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w w w. s n o w m o b i l e c o l o . c o m Boy, we have certainly seen a different season of funky weather and snow this year. I guess when we are begging for snow we should be thankful for what we get. I’ve noticed a real change in snow moisture content around the first week in February, at home in North Park and on various travels to the CSA Annual Convention in Gunnison/ Crested Butte and a Western Chapter Meeting in Alpine, Wyoming. It went from the dry powder to heavy wet stuff or crust with sugar snow below. Don’t take it wrong, some snow is certainly better than no (or little) snow like in California and Nevada. I would like to thank the Gunnison Snow Trackers for a great job in putting on the CSA Annual Convention Jan 31 to Feb 2. It was a great time and superb snow conditions and riding. It was said by someone that I talked to there “I am just going to keep coming to the CSA Convention every year because I have had my best riding of the year for the last 3 years that I have gone to the Convention”. We finished the meeting on Sunday morning of Super Bowl Sunday at 10:00 so people could get home to watch the game. The game was a bust anyway, but I’m sure glad we didn’t miss a great weekend of snow in anticipation of a good game like many did. As a matter of fact, that was probably the best snow so far this year before we got hit with the wet stuff. The next adventure was at the Western Chapter Summit Meeting in Alpine, WY where several western states met to discuss regional and lo-
CSA President
Randy Miller
On the Cover:
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cal issues like Forest Plans, user conflicts, wildlife issues, chapter communication, etc. We were able to ride there one day over the weekend but my enthusiasm to ride was curtailed a little by low visibility, two recent avalanches in the same spot that blocked off the Snake River, several stucks (including one myself because I couldn’t see past the handlebars), and that snow that settled around your track like concrete. Irregardless, we managed to put on about 60 miles. Last week I was able to help get sleds set up for a group of Wounded Warriors from Fort Carson for the 3rd time that we have been honored with their presence. They have been coming to our Annual Poker Run in Gould that has gone on for the better part of 30 years. See the North Park Snowsnakes Article later in this publication for more details. I feel very privileged to be a part of such a respectful and great group of veterans. The event is growing every hear and we have exceptional support from many local businesses. The attached photo is at the beginning of the ride. Our plans for the International Snowmobile Conference (ISC) are really coming along. We are down to monthly meetings with the various committees in preparation of the grand event. I would like to encourage everyone to experience the convention if you can. It will not be this close again for a long, long time. At least try to come on Friday, June 13 for Colorado Day for many of the Special Colorado Seminars. Have a great rest of the season and be safe!
Arrowhead Snowmobile Club Sponsored CSA Convention Ride
Photo submitted by Lucia Lebon, Arrowhead Snowmobile Club, District 7 Representative
In This Issue... 3-6
Executive Board Reports... CSA Contact Directory... 4 Land Use/Safety Chair Reports...7 District and Club Reports... 8-16 Business Sponsors...17-21 Donations...20 Membership Application...22 News...22-24 Colorado Snow Scoop (ISSN: 0746-3073, USPS: 703-590) Copyright © 2014 by the Colorado Snowmobile Association is published four times per year by Sundance Times Inc. at 311 Main Street, PO Box 400, Sundance WY 82729. September, November, January and March. Business and Editorial Offices: 311 Main Street, PO Box 400, Sundance WY 82729. Accounting and Circulation Offices: Sundance Times Inc., Jeff Moberg, 311 Main Street, PO Box 400, Sundance WY 82729. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sundance WY 82729 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Jeanna Whipple, 325 River Rock Dr, Johnstown CO 80534
Jeff Moberg: Editor/Publisher, Advertising
Stan Horning: Pre-Press
Advertising Information: 307-283-3411 or Jeff@sundancetimes.com
DEADLINE FOR THIS SEASON’S FINAL ONLINE SNOW SCOOP IS MARCH 31!
Federal Legislative Update
I wanted to update everyone on several pieces of federal legislation that are important to the motorized community and have been the basis of significant efforts from CSA,TPA and COHVCO in conjunction with the motorized clubs in these riding areas. Recently, the US Senate passed an Amendment to the Sportsman’s Heritage Act that specifically stated it was the intent of Congress that there should be no changes to current snowmobile access to public lands as the Forest Service works towards resolving the Winter Wildlands decision from the Idaho District Court. The Idaho Snowmobile Association and many others are working on appealing this decision as well. The Sportsman’s Heritage Act and this amendment enjoyed strong bi-partisan support and is
expected to be passed by the House in the near future. While this Legislation does not resolve the Winter Wildlands matter, a statement of the intent of Congress is certainly a welcome step in the right direction. A second piece of legislation that is very important to the snowmobile community in Colorado is the Hermosa Watershed Protection Act, which releases the Molas Pass riding area outside Silverton from its Wilderness Study area designation. This WSA designation has been cited as the reason that BLM’s Tres Rios Field Office must close the area to snowmobile recreation, despite the long history of motorized usage of the area. Local riders were shocked when the Molas Pass areas was recently identified as closed for winter motorized travel in the final
CSA Vice President
Scott Jones
see ‘vice president’ PAGE 5------------------>
4
M a r c h / A p r i l 2 014
Colorado Snowmobile Association Contacts
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Arrowhead Snowmobile Club LuciaLebon PO Box 333, Cimarron CO 81220 970-862-8402 llebon05@gmail.com
Buena Vista Snowmobile Club Ed Swisher PO Box 3133, Buena Vista CO 81211 719-395-6461 edswisher49@yahoo.com
Colorado Blizzards Mish Clancey 107 Redwing Ct, Mead CO 80542 303-651-2060 mishclancey@aol.com coloradoblizzards.com
Delta Snokrusers Donna Ankenbauer PO Box 464, Cedaredge CO 81413 970-856-3656 snokrusers@gmail.com
Flattoppers Tom Zancanella PO Box 1908, Glenwood Springs CO 81602 970-379-2926 taz@za.engineering.com www.flattoppers.com
Grand Lake Trail Groomers Nick Hansen PO Box 1247, Grand Lake CO 80447 970-531-8872 wrrcowboy@yahoo.com www.grandlaketrailgroomers.com
Gunnison county SnoWTrackers Phil Chamberland 23501 Hwy 135, Crested Butte CO 81224 970-209-3715 pchamberland@hughes.net
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hlcrft@comcast.net www.summitsnowmobilers.com
Holy Cross Powder Hounds Snowmobile Club Lance Trujillo PO Box 7116, Avon CO 81620 970-376-3856 lance@holycrosspowderhounds.com www.holycrosspowderhounds.com
Lake City Continental Divide Snowmobile Club Dennis Cavit PO Box 591, Lake City CO 81235 970-944-0191 dcavit@centurytel.net lakecitysnowmobileclub.com
