Help Open Up Yellowstone National Park to the Snowmobilers!

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Four open houses are scheduled this month to allow the public to review and comment on a range of draft alternatives for winter management of Yellowstone National Park.

The “no-action” alternative would eliminate all snowmobile and snowcoach travel in the park after the end of the current winter season. A second alternative looks at continuing winter operations at the present temporary limits, plus analysis of limited access for
snowmobile users without guides. Under a third alternative, park roads from West Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful would be plowed to allow
commercially operated, wheeled vehicles into the park. Also under consideration is a proposal to phase out snowmobiles and allow motorized entry by snowcoaches alone. This alternative includes analysis of closing the park’s East Entrance over Sylvan Pass to motorized oversnow use. Continue reading →

Tester’s FJRA nothing but more wilderness bill

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Montana’s letters and editorial pages have been flooded with praise for Sen. Jon Tester’s “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act,” or FJRA.

Well, here’s some criticism: To begin, the name is all wrong. FJRA is first, foremost and only a wilderness bill, which would immediately lock away a million acres (660,000 acres of big-W wilderness and another 300,000 or so of “recreation areas”) from all uses except primitive recreation.

In return for this million-acre lockup, FJRA’s propagandists promise a tidal wave of “Jobs and Recreation” to follow — someday, maybe, perhaps — an empty promise.

Ranchers know from bitter experience that grazing rights always go backwards after wilderness designations. Mining, in some of the most mineral rich areas of Montana? Never — forever.

Nor does wilderness do “Jobs” through “Recreation.” Never has, never will. Only 2 percent of public land recreation visitor days are “primitive recreation” based — and fully half are hunters. FJRA would write off the other 98 percent, who use wheels and motors for modern recreation, as potential customers and visitors — a terrible business model. Continue reading →

Rehberg Goes to Bat for Snowmobile Use in Gallatin National Forest

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Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, contacted Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell urging the Forest Service to quickly draft another travel plan for Gallatin National Forest that takes into account all historical data regarding motorized vehicle use. Because it was missing critical, but readily available information, the latest plan was rejected by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  The interim plan currently in effect severely restricts the use of snowmobiles in Gallatin Forest.  The snowmobile industry is responsible for more than 20 million dollars in economic activity every winter in the Gallatin Forest.

“Government bungling by the Obama Administration is costing jobs and creating lasting economic damage to the people living around Gallatin National Forest,” said Rehberg.  “These public lands are meant for public enjoyment, and as another winter passes without an adequate use plan, the public is being closed out of their land.” Continue reading →

RSVP Now to Join the14th annual Wyoming/Yellowstone Charity ride for Multiple Sclerosis, February 3rd – 8th, 2012

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This ride will be held in the Togwatee Mountain, Wyoming area from Febrary
3-8, 2012. This ride will include spectacular scenery (Tetons) and wildlife
viewing. There will be no management or guide fees (volunteers only). All
proceeds will go to Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA). Interested
participants can contact Ed Livingston at (307) 587-5192 or at ed@edlivingston.com.

To make sure that you get a room, you must RSVP as soon as possible.

Download the registration and waiver form along with detailed information here. 2012 WYCR Registration & Waiver Form