Posts Tagged ‘snowmobile’

Chelan Snowmobiling Trails Open (Washington)

USDA Forest Service – Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Contact: Joe Kastenholz, Chelan Ranger District Resource Assistant, 509-682-4900
Susan C Peterson, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF Central Zone Public Affairs, 509-548-2558
Website: www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee
Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/okawennf

Chelan, WA- The Chelan Ranger District announced that all snowmobile trails in the Chelan area are officially open Friday, December 18th, 2009, which is good news for snowmobilers and other winter recreation enthusiasts.

Roads now closed to four-wheel vehicles and open to snowmobiles are:

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Lolo Pass Visitor Center Opens for Winter Season (Idaho)

United States – Department of Agriculture – Forest Service
Clearwater National Forest
Contact: Molly Puchlerz
(208) 942-3113

Powell, ID- The Lolo Pass Visitor Center, located on the Idaho-Montana state line along U.S. Highway 12, is open for the winter season. Winter hours of operation are Thursday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Pacific Standard Time.

Snowmobile trail grooming will begin on Tuesday, December 15, and cross-country ski trail grooming will begin on Saturday, December 19. There is approximately two feet of snow at the pass. Dogs are not allowed on the groomed trails. For updates on current snow conditions at Lolo Pass and trail grooming, call the visitor information line at (208) 942-1234 or visit http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/ and http://www.snowtana.com/.
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Winter Logging Begins in Lion Gulch Near Liberty, Washington

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest – USDA Forest Service
Contact: Kim Larned (509) 852-1062
Website: www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee
Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/okawennf

Cle Elum, WA – Winter logging operations have begun in Lion Gulch near Liberty as part of the Liberty Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Project. Logging operations and log trucks will be working Monday – Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM. The road will be plowed for log trucks but enough snow will be left on the road to allow continued snowmobile use. The road will remain closed to all other wheeled vehicles. Snowmobilers are urged to use extreme caution when riding on FS road 9712 as they will likely encounter log truck traffic during the week. The logging is expected to last through February.

The need for the fuels reduction project came from unnaturally extreme fire conditions in the Liberty area are the result of a century of well-intended fire suppression practices that have allowed fuels to build to unacceptable levels. This project is a step toward returning the area to a healthy condition and will create fuel breaks by commercially thinning approximately 1,310 acres, opening the forest cover, and reducing fuels. The focus of thinning will be on smaller diameter trees. In the planned fuel breaks, fuels will be reduced using a variety of means, including hand- and machine-piling and burning piles, and/or underburning.

For more information, please call the Cle Elum Ranger District at (509) 852-1100.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/news/2009/12/01/index.shtml

Craig Mountain Gates Remain Closed Until More Snow (Idaho)

IDAHO FISH AND GAME CLEARWATER REGION NEWS RELEASE
Lewiston, ID

Date: December 4, 2009
Contact: Mike Demick
(208) 799-5010

December 5 marks the beginning of the snowmobile season on the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area south of Lewiston.

However, Idaho Fish and Game reminds winter recreationists that all access gates to secondary roads will remain closed until 16 inches of snow accumulates. The gates are designed to enhance wildlife security not to restrict snowmobile use during the winter.

December 5 was selected in cooperation with local snowmobile groups and hunters to allow snowmobile use of the area after hunting seasons have closed and big game animals have moved to lower elevations.

Snowmobile users are urged to be prepared and use caution. Because of previous forest fires, many dead trees are expected to fall the next few years and several new fences were constructed to restrict illegal off-road use. Salvage logging may also be in progress during the winter months so users are urged to be cautious of the increased traffic.

The Lewis and Clark Snowdrifters annually groom and remove obstacles on almost 200 miles of trails on Craig Mountain and surrounding area to enhance access and improve safety.

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=5217

IDPR Coordinates Avalanche Awareness Class In Coeur D’Alene (Idaho)

Boise, ID – The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) will be presenting a snowmobile-centered, basic, avalanche awareness class in Coeur d’Alene on December 17, 2009. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.

The seminar will be held on Thursday, December 17, from 6-9 p.m. at Specialty Recreation, 772 W Kathleen Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

The Coeur d’Alene Snowmobile Club will provide hot dogs and chili.

The field segment of this class will be held at a later date.

“We’re offering a variety of classroom and field sessions this year, to accommodate individuals across the state,” said Rich Gummersall, IDPR Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Education Coordinator. “With an increase in avalanche related accidents in the state, educating the public has become a priority”.

Classes are limited to 50 participants and will fill up fast. To sign up, please call Marc Hildesheim at (208) 769-1511 before Monday, December 14.

This IDPR sponsored educational seminar is free and is an example of your registration dollars at work.