LEADVILLE High Riders Snowmobile Club Clay Stewart 211 E 4th St, Leadville CO 80461 719-486-7311 stewartcn@earthlink.net
SECRETARY - Karen Ball 14860 Rolling Hills Dr, Montrose, CO 81401 snokraz5@msn.com
970-240-4036
MidValley Snowmobile Club Dave Mikulyuk 280 Fawn Dr, Carbondale CO 81623 970-963-1196 dmikulyuk@aol.com
Mile-Hi Snowmobile Club Evan Miller PO Box 260368, Denver CO 80226 720-205-4761 pwsmerv1@aol.com snowmobilecolo.com
MT Sopris Rec Riders Eric Rudd PO Box 1035, Carbondale CO 81623 970-379-4263 eric@ruddconstruction.com www.mtsoprisrecriders.com
SilverThread Outdoor Recreation Club George Powell PO Box 343, South Fork CO 81154 719-850-0080 ghp0181@gmail.com silverthreaders.org
Silverton Snowmobile Club Jim Lokey PO Box 571, Silverton CO 81433 970-387-5512 info@redmtmotelrvpk.com
Snow Country Explorers of the Upper Rio Grande Bob Kukuk PO Box 702, Crede CO 81130 719-658-2221 (H), 719-658-2362 (F) kukuk@fone.net
North Fork Snowmobile Club Wes Spore PO Box 472, Hotchkiss CO 81419 970-872-2167
South Fork Powder Busters Curtis Miller PO Box 454, South Fork CO 81154 719-873-0208
North Park Snow Snakes Tootie Crowner PO Box 61, Walden CO 80480 970-723-8461
Steamboat Lake Snow Club Mike Swinsick PO Box 756, Clark CO 80428 970-846-0814
Northwest Colorado Snowmobile Club, Inc Leeland Mischke 1066 Rangely Way, Craig CO 81625 970-620-6327
TrailBlazers Tom Mason PO Box 507, Grand Lake CO 80447 970-531-5812
wesandcarol@tds.net
dmiller@resource-one.us
leelandlmischke@aol.com northwestcoloradosnowmobileclub.org
Pikes Peak High Riders Ray Doble 17335 Herring Rd, Colorado Springs CO 80908 719-495-2316 doblerm@msn.com
hoffy1@willowwisp.net
Routt Powder Riders Ed Calhoun PO Box 770043, Steamboat Springs CO 80487 970-819-7006 ecalhoun55@gmail.com routtpowderriders.com
S & W Adventure Riders, LLC Jack Sheets 2350 Stoneridge Dr, Colorado Springs CO 80919 719-593-0711 jacks@swadventureriders.org swadventurerides.org
San Juan Sledders Marty Gunn 164 Sandia Cir, Bayfield CO 81122 970-247-7907 guns@frontier.net www.sanjuansledders.org
Sangre Snowrunners Dale Hoag PO Box 523, Westcliffe CO 81252 719-783-2729
970-327-4786 Administrative Manager/Membership Jeanna Whipple 325 River Rock Dr, Johnstown CO 80534 970-587-0364 Snowmobile Program Administrator - Tom Metsa 13787 S Hwy 85, Littleton CO 80125
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scott.jones46@yahoo.com
coloradosnowmobileassociation@yahoo.com
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Heart of the Rockies Snowmobile Club www.pikespeakhighriders.com Brad Craig Rifle Snowmobile Club PO Box 241, Poncha Springs CO Carleton Hoffmeister 81242 PO Box 692, Rifle CO 81650 719-207-0287 970-625-0134 bradcraig_napa@hotmail.com High Country Snowmobile Club Rich Holcraft PO Box 2215, Frisco CO 80443 970-389-3317
970-723-3725 Vice President - Scott Jones 508 Ashford Dr, Longmont CO 80504
dlfalk@centurytel.net
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randy@npeng.com
TREASURER - David Falk PO Box 406, Norwood CO 81423
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Executive Officers
curt800@msn.com
casper62@yahoo.com
autowrench2002@yahoo.com www.gltrailblazers.com
Tyler’s backcountry awareness Brian Lundstedt 1401 E Lincoln Ave, Fort Collins CO 80524 970-219-8869 info@tylersba.org tylersba.org
Uncompahgre Valley Trail Riders Rich Jakino PO Box 3503, Montrose CO 81402 970-209-8900, 970-209-8930 richjakino@homail.com
West End Sledders Jacque McClellan PO Box 1443, Norwood CO 81423 970-865-2518
thomas.metsa@state.co.us
303-791-1957, ext 4132
District Representatives District 1 Rep - Steven Marlenee
steven.marlenee@tangledwebinnovations.com
970-227-7977 District 2 Rep - Ron Spencer 424 Russell St, Craig CO 81625 sspe263865@msn.com
970-824-6568 District 3 Rep - Dennis Lynton 11091 Wolff Way, Westminster CO 80031 dennislynton@gmail.com
303-253-7743 District 4 Rep - Stephen Burns hawkcreeklogistics@gmail.com
970-984-0797 District 5 Rep - LEE ROTH 642 E Loma Dr, Pueblo West CO 81007 lsa102002@yahoo.com
719-332-9671 District 6 Rep - vacant District 7 Rep - Lucia Lebon llebon05@gmail.com
970-862-8402 District 8 Rep - Steve Foster snomoman@aol.com
970-856-3642 District 9 Rep - william Hall will58y@netscape.net
970-759-2466
Committees
Right to Ride Chair - Curtis Miller PO Box 742, South Fork CO 81154 curt800@msn.com
719-873-0208 Land Use Chair -Janelle Kukuk 2889 USFS Rd 509, Creede CO 81130 kukuk@fone.net
719-658-2221 Raffle Chair - BILL REXFORD
mcricketred@aol.com
rexford.bill@gmail.com
www.snowskippers.com
himes.kate@gmail.com
970-481-0230 Western Slope Snowmobile Association/ Safety Chair - Ralph Stewart snowskippers 895 Van Dorn Dr, Craig CO 81625 Dale Hollingshead restewart@q.com PO Box 4964, Grand Junction CO 970-824-5353 81502 970-241-6829 Awards/Scholarship Chair - Katie Himes snowskippers@acsol.com PO Box 162, Mesa CO 81643 White River Snowmobile Club, Inc Troy Hilkey PO Box 1045, Meeker CO 81641 970-756-0717 thilkey@wrenergy.com
Wolf Creek Trailblazers Bob Tesman PO Box 3194, Pagosa Springs CO 81147 970-731-3366 rstesman@centurylink.net
970-270-4474 Grooming AND MAPPING Chair - Joe Tonso 941 School St, Craig CO 81625 jtonso@msn.com
970-824-5821 Charity chair - lancy Falk PO Box 406, Norwood CO 81423 horsecrazy.lancy1@gmail.com
970-327-4786
w w w. s n o w m o b i l e c o l o . c o m <---------------- ‘Vice president’ from page 3 RMP, despite ongoing usage of the area and numerous public hearings addressing the overwhelming desire to maintain motorized access to the Molas Pass area in the future. In addition to releasing the WSA for snowmobile usage, the Legislation would protect an additional 70,000 acre Special Management Area within the planning area where motorized recreational usage is permitted and specifically protected by the Legislation. In this 70,000 acre area, snowmobile usage was found to be unsuitable with management in the future. Representatives from the Colorado Motorized community are traveling to Washington DC this week to testify in favor of this legislation and are optimistic regarding its passage. The final piece of legislation is very early in the development process but we are very optimistic on the outcome is regarding the release of the Wilderness Study Area designation for the North Sand Hills area outside Walden Colorado. Preliminary meetings of all interested parties have been very positive and everyone agrees the area should not be closed for motorized usage and should be managed to provide a better opportunity for all users. The North Sand Hills provides one of the few motorized sand dune riding experiences in Colorado. The major hurdle this legislation is facing is what is the best way to get the WSA release legislation passed and this discussion has moved to amendment of other Wilderness proposals to gain further protection for motorized recreation in these proposals as well. Everyone agrees the release of a few thousand acres of WSA in Colorado will simply get lost in Washington DC as the issue is too small and will get lost in discussions on other issues. I want to thank everyone that has been involved in this matters, often these issues are difficult and slow to resolve, but thanks to everyone’s efforts headway is being made and motorized recreational usage is being provided the Congressional protection it deserves.
