a year of snow-cross racing for many Rocky Mountain competitors in four days of racing thrills. Snowmobile manufacturers and after-market companies display their 2006 items at the exposition hall. Nighttime activities include a “Funny-Money” Casino night, live entertainment and plenty of laughs.
For more information on West Yellowstone’s winter activities visit www.westyellowstonechamber.com or call (406) 646-7701.