Visit www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov for a complete schedule of avalanche awareness classes, snowmobile safety tips and information on where to ride in Idaho.

http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/article.aspx?newsid=275

Ashton/Island Park Ranger District Travel Regulations (Idaho)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patty Kraayenbrink 208-524-7639

Idaho Falls, ID – Caribou-Targhee National Forest winter travel regulations for Ashton/Island Park Ranger District go into effect Thanksgiving Day. The official Travel Map for the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District describes winter travel opportunities for both winter cross-country use and winter designated routes. This map along with the snowmobile map produced by the Island Park Chamber of Commerce shows winter recreationists groomed snowmobile trails; groomed cross-country ski trails, areas with seasonal closures and areas closed to protect wildlife winter ranges or designated Wilderness. Maps may be obtained through the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District or the Island Park Chamber of Commerce.

Light snow conditions may still allow passenger vehicle traffic on National Forest roads open to summer motorized travel. Vehicle travel will be allowed until snow depth prevents cars and trucks from using the roadways or Fremont County begins snowmobile trail grooming. Roads maintained by Fremont County are not open to snowmobile use.

Most of the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District is open to winter cross-country motorized use. However, there are a few areas displayed on the map in purple hues that are closed to winter cross-country motorized use. The area known as Big Bend Ridge is closed to winter cross-country use until January 1st for the security of the elk and deer migrating to their winter range west of the Forest. Another large area closed to over-snow motorized vehicles is an area from the south side of the Island Park Reservoir east to Henrys Fork River, south to Highway 20 and Green Canyon Road. This area is the Thurmon Ridge area and Harriman State Park. Winegar Hole Wilderness and Jedediah Smith Wilderness are closed to snowmobile use.

People recreating on snow machines are asked to be respectful of private property. District Ranger, Adrienne Keller, has received complaints from area property owners about people on snow machines who ride their machines wherever they please and don?t pay attention to private property boundaries. “I’ve received complaints about people riding their snow machines around private cabins, running over trees in yards and leaving trash when they’ve stopped for a break on a deck of an unoccupied residence.” The groomed snowmobile trails in Fremont County depend on the approval of private land owners to allow the trail to cross their property to connect the trails to the National Forest. Keller adds, “If private property owners near the trails are affected by this rude behavior of some people on snow machines, we could lose their support for the trail going across their property, affecting the connectivity of the trail system in the Ashton and Island Park areas in Fremont County.”

For more information on winter recreation opportunities on the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District, contact either the Ashton Ranger Station at (208) 652-7442 or Island Park Ranger Station at (208) 558-7301. Safe riding!!

USDA Forest Service
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
1405 Hollipark Drive
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401

http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/caribou-targhee/news/2009/09-61%20ashton-islandpark_winter_travel_regs.doc

Winter Driving on Forest Service Roads (Oregon)

Media Contact: Jennifer O’Leary (503) 854-4210; Cell (503) 298-8190

Springfield, OR – Visitors to the Willamette National Forest will encounter a wide range of driving conditions over the next few months. An important reminder at this time of year is that Forest Service roads are not maintained for winter travel. Many roads, especially those in higher elevations, become impassable due to ice and snow.

The following tips can help you prepare for a safe visit:

• Plan for the unexpected
• Check the latest road and weather conditions
• Let someone know where you’re going
• Carry an emergency kit in your vehicle

“Winter is a wonderful time to explore the forest, especially if you like to snowmobile, ski, or snowshoe. We want to ensure that visitors are aware of the important safety tips that will help them enjoy their visit,” says Stacey Forson, Assistant Recreation Staff Officer for the Willamette National Forest.

Weather can change quickly, particularly in high elevations. Good snow tires, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and chains are advised when driving in winter conditions. Don’t forget to fuel up at the beginning of the trip.

Travelers should be prepared to spend long periods of time in the car. Blankets or sleeping bags, warm clothes, a snow shovel, water, food and other necessities are recommended as part of a complete vehicle emergency kit.

Many Forest Service roads are single-lane, winding, gravel roads with limited visibility. These and popular double-lane, paved roads such as Forest Road 19, Forest Road 21, and Forest Road 46 are not plowed for winter travel. Even a few inches of snow can obscure ice and soft shoulders; always adjust your speed to the current conditions. As a general rule, drive at speeds that allow you to stop in half the visible road distance ahead of you.

Although GPS systems are useful tools for navigating forest roads, they cannot always be relied on to provide the safest routes based on current conditions. Keep in mind that cell phones and GPS systems may not work in remote areas.

Visit or call your local Ranger District office for the latest updates regarding weather, including snow levels, and road conditions. Current conditions are also provided on the Willamette National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/general/conditions/index.html.

For regular updates regarding road and weather conditions on state highways that serve as mountain passes visit Tripcheck, offered by Oregon Department of Transportation, at www.tripcheck.com.

For more information please contact the closest Ranger District office.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/newsandevents/news/2009newsarchives/091120winter-driving.html