Issues at a Glance
This section is designed to highlight various issues where CSA, COHVCO and TPA and their partners and local clubs are defending public access to public lands. This glance at the issues is not an exhaustive list of the issues we are involved with, but rather is highlighting issues of statewide importance or interest. We have identified the user groups most directly impacted by each issue with a logo next to each issue. RECENT WINS 1. New Lynx management documents have been published that clearly state trail usage and snow
compaction are not an issue in lynx habitat- NEW CSA,COHVCO and many other groups have been very concerned about the failure of many federal land managers to address recreational activity in lynx habitat with best available science. Best available science has specifically concluded almost all recreational activity has no impact on lynx that might be in the area. Many land managers continued to manage based on out of date management documents, where there was theoretical concerns about recreational usage. The issuance of new management document supersede previous document avoids these types of issues in the future by clearly stating roads and trails in habitat are not a major factor for the lynx and that most snow compaction in the Southern Rockies is the result of natural processes rather than recreational usage. These documents clearly state that only major ski areas may impact lynx behavior and provide extensive analysis that weighs heavily against any claim of Wilderness areas being a benefit for the lynx. CSA,COHVCO and TPA have partnered to provide a copy of these documents to every office that currently has a draft plan being developed or are areas where lynx management has been an issue previously. 2. The US Fish and Wildlife Service recently determined there should be no changes in forest management as the result of a wolverine in the planning area. This planning initiative addresses the management of millions of acres throughout the western United States and all areas above 10k feet in Colorado. The Organizations have been heavily involved in stakeholder discussions with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife regarding best available science for the management of the Wolverine. As a result of these stakeholder meetings, best available science was clearly reflected in the recent US FWS listing decision as the decision clearly stated there should be no management changes on public lands as a result of the Wolverine. This is a major win as modeled habitat for the Wolverine in Colorado was any areas over 10,000 ft. and at one point closures to motorized access were seen as necessary in all these areas. This determination was a major step forward in protecting motorized access from misguided wolverine management standards. 3. The proposed expansion of parking facilities on Rabbit Ears Pass is moving forward The Hahns Peak Bears Ears Ranger District has moved forward with scoping on several site specific proposals for the expansion of parking areas on the Rabbit Ears Pass
area outside Steamboat Springs Colorado. Parking is very limited in the area for winter usage causing a wide range of management and safety issues for users. This limited parking also limits access for motorized usage of the area that is consistently identified as one of the best snowmobile locations in the western United States. This project has been vigorously supported by the local clubs who have brought a wide range of information and resources to the table to allow for resolution of this issue. 4. Dillon Ranger District allows construction of over 20 miles of new single track motorcycle trail outside Silverthorne The Dillon Ranger District on the White River National Forest issued a FONSI permitting the construction of 21 miles of new single track motorcycle trail outside Silverthorne Colorado. This decision is the result of years of work and partnership between the local club and agency personnel. This trail network will provide a motorized single track opportunity in an area where these opportunities area very limited currently. 5. COHVCO and partners succeeded in obtaining passage of legislation allowing the titling of off-highway and over the snow vehicles in the state of Colorado. This will provide proof of ownership for vehicles that can exceed $15,000 to purchase new and allow for better financing rates from dealers. The issuance of a title will also allow better tracking of stolen OHVs in the state and better rates for those that choose to finance their new purchases. This legislation will become effective in 2014. Our next step is to obtain use of some county roads with the creation of a voluntary license plate on OHVs. 6. COHVCO and partners were able to insure that fines were not increased for a variety of OHV related issues with the reauthorization of house bill 1069. There was heavy pressure from those opposed to OHV use to increase minimum fines sometimes by hundreds of dollars for a variety of non-resource related issues. As a result of COHVCO efforts these fines maintained consistency with other violations. 7. COHVCO and its partners obtained dismissal of the Rico/ West Delores lawsuit seeking closure of grandfathered routes on any MVUM. Unfortunately, this decision has been appealed but we are optimistic that the trial court’s decision will be upheld. 8. Representative Tipton held federal hearings concerning the negative impacts of Wilderness designations on Forest Health. Senate hearings were also held with similar input received from the
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public. COHVCO hopes that these hearings highlight the negative impacts to the forests from Wilderness designations and allow for management that protects forest health and public motorized access to the proposal areas. LAWSUITS 1. San Juan National Forest plan appealed-updated. This is the Forest Service component for the BLM Tres Rios Plan and as a result the TR appeal points are also applicable to this matter. In addition to the economic analysis issues, the USFS fails to accurately apply the Colorado Roadless Rule managing under a single standard very similar to the upper tier standard, when most of the SJ/TR areas were specifically found to be unsuitable for upper tier designation in the Colorado Roadless Rule proceedings. At no point is there any discussion of why closure of roadless areas is warranted or that motorized access is a protected characteristic of a roadless area or why the two standards of roadless areas were not reflected in the RMP. The RMP further applies a designation of suitable or unsuitable for motorized use to the entire forest. It is has been our experience that such black and white type designations do not work in recreation management as this is not a black and white issue. Rather most recreation occurs in the gray area between absolute standards, making application of such a standard arbitrary at best. Suitability boundaries are also based on the position that all wildlife habitat is unsuitable for motorized usage. This black and white suitability standard conflicts with numerous US Fish and Wildlife decisions that find endangered species habitat areas are suitable for motorized usage with the implementation of minimal restrictions. This decision also fails to address the recent Wolverine listing decision that found there should be no change in forest management in wolverine habitat and that Sage Grouse listing decisions have repeatedly determined that recreational usage of habitat areas is not an issue. In yet another troubling lack of analysis, the RMP repeatedly asserts that no trails would be closed due the RMP and all review will be done later as part of site specific review. At other points the plan states it will close 25 miles of trail. This is a problem by itself, which is compounded by the fact that no information or analysis is provided regarding where these trails are or why they are being closed. 2. Tres Rios BLM field office plan has been appealed. The Organizations recently submitted an administrative appeal see ‘vice president’ PAGE 6------------------>
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<---------------- ‘Vice president’ from page 5 of the Tres Rios(“TR”) Field Plan Resource Plan and are optimistic about reversing this decision. The appeal centered around the tragic undervaluation of recreation in the RMP. Often TR conclusions on user group spending were 10-15% of the conclusions identified in the research that was asserted to be the sole basis of the conclusions. Developed campers are asserted to spend $46.11 while the research indicates developed campers spend ranges from $217 to $300 per day. Winter motorized users were particularly hard hit in this erroneous analysis as cross country skiers and downhill skiers spend $208 per day while snowmobilers only $127 per day. These conclusions are asserted to be based on USFS work that concludes downhill skiers and snowmobilers spend similar amounts and cross country skiers spend 40% less than those amounts. It is simply impossible to reconcile these types of conflicting conclusions. In addition to undervaluing recreation, current management of numerous areas, including the Molas Pass Area were not accurately reflected in the RMP. While the Molas Pass area has never been closed to motorized usage, the RMP asserts it is currently closed and all alternatives assert the area is to remain closed. Hard to argue there is a hard look at a closure when the closure is not reflected. 3. Winter Wildlands Litigation This issue involves litigation in Idaho brought by the Winter Wildlands Alliance attempts to mandate winter travel management for all national forests, limit open riding areas and to invalidate the winter provisions of the travel management rule. Previous decisions from the Forest Service had ruled in favor of motorized users on this issue. WWA appealed the Forest Service decision to Federal Court in Idaho. The trial court ruled in favor of WWA and required winter travel management for all forests and invalidated the winter portions of the travel management rule. This decision is being appealed by the Idaho Snowmobile Association and its partners as the trial court decision is lacking factual and legal basis. CSA has been actively involved in administrative appeals prior to the Federal Court proceedings. As this litigation was brought in Idaho, CSA has partnered with the ISA to facilitate the defense of this matter. This partnership has resulted in several large donations being made by CSA to the Idaho legal defense fund and any resources necessary being available to our Idaho partners. CSA is also aware of similar litigation in California regarding winter travel management and notes
w w w. s n o w m o b i l e c o l o . c o m the parallels between the WWA litigation and the litigation in Colorado regarding MVUM route designations. These are not isolated issues. 4. Bear Creek Trail This lawsuit was served on the Forest Service and Colorado Springs utilities by the Center for Biological Diversity and others regarding exclusion of trails in the vicinity of cutthroat trout habitat. This suit sought a blanket exclusion of trails from areas adjacent to streams with cutthroat trout. COHVCO and TPA have intervened and making sure the best resolution for motorized recreation is obtained. Terms of settlement have been reached that would permit new trails to be created in the area and close the habitat area to all threats. TPA and COHVCO are working to insure the closures are applied per the terms of the agreement with the submission of a notice of intent to sue if the terms of the settlement agreement are not complied with. 5. Pike /San Isabel MVUM challenge The first suit was filed on January 31, 2011 by anti-access plaintiffs including The Wilderness Society, Quiet Use Coalition, Wildlands CPR, and Center for Native Ecosystems and Great Old Broads for Wilderness regarding the Pike and San Isabel Forests. COHVCO and TPA intervened with the Forest Service to defend this lawsuit, which could impact every MVUM that has grandfathered existing routes. These defense expenses are being born solely by Colorado OHV advocacy groups. This case seeks to remove any trails that predated NEPA and were grandfathered in the creation of PSI MVUMs. The exact impact of this suit is yet to be clarified but this suit could impact trails such as the Blanca Peak 4wd trail. This case is currently moving forward in the discovery phase of litigation. 6. Rico/West DeLores A second suit involving grandfathered routes on an MVUM was filed regarding the Rico West Dolores/alpine triangle area of the San Juan Forest brought by Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers seeking closure of 14 trails which have a long history of motorized travel. COHVCO, TPA, Blue Ribbon Coalition, the San Juan Trail Riders and the Public Access Preservation Association have intervened to defend this matter with the Forest Service. The complaint was dismissed by the trial court and access was maintained. The trial court’s decision has been appealed. RECREATIONAL USAGE ISSUES AND CONCERNS 1. Sage Grouse Habitat/Planning- Updated COHVCO is involved in numerous Grouse planning initiatives with Federal, State and local agencies. The Greater Sage grouse plan
proposal is currently out for comment. There are several areas of concern that we have since the plan is based on an endangered species that no longer exists, models larger tracts of lands as habitat areas that have not been occupied for a long time, caps road construction and tries to manage under absolute limitation for soil disturbance that will not work in areas where there are large tracts of private lands. Extensive comments were submitted on the proposed Resource Management Plan changes that were proposed by the BLM. Since the close of the comment period, an extension of time has been granted for CPW to submit a Colorado alternative. COHVCO and its partners have been voicing our concerns and working with CPW to develop management that insures the Grouse is not listed and recreational opportunities are maintained. 2. Grand Junction BLM Resource Plan The Grand Junction BLM office released a draft resource plan that proposed to close over 2,000 miles (60-70%) of routes in the office. The Organizations submitted extensive comments, participated in numerous meetings with BLM managers and federal, state and local government officials to highlight the numerous critical flaws that are present in the plan. These flaws included a complete failure to accurately address economic impacts of trail usage, which BLM placed at 10-15% of the total value, employment and daily spending amounts determined in research from Federal, State and user group analysis. The plan also proposed a massive expansion of closures for cultural sites in violation of federal law and sought to automatically close any sites located in the future. Currently there are 50 sites on the National register of historic places in the planning area, the plan proposed to add almost 1,900 sites to the list. The Organizations do not believe these sites are suitable for inclusion on the national register, which is a defining criteria for closures of cultural areas. The RMP also sought to close all Wilderness study areas to motorized access despite a long history of usage of the areas and a complete lack of NEPA analysis of the proposed changes. The RMP also failed to explain how management standards of ACEC areas would relate to the management concerns in the area. This resulted in closures of these areas to motorized access despite the management issue simply having no relationship to motorized usage. 3. Domingez-Escalante National Conservation Area (“DENCA”) Plan Proposal closes 272 miles (50%) of routes in the preferred alterna-
tive. The Organizations submitted extensive comments objecting to many phases of the plan. Again there is a complete failure of economic analysis as the plan asserts that the average recreational user spends $16 per day. the RMP fails to address that Sage Grouse planning addressing recreational usage of the same area estimates the average recreational spend to be in the high $40 range per day and USFS data indicates $63. Hard to balance uses when the review is that incorrect. The Organizations also opposed the fact that over 85% of the planning area would be seasonally closed for wildlife issues despite analysis that concludes the population is at or above targets for the area and current management is effective at mitigating impacts while maintaining access. Habitat areas many other species are proposed to be managed to prohibit motorized access despite best available science specifically concluding motorized usage is not a threat to the species. 4. BLM management of agency inventoried Wilderness Study Areas BLM has issued new manual regarding the management of agency inventoried Wilderness Study areas, which was created without public comment or NEPA review and is being interpreted in a manner that requires exclusion of motorized usage from these areas, even when there is a long history of motorized usage. COHVCO is vigorously opposed to this interpretation and has obtained draft legislation for the release of the Molas Pass area in the Tres Rios Field Office and is working on the release of the North Sand Hills area on the Kremmling Field Office. This manual also impacted many management decisions in the Grand Junction Plan. 5. CPW Path Forward step of the merger of Colorado Parks and Div of Wildlife - NEW COHVCO was concerned that recreational usage and activity, and more specifically the trails program, was not sufficiently addressed in the next step of the merger of Colorado Parks and the Division of Wildlife required under Colorado Law. COHVCO is optimistic that these issues can be resolved as we have had positive responses to our initial concerns. 6. Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal. The Hidden Gems Campaign has now morphed to a new phase as Senator Udall is exploring Wilderness designations. The most recent version of Hidden Gems is seeking to designate 235,000 acres for prime recreational lands as Wilderness. Senator Udall is looking for public input regarding the proposal- especially the Pitkin county portions. His office is looking at a range of options see ‘vice president’ PAGE 7------------------>
w w w. s n o w m o b i l e c o l o . c o m <---------------- ‘Vice president’ from page 6 and is seeking input from all users. Please contact his office to voice your concerns Our basic concerns are the negative economic impacts from the proposed closures and the harmful impacts to forest health. The harmful forest health impacts of Wilderness were specifically noted in a Forest Service report to the Senators office recently. Representative Tipton has actively addressed basic forest health concerns in a series of House hearings throughout the country that specifically seek information on the negative impacts of Wilderness on forest health. Many of these same concerns were also voiced in Senate hearings in Colorado Springs with Senator Udall. COHVCO hopes this new information provides a strong basis for opposing these Wilderness proposals. 7. San Juan Wilderness. While the recreational impacts of the San Juan Wilderness proposal are somewhat limited, COHVCO is very concerned about the forest health impacts of the proposal. People do not want to recreate in a forest that is dead, which will significantly impact the economic benefits from recreational usage of adjacent areas. We believe every possible step should be taken to avoid this situation and designation of these areas as Wilderness does not assist in resolving forest health concerns. 8. OHV permits on plated vehicles. Refer to State Parks website for details at www.parks.state.co.us/OHVsandSnowmobiles/OHVProgram/OHVRegistrations/Pages/O HVRegistrations.aspx
9. OHV registration number size increase. Various environmental groups have pushed a proposal to increase the size of all registration numbers on all OHVs to the size of a car license plate based on alleged law enforcement concerns. This proposal is being vigorously opposed by COHVCO as it will not work on the ground and is not supported by any research. This proposal is also opposed by the state and federal agencies due to concerns about costs and effectiveness. 10. EPA proposal to increase ethanol in gasoline. The EPA is attempting to increase minimum ethanol levels in all motor fuels from the current 10% amount to a 15% maximum. While this seems like a minimal change, EPA testing indicates that small engines not designed for E15 fail almost immediately when it is used as a motor fuel. In addition to the failure of the motor, damage that results from E15 being used is not covered by manufacturers’ warranties. The motorized community is vigorously opposed to this change and we encourage you to contact your elected officials to voice your opposition as well.
I refuse to use the terminology “global warming” or even “climate change” to describe our weather pattern in the last couple of years but I will certainly admit that there is a significant disruption in our normal weather lately!!! After a perfectly beautiful series of early snowstorms in late 2013, December and January were pretty dry and disheartening. The good news, we are finally getting some decent storms again but they are followed by warm weather to turn everything at our elevation and lower into a muddy soup within 24 hours. But I have decided moisture is moisture so I am trying to be very tolerant of the muddy footprints (human and dog) that litter my kitchen floor!!! This article is going to be a quick update on some ongoing efforts on the part of CSA as it pertains to Land Access. We anticipate some major processes beginning in the next several months and we want you all to be aware of them and watchful on alerts and news stories that we will share with you. The most exciting event coming up is a hearing has been scheduled in a House Natural Resource Sub-Committee to hear testimony on the Hermosa Watershed Protection Act. This pending legislation includes the release of the Wilderness Study Area that encompasses the Molas Pass area between Durango and Silverton. Currently the area is slated for closure to winter motorized recreation after this snow season by the BLM. This legislation will release the area from a Wilderness Study Area designation and allow it to be managed for multiple use. Scoot Jones, CSA Vice President, will be offering testimony at the hearing. The Act also designates some 70,000 acres as a legislative designated Special Management Area that will ultimately write in summer motorized trails and pursuant activity into being thus protecting the trails for motorized activity from further efforts to prohibit this kind of activities.
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There is a Wilderness component to the Act, but is for an area that probably is one of the last vestiges of true Wilderness in Colorado. Keep your fingers crossed!! We have been notified that the Rio Grande National Forest is anticipating scoping to be issued for a Forest Revision later this summer. One of the aspects of the revision will be winter travel management on the Rio Grande (situated in South Central Colorado). As one of the first forests attempting planning under the new Forest Planning Rule, we stand to learn a lot from this process. We have started preliminary work to be on the ground floor of this process and will be notifying our members when their efforts will be appreciated as well as keeping everyone in the loop as we proceed. This brings us to the issue of Winter Travel Management as a whole. The new Planning Rule will ultimately force forests across the country to deal with “change in and/or changing conditions” on their forests. This will include travel management in general, and in many areas, winter travel management specifically. Colorado has a leg up on many states because we have already completed a winter travel management planning on the White River but we don’t know what, if anything, might be different moving ahead. CSA is attempting to meet with the Director of Heritage, Recreation and Volunteer Service in Washington, DC when we are at the annual DC Fly-In in April. Our main reason for the meeting is to delve into what to expect and what our role as winter motorized recreationists can be going forward. Please stay tuned to email blasts and news items on the website, www.snowmobilecolo.com, for further information and what you can do individually and as clubs to positively affect this process. I wish you all a safe and fun summer – see you next September. Ride Safe!
CSA Land Use
Janelle Kukuk
To my knowledge we have had good snow and thus good riding across the state this season. As a result of the snow and a little help from the wind we also have high avalanche conditions. With that said I am in hopes that a lot of our clubs have been having their own avalanche classes as I have not gotten response that they
wanted to have Parks and Wildlife do classes. I would like to have the clubs that have hosted a classes let me know about their class and how many attended. I would like to keep a record of attendance for safety classes. We have already had more avalanches than usual in the state this year so as we get into our spring riding we need
Safety
Ralph Stewart
to be very aware that conditions can change rapidly. Not only day to day but hour to hour. So as we are out on the trails the res of the season we need to use more caution than normal and fall back on our training. Our lives could depend on thinking before going. Above all we need to do all that is possible to avoid any more avalanche deaths. Have fun and be careful out there on the trails. Enjoy the rest of the season as spring and summer take over from winter. See you on the trails, have a great summer.
Hidden Probe Contest Hidden somewhere in each printed edition of the SnowScoop is a smaller version of the pictured probe. Each reader who locates the hidden probe, should send the page number and approximate location (example; page 6 on top of Yamaha ad), to contest@snowmobilecolo.com or mail to CSA Admin Manager, 325 River Rock Dr, Johnstown CO 80534. A winner of an avalanche probe will be drawn for each edition from entries correctly identifying the location of the hidden probe. Drawings will be held the last day of October, December, February and March. From all correct entries during the season, a grand prize winner will be drawn at the end of April. The grand prize winner will receive a BCA Avalanche Beacon. This contest is sponsored by the Colorado Snowmobile Association. Prizes provided by San Juan Sports of Creede CO.
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District 1
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Every month, it seems like the deadline for the SnowScoop articles sneaks up on me, and this month is no different. District One has been busier than ever! Between ISC planning, poker runs, teaching avalanche awareness, and riding, a month flies pretty quickly! The Snow Snakes had another successful poker run this previous weekend (March 1), and by the sounds of things, they’ve submitted their own article that details the success! Included were 125 riders, some Wounded Warriors, a great time, and great company. This is an annual event, and is a must-attend. The Blizzards have been busy, as well. In the last month, the club has ridden quite a diverse set of areas. First, they rode Crested Butte (Kebler Pass) during the CSA Convention. Mish quips that everyone wishes they would have stayed to ride Sunday instead of watching the Super Bowl. Then, the weekend after the ‘epic’ snow, they rode Rabbit Ears Pass, just after it had finally re-opened. The snow was truly unreal, and everyone was well worn out. Then, the majority of the Blizzards trekked to Pinedale for President’s Day Weekend. Twenty riders, in total, split into two groups, and literally broke trail all weekend, despite changing conditions and a vast array of visibility challenges. Finally, the Blizzards, being the supportive folks they are, lent a hand to the Snow Snakes during their annual poker run. Tyler’s Backcountry Awareness has had an endless lineup of clinics and training. When I asked for a report, Brian humorously replied with all of the things he’s accomplished in the last month, and ended with ‘No Free-Riding’, meaning he’s been so busy, he hasn’t had the time to take a day for himself! TBA has been working with Mike, whom a lot of you know as Mule from the SnoWest Forums (and others), and have created a very unique Beacon Park that includes about a dozen hard cases that have a beacon-like function (sending only). These units are controlled by a laptop in the TBA trailer and are used to trigger different boxes at different times. The park is actually really fun, and a great way to test out your searching techniques! TBAs upcoming schedule includes: · Wolf Creek, CO with Matt Entz (Mountain Skillz) – March 14-16 · Snowy Range, WY – March 17-18 · Jackson Hole, WY RMSHA Championship – March 19-23 · Silverton, CO – March 29-30 · Crested Butte, CO Ultimate Snowmobiler – April 10-13 Finally, as many of you heard (at the CSA Convention) the “ULTIMATE SNOWMOBILER” race is coming to Crested Butte April 10th through the 14th. It features a multi-event points championship, where the world’s “Best” backcountry snowmobiler will be crowned. It’s the event of the year! Crested Butte Mountain Resorts has some really special rates, starting around 79$ a night for a room. I’ve also challenged the other districts to a ‘King of CSA’ (or queen), where we will crown the best rider from one district and have a travelling trophy that Randy’s going to pick out. It should be really exciting, and let me say it now…District One has that trophy locked down.
Steven Marlenee
District 3
Dennis Lynton
North Park Snow Snakes
Debby Miller
The North Park Snow Snakes held their annual Poker Run Sat., March 1. It was a great success. We had 125 riders ranging in age from 4 to 80. We sold 507 Poker Hands. We gave away $1,000 in prize money to 6 lucky winners. We give out prizes to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in both High hand and Low hand categories. Getting to Gould proved to be especially hard for several riders and several accidents were reported but the dedicated groups continued on their way – with a few stories to tell. Thankfully, no humans were hurt in the adventures. Included in our 125 riders were 13 Wounded Warriors and spouses from Fort Carson. They were so excited to have this experience. It was great to see their faces and excitement as they headed off down the trail. We appreciate their service to our country and freedom. Many people helped make this happen. It is so rewarding to be part of this endeavor. Jimmy and Chelsea lead the group down the trail and thankfully came back with the same number of riders that they left with. We had enough sleds for them all – however, one sled didn’t make it back – but had to be rescued later. The weather was warm; the trails were groomed to perfection – special thanks to Sonny Baugh and Jim McDaniel. You are the best. We heard from many first time snowmobiler riders. The ones I talked to were ready and excited for their next ride. Several needed to wait until their legs stopped shaking. But all loved the ride and being in the beautiful country side. Last year we supported 6 non-profit organizations with the proceeds from our Poker Run. All of these organizations are essential to snowmobiling with two of these organizations dedicated to maintain our Right to Ride on public lands. At our meeting on Wednesday, March 5; we will decide who to support this year with our proceeds. A special thanks to ALL the volunteers who help makes this happen year after year. You are greatly appreciated. Thank you also to the dealers and businesses that continue to support us year after year. We had some great door prizes to give out this year – thanks to their support. Thanks also to the group of Colorado Blizzards who are always around to help anywhere they see a need. You guys are special.
We are now into the home stretch of the sledding season. No broken bones, no damages to the sleds, no tow bills and no lost riders that I know of. Looking back at the rides this year has been a blessing in so many ways. I have done some fantastic riding with great friends; old ones and new ones and most importantly with my wife Sheri. Change is good and it came with a new sled for Sheri. She now rides a Ski Doo 800R “X” with electric start. She wanted lighter and easier to maneuver and see got it with the new Doo. It is clear to me that from day one she has bonded with “Lucy Lou” Lucy floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. My message here is get the right sled for the rider it will make the sport even more enjoyable. Now for my Nytro ’09 MTX, don’t worry I am not leaving team Yamaha for a long time. This year I have transformed the sled into a fun-riding machine. With a few modifications it is faster, lighter, easier to steer and outright fun to ride. Too bad Yamaha did not just sell the sled this way to start with. Maybe they need a product manager to help them with the product line up. Many of the modifications were easy and not expensive to do, in fact one was free and made one of the most positive changes to the handling of the sled. I owe a great deal of gratitude to a snowmobile forum for Yamaha’s called “Totally Yamaha”. These folks are so helpful with technical questions and tip’s for all makes of the Yamaha products. I have projects planned well into the summer, watch out friends I might need some help. Get out and get some fun rides in before we all switch out of sledding and into gardening, ATVs, boats, camping and home projects. Be safe and thanks for supporting your sport by backing CSA.
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Debbie Mason
Trail Blazers
The 2014 Poker Run to benefit Flight for Life Colorado was a great success. We moved it a week earlier to work around other events in Grand Lake. The weather was very snowy and windy. A short section of the route had to be changed because the drifts were impassable over Gravel Mountain. With 159 riders and a good selection of items at the Silent Auctions we took in over $8,000 before expenses. Top prize went to Jamie Schlienz with 4 of a kind (8s), second prize to Mark Chuck with a full house (kings over queens) and third prize to Bret Rice with a full house (10s over 8s). Thank you Toni Boettcher, Mile Hi Snowmobile Club, Trail Blazers, volunteers, and participants for making this annual event a success! The following Saturday was the Moonlight Ride. David Zimmerman brought the chuck wagon into Hatchet Park after overcoming several sled problems and served us Brats, Chili, and Kraut. The moon even showed up for the first time in many years! Cam was there with the groomer to give rides and demonstrate how the groomer works. The campfire was appreciated by all. Trees and Trails was our last scheduled ride of the season. We rode
And before you know it right in front of your very eyes there it is…spring…Is it just me or did those months fly by too quickly. The good news is that we have been getting a few more flakes in between the odd 50 degree weather shadowed by rain and sleet thunderstorms. There is still some good snow up there in the mountains but the warm temperatures compounded with the cloudy skies the visibility is low and flat and the hazardous objects are peaking out ever so slightly. So keep sharp watchful eyes and be careful out there. On another note I want to send out a great big note of Gratitude to everyone who join us at our annual fundraiser. We had a great turnout and a fun time was had by all. The venue, food and service were fantastic thanks to Skip and the Pour House in Carbondale crew. Our donations Rifle Truck and Trailer, Shaggy Dog, Heidi’s
Brooklyn Deli, White Knuckle Garage, Sunlight Snowmobile Tours, Electric Mountain Lodge, Alpine Bank, Berthod Motors, Dee Dee Fisher, Intermountain Distributing, Grand Ave Sweets, KTM of Aspen, Ace Hardware, City Market of Carbondale, R&A Electric, A Sanctuary Spa, Western Petroleum, RPM Rifle, Professional AutoBody, Factory Ourtdoors, Roaring Fork COOP, GJ Pipe, KMTS Radio. Not to forget – Our Amazing Table Sponsors – Valley Collision, Daly Property Management, Electrical Outfitters, Alpine Bank and One more set of thanks to those who helped put this fundraiser together – Gene and Stephanie Shilling, Eric Rudd, Sean Martin, Dave Stoltzus – 50/50 Band, and Amy Worline-Skinner who as a guest ended up helping decorate tables!! Thank you everyone!!! I hope I didn’t leave
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the Bull Mountain Trail, Lower Gilsonite Trail, Rob Roy Park (formerly known as Brown Bag Meadow to our club), and made our way into Odie Owl Meadow. After lunch we split up into smaller groups. Some had to leave early and one sled needed to be towed in with engine problems. We had a good ride and appreciate all who showed up! Our published ride schedule is finished, but there is still plenty of snow in Grand Lake. Even in town, despite warm afternoons, there are huge piles of snow, over 2 feet of snow on the ground and lots more out on the trails. Come on up and ride!
District 4
Mt. Sopris Rec Riders Jo Hunter
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anyone out If I did I apologize!!! We have had a lot of big changes this season – and more to work on in the summer. Our goal is to work on a parking lot – location and place for the shack. You have ideas email us – or come to our meetings. We need more that the handful that shows up to help solve this issue so please think about it and lend us some fresh ears and eyes. Together we can make it all work. For more information about protecting our public lands go to: www.whiteriverforestalliance.com and for any information about our club and any of our events check our website, www.mtsoprisrecriders. com you can also catch up with us on Facebook - or email Eric Rudd , Club President at eric@ruddconstruction.com
As always be safe, be smart and Respect * Protect * Enjoy!
Pikes Peak High Riders
Mark Young
Well it’s hard to believe that the season is coming to an end. By the time everyone is reading this it will be mid March. After the first couple of rides this year in late December and early January there was some concern that this winter was not going to be a good one but then the prayers for snow were answered. I think we all know that the snow came in large amounts and was just in time to make this year great. The club went to the Snowy Range for a weekend in January. We had seven riders for the weekend. PPHR member Kurt Frilow was the guide and except for one missed turn and a bent trailing arm it was a good ride. Next was the CSA meeting in Crested Butte. The club was well represented at the meeting. PPHR member Tim Schulte was again a winner for some of the drawings. We still give him a hard time for winning the CSA Arctic Cat drawing two years ago but I don’t think he cares. Everyone who rode said the snow was epic. PPHR members Al Born and Bob Davis had an unexpected overnight stay at Taylor Park. They got stranded there after an avalanche shut see ‘High Riders’ PAGE 10------------------>
Photo by michael caglo, the gazette
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District 7 Lucia Lebon
Greetings from District 7, My thanks go out to the Gunnison Snotrackers for successfully hosting this year’s CSA annual convention. Because the biggest snow storm of the season hit on the day of the ride that was sponsored by the Arrowhead Club, they only had 10 participants show up out of the 37 that registered. The ride was cut short due to low visibility. I heard Saturday’s ride at Kebler Pass was “epic”! I liked to thank all of the District 7 Clubs for their hard work and dedication to their trail systems and sponsored Club activities. Sounds like everyone had a successful year! Enjoy the rest of the season and be safe! Until next season, Lucia Lebon District 7 Rep
down the trail between Taylor Park and Almont. The folks at Taylor Park took them in. Thanks to all that helped. The next ride was Chama, NM. We had seven riders Friday and nine on Saturday. Again Kurt was the guide and we sure needed his expertise. It snowed the whole weekend with thick ground fog on Sunday. Again the snow was epic. Several feet of new snow on top of a layer of harder snow. We found out that if you fell through that layer you were stuck. However it was worth it as you don’t get many rides like that. While we were riding in Chama the local US Olympic Committee held a Sochi Olympic Celebration in downtown Colorado Springs on Feb. 7. They closed off the roads and had a large TV screen set up to watch the opening games. PPHR President Ray Doble and his wife Mary Doble as well as PPHR member Les Chapel set up a table with information on CSA and PPHR. They passed out CSA literature and answered a lot of questions about snowmobiling, the Colorado clubs, and where to ride. The booth was next to a display of vintage sleds which was quite the attraction. Of course the highlight of the night was the two X-Games riders who did jumps and tricks for the crowds. The Olympic committee estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people attended the event. It was a good showing for CSA and the club. At the next meeting we had five new riders stop by to see what riding is Colorado has to offer. That is it for this year’s Snow Scoop. With all the snow there is still good riding so until next season have a great year.
Arrowhead Snowmobile Club
Lucia Lebon
Wow, what a busy past two months our club has had! In January, our Club hosted a GPS class and field exercise presented by our Fire District’s Fire Chief, Kevin Stilley. All participants found it very informative and helpful. Congratulations to Rich Krohn who was the first to locate his hidden treasure using his GPS. Thank you Kevin for helping us be better prepared for any search and rescue on the mountain. We hosted two moonlight rides with Mother Nature’s cooperation. The weather was also perfect for our group ride and bonfire at Willow Park. We were very proud to receive a good report card from all three State Agencies that rode our trail system with us on February 25th. This spring we will continue working with BLM’s Jim Lovelace on some trail improvements that were approved last year but not completed. And we look forward to working with Greg Austin from the Forest Service to move our “alternate trail” along the Alpine Plateau Rd in anticipation of logging next season near our trail system. Although we didn’t reach our membership goal of 100 members, to date we have 84, we will still be holding a drawing to give Rich Krohn, winner of our GPS field exercise away a $500 Shell gas card to a lucky member in April. Thank you, Gary and Lori Dean for your generous donation. Our last group ride will take us to Electric Mountain Lodge and the Grand Mesa the weekend of March 14. It’s not too late to join us for some great snowmobiling. A big thank you to our groomers; Ron Corder, Mike Bartlett, Toby Ezell and Gary Broughton, for keeping our trails groomed and safe. We couldn’t do it without you! The bad news is that this season we’ve had several costly repairs and I’ve just heard that it looks like our starter motor is out Thanks to the Grand Junction Prinoth Service Department for being so responsive to our needs. Our next meeting is scheduled for March 8 and our last meeting of the season will be April 12. I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy the end of the season and is looking forward to the rest of the Trail ride with BLM, Forest Service and State Parks and Wildlife year.
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Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club
Margie Patterson
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“Enjoying the Outdoors Where the Fun Never Stops!” The Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club welcomes you! Come join our potluck dinners at 6:30 p.m. with business meetings at 7 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month at the South Fork Community Center. A note of appreciation and gratitude from “La Puente” guests, staff, and volunteers was received for our generous donation of canned goods. Twenty-seven members enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner on Tuesday, February 18. We wrapped up our business meeting with Jack Wilson winning our 50/50 drawing. We extend our gratitude to our president, George Powell and Curt Miller for keeping our trails groomed. We are thankful for their efforts, given that working conditions are not always the best. It does appear we are through grooming for this season due to lack of snow. Our turnout averages about 12 per outing. Our last trips have been to Elwood Pass. At about 12,000 altitudes, the views at Elwood are spectacular in the back country mountains near South Fork. We had a fantastic day riding Thursday, February 13. Steve and Linda Cross like to race, whereas Jim Patterson loves adventure. Congratulations to Jim on his new Arctic Cat. With long tracks and wide lugs, he will be able to get anywhere his daring soul leads him. Those of us that stick to the trails wish these guys to be safe. We all meet at the cabin at noon for lunch. The cabin in Elwood Pass can be rented throughout the year for $50 per night. Some of us are thinking about renting it for one night this season. For more information on Elwood Cabin: recreation.gov/camping/Elwood_Cabin/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=75106 Our snow trails are so great, we run into folks from all over the country! Saturday, February 15 at Elwood was sunny and warm with awesome snow conditions which made for easy riding anywhere you went. Eleven of us had a great day on the machines playing among the high mountains. Scott Bahr is always excited when it comes to snowmobiling. We messed about while Scott practiced his head stand on the snow; we climbed hills, and dug out a machine or two. The low oxygen at high altitudes makes it a bit of a job and takes a few guys to dig them out. Conditions coming back to Park Creek Parking Lot were slushy and muddy. More rides are planned for this coming week. Ken Krahn has recovered from his knee surgery, so we’re glad to have him back. Kim Krahn got a whip lash due to a fall on the ice while snowshoeing. We will miss riding with her. Big thanks to Sigrid Baugh for her photo contributions. We’ve had a great season riding with Lloyd Thiesfeld, Darrel Gillespie, Rod Odem, Kent Miller, Roland Schwery, Dwayne and Edna Powers, and many others. Come join the fun before the season ends!
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Forest Service cabin Big Cimarron.
Lunch break on Forest Service ride.
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Uncompahgre Valley Trail Riders
Rich Jakino
Well, here we are in March already and spring is just around the corner. Our Club had a good winter with a lot of activity in February. Our grooming was going full blast in February with all of the snow coming in one week, then it came down to just keeping the snow we had groomed and the trails maintained. I am hoping for some good snow fall in March and more cold weather to keep the snow we have. All of our trails are groomed and in excellent condition at the time of this article. Three members of our Club attended the CSA winter meeting in Gunnison and Crested Butte and
the Gunnison County Sno Trackers did an excellent job of putting on the convention. The snow, meals and rides were all the best ever!! Our Club received almost $900.00 from the CSA Snowmobile Raffle which we are going to donate to local charities. At our February meeting we voted to give $300 to Welcome Home Montrose who work with Vets here in Montrose. More to come at our March meeting. In February our Club hosted a trail ride on Owl Creek to showcase our grooming program up there. We had Tammy Randal Parker, Ouray Dist. Ranger, Bob McKeever, Norwood Dist. Ranger, Ryan Crabb, Colorado State Parks Trail Coordinator SW region, Kenny Webel and Chelsea Murray, Colorado State Parks Ridgway, Doug Marah, Forest Service Delta, Glen Pauls, PAPA Telluride, Jeff Wilkes, Motorcycle Trail Riders Association Montrose Chapter. Plus, Bill and Arlene Hawley, Mark Hollingshead, Ron Sanchez and I all U.V.T.R club members. Bob McKeever gave us a tour of the Forest Service Ranger Cabin on the Big Cimarron that has been renovated to rent out to the public. It is very nice and the rates are very reasonable, $40 per night in the winter, and $65 a night in the summer. Everyone should keep this in mind for a fun weekend getaway in the sun or snow! Our Club will continue to hold club rides (one per week) until the end of March. After that it will be dependent on the weather. With the snowmobile season coming to an end our Club is getting ready
Our PB100 groomer with groomer operator Dale Gilden (tan jacket) and Forest Service personnel. for a busy summer. We are putting together our summer ride schedule and our trail maintenance program. We maintain about 50 miles of ATV trails on Owl Creek and the Uncompahgre Plateau. It has been a very good winter so far for the club and now we are looking forward to a good amount of summer programs. Also, we are all looking forward to another good winter next year to have fun in the snow!! KEEP THINKING SNOW FOR THE REST OF THIS WINTER!!!!
Westend Sledders
David Falk
More SNOW, after driving to Gunnison in a white-out and having to chain up the pickup, the 63 mile trip from Montrose took 2 and ½ hours. Gunnison County Snowtrackers put on a great convention, with more snow than you know what to do with and some of the best food there was. Great job Snowtrackers. Getting home from Gunnison was no problem then working on the Westend Sledders Poker Run was a challenge for us with little snow down low and the question of parking and getting to the snow but all worked out well. We had 58 riders and sold 114 hands. Lots of door prizes from a snowmobile coat to t-shirts and hats. We had riders from Chicago to Moab, on the 45 mile trail that keep everyone out of the avalanche areas, if you wanted to go looking they are out there. We had 2 people from the local Forest Service office and one from State Parks that rode and gave us great reviews on the trails and grooming that our club does. The club made some money and everyone had a good time. Our snow down low is gone with some mud to deal with on the trail but up high you can ride any where you are brave enough to go. Come ride with us and explore our trails.
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Sherry Robley Cotton
North Fork Snowmobile Club
I can’t believe this is the last issue for the 2013/2014 season. Colorado finally started getting some great snow storms since the last week of January and it continues to pile up in all the mountain ranges. Dave and I snowmobiled on Black Mesa on February 15 and the amount of snow up there was almost overwhelming. The snow has settled since the report I received the previous week of 8 feet at the Baldy Mountain marker but there was still 7.5 feet showing at the marker. We have received additional snow storms since then so it is most likely back up to 8 feet or hopefully more. The down side to all this new heavy snow accumulation on top of a not so good bottom has led to a great number of avalanches resulting in several deaths in the state. I hope everyone is getting their avalanche report before heading out for the day and that you are wearing a beacon and have a probe and shovel. Of course all the equipment in the world won’t help you if you don’t know how to use it. Also, the best prevention is to know your snow conditions and avoid areas that are avalanche prone. I am very proud and grateful that our club has been making avalanche awareness classes/training available to our community for several years and to all the individuals that donate their time to making this possible. The North Fork Club’s Annual Avalanche Awareness Class was held on January 3 and 4. Seventeen snowmobilers, two snowshoers and one skier attended the class Friday night at the Creekside Café in Cedaredge. The meeting started off with a chili supper followed by a three hour presentation by Randy Engle of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife complete with video and slide show on the dangers associated with heavy snowstorms and the days immediately following. The class learned how to recognize and avoid dangerous terrain, how to look for signs of instability, and how to test the snowpack. With a little practical knowledge and these simple skills the winter sport enthusiast can still travel safely and snowmobilers can ride to their hearts content. Randy stressed being aware of the constantly changing snow conditions throughout the day, the terrain and avoiding terrain traps. It always makes for a better day when a person is prepared with the right equipment and knowledge should something go wrong. A question and answer session
followed Randy’s presentation and a discussion of Saturday’s agenda. The evening ended with the drawing of door prizes. Rob Beck of Montrose and Steve Foster of Cedaredge won BCA Stealth avalanche probes. Cassandra Kelton of Cedaredge and Debbie Fandrich of Montrose won a BCA B52 avalanche shovel. This is the same Debbie Fandrich that won
a BCA Tracker avalanche beacon at last year’s avalanche class. It pays to take a refresher course. The group met Saturday morning at the Mesa Top parking lot. Fourteen of the twenty attendees braved the cold to learn about avalanche rescue and to practice searches. Those people that did not have their own equipment were outfitted with
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beacons, shovels and probes. The first activity of the day was beacon instruction and practice in the parking lot before moving out into the snow. On the snow, the group practiced beacon see ‘north fork’ PAGE 14------------------>
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searches and probing to find the buried stuff bags. This practice was made more aggravating because the group had to work around trees and stumps. The group didn’t have to dig too deep as the snow was only waist high. After recovery of all the stuff bags, the group moved to some hardened snow left by <---------------- ‘north fork’ from page 13
J.T. Hotchkiss on one of his competition snow climbs.
the snow cat which simulated the consistency found in avalanche rubble to practice shoveling. The class had to probe for a volunteer who had crawled into a cave previously dug from the back side. They then had to dig through the hardened snow to get him out. They were taught to go down slope one and a half times burial depth from their probe to start digging and if there are multiple rescuers, to change out shovelers and moving snow. Snow should only be moved once if possible and a platform made to perform CPR and to stabilize the victim if recovered in time. The group learned that digging is the hardest part and smart shoveling is critical to saving a person’s life. The on-the–snow activities finished at noon with a drawing for a BCA Tracker 2 avalanche beacon which was won by Steve Foster, our District 8 Representative. Colorado leads the nation in avalanche fatalities by almost double! Today’s mountain machines are strong enough to take us into avalanche prone slopes that in the past were largely inaccessible to snowmobilers until the powder had a chance to settle and
stabilize. We have seen our number of fatalities decrease the last three seasons due in part to more and more snowmobilers taking avalanche awareness courses and having the proper equipment. You can check the Colorado Avalanche Forecast by going to avalanche.state.co.us. Our club members are sincerely grateful for the continued support of Back Country Access over the years, to Randy Engle of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife for giving these classes every year and to Joe Oglesby, our club Avalanche Awareness Chairman for all his time and efforts in bringing these classes to our community. We also appreciate and thank Eddie Fresquez, owner of the Creekside Café, for providing the chili dinner and the meeting room for Friday nights’ class. J.T. Hotchkiss has had only one real race so far this season. He placed 3rd in the semi-pro stock class and 4th in Improved Class and 5th in the Mod class. They will be racing in Crested Butte the 12th and 13th of April. J.T. would like to thank this season’s sponsors. They are: Weekender Sports, Durmas Racing, Fxr Racing, 509, Polaris, Dick Hotchkiss and Sons, Hotchkiss Ranches, Elk Basin Outfitters, Lightworks Fiber Consulting, Blown Motor, Electric Mountain Lodge and all his family and friends. The Poker Run was held on February 8. The weather was cloudy see ‘north fork’ PAGE 15------------------>
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w i t h a few snow showers. The week prior to the Poker Run brought lots of new snow to make for awesome riding conditions. Electric Mountain was very helpful in grooming trails and taking care of all the participants. There were 112 participants that purchased 255 hands. The club paid out 50% to the following winners: Buck Soefker won the high hand of $382.50, club member, Linda Wilson the low hand of $318.75, Ron Brown 2nd high hand of $255, Jared Rodebaugh third high hand of $191.25, and club member, John Marta 4th high hand of $127.50. Thanks to Electric Mountain Lodge for donating a door prize for a two night stay which was won by Mark Miller and to Dennis Durmas for donating a Snow Bungee and a Snow Bunjee towing system. Also, thanks to Weekender Sports for again providing a trailer at the trail head for the members selling tickets and all the club members and others who helped make this year’s poker run a huge success. The S&W Adventure Riders brought a group of twenty-nine riders to the valley on February 22nd to ride in our area. The North Fork Snowmobile club provided volunteer guides for the group for the four days of riding. The riders stayed at Black Mesa Lodge Saturday and Sunday nights then traveled to Electric Mountain Lodge to stay Monday and Tuesday nights. Thanks to Wes Spore for organizing the guides as well as guiding, and to the following members for guiding. Ray Penland, Bill Allen and son Shane, Tony and Susie Mautz and their family and friends, J.T. Hotchkiss, Steve Hicks, Joseph Webb and Brice Simpson. The S & W group was grateful for all the assistance provided by our club members in making it a pleasant and successful ride. Joe Oglesby had four private property signs made that he will place at both ends of the private properties that start from the two roads leaving the Crystal Creek trail head. These signs will alert travelers when they are entering or leaving private property. Your courtesy and respect is appreciated when
passing through private properties. Con Hirschfeld and Pat Gallob traveled to Winter Park on February 26 to participate in the “Driving For Blind Kids” program held annually at the Extreme Mobility Camp. During the two day event, volunteers give students snowmobile rides. This years’ event was held on February 27 and 28 with thirty-five eligible blind and visually impaired students in attendance. Our club is extremely proud of Con for volunteering his time and equipment for the past seventeen years to such a wonderful cause and for helping to give these students an experience they will never forget. The club will be preparing their annual Friday night dinner for the Hotchkiss Elks Lodge on April 11. This years’ meal will be a spaghetti dinner. All proceeds of the meal will go to the Elk’s lodge in return for giving us accommodations for our club meetings. Contact Wes Spore for details and to donate food items for the meal at 970-872-2167. Plan on attending and supporting the club. This is the last printed edition of the Snow Scoop for this season. I hope everyone continues to enjoy all the wonderful snowmobiling this state has to offer for the remainder of the season. Weather predictions are that the valley will be getting more of the same due to the storms headed in our direction from California. We were on Black Mesa Saturday, March 1st and the tremendous amount of powdery snow was great. Visibility was not good as it stormed off and on all day but we had fun anyway. If we continue to get snow in the amounts we have been, we could be snowmobiling into May as long as it doesn’t warm up too fast. A long time club member, Larry Knowles, passed away on February 19. He will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to his wife, Robyn, and their family. I hope as you enjoy all the freedoms we have in this country, you remember our young men and women in the military that make these freedoms possible and keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Until next season, happy sledding and be safe.
Wolf Creek Trailblazers
Tim Batchelor Grooming Supt.
Hello everyone, Hard to believe March is already here in Pagosa country. Seems like we were just getting all our snowmobiles and grooming equipment ready for a long riding season and spring is already on our heels. The 2013/2014 winter season on the west side of the divide has not seen its normal snowfall. Very little snow has fallen on the South San Juan’s so far this season so most of the riding has been on all our high elevation trails. Wolf Creek Pass has seen several feet of snow with high volumes of trail and backcountry users this season that required lots of grooming to keep up with the traffic. As I’m writing this article the latest snowfall total just came in from the snowtel site at wolf creek ski area and it is 37 inches. That’s the biggest storm total we have seen this season. We have only had a few club sponsored rides due to the snow conditions but things look a lot better out there as we ease into March. The lower elevation trails also got some snow cover from this storm system and will be groomed over the next 3-4 days. So look at the local trail report to choose the best riding in the Pagosa Springs area. On a good note our new 2013 Pisten Bulley 100 trail groomer has proven itself in high elevation trail maintenance. This machine was the right fit for our club with bigger horsepower and wider tracks to power thru the deep powder we usually see in south west Colorado. I would like to thank all the people involved that made our new purchase possible this season. Remember our monthly meetings are always held the second Thursday of the month at Boss Hogg’s Restaurant on Hwy 160 west of Pagosa Springs. The club usually arrives between 5:30-6 p.m. for dinner and the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. We are always on the hunt for new club members to join our organization so come and see what our club is all about.
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Western Slope Snowskippers
Herbert Else
Sitting here today writing this report I’m a little sad because its sixty degrees outside and feeling like spring. Could it be that snowmobiling is almost over? Well look on the bright side, it has been a great year for riding and supposedly there are three good storms lined up in the Pacific coming to Colo. Well OK, let’s put spring off for a while and enjoy the mountains and meadows of our beautiful state for a few more weeks. Last weekend the Snowskippers of Grand Junction spent two great days at Hans Peak, north of Steamboat Springs. This is a great place to ride with a good variety of terrain. We stayed at Hans Peak Roadhouse and received great accommodations, good food, and good service. Our next outing will be up to the Flattops, departing from the West Elk trailhead on March 8, followed by our Partners kids ride on March 22. Our members have as much fun as these young kids who have never been on a snowmobile. We would like to thank Amber Holt for bringing her Backcountry Basic riding clinic to Vega Resort. Every participant we have talked to enjoyed the class and benefited from her teachings. Now we all just have to keep practicing those techniques. Thank you to Glen Stoll at Vega Lodge for hosting and providing great food. I would like to thank those who assisted me this riding season in grooming Wilson Creek and Cold Sore trails with our Arctic Cat Bearcat and pull behind groomer. This 48” wide unit does a great job on two fairly tough trails. This 1100cc Bearcat is able to pull the groomer uphill so we can groom downhill, and yes we did get it stuck numerous times. My thanks to: Carl Desrosiers, Chris Carnes, Marty Coleman, John Coleman, Quint Shear, Rob Martindale, Todd Mazrin and Dianna Beltz. Please Call Quint Shear for any club questions, 970-216-4925, or visit our website, Snowskippers.com
Silverton Snowmobile Club
Dean des Palmes
Greetings from the high country, Snow? Yeah, we have snow! We had five feet on the stick before last night’s 14 inch powder dump with another two feet expected tomorrow. You want San Juan powder? Come to Silverton and experience the San Juans at their finest! We just had our club fun days with a dress race, obstacle course and barrel race. Yee Haw. We sure have some good riders in our club. The club also headed up our annual snowmobile parade to the Snowscape Bonfire for some good times and our annual club dinner and moonlight ride is coming up soon. Lots of powder is expected as I write this and I am sure our trails will see some increased activity with the new snow. The RMSR races at Molas Lake will be held on the 29th and 30th of March and we hope to see some CSA members there for the fun. Remember to ride safely. Dean
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Roger Pennington
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San Juan Sledders
Hi All, Well, it is not acting much like winter the last week or so and does not look much like winter for at least another week or so. We are only half way through our grooming contract as far as hours are concerned. We had about 66 hours in December, only 37 in January and we are at about 68 hours so far for February. We had this much done in the first half of the month but have not had any grooming since. We were hoping to get 100 to 120 hours this month and that would have left us with 80 to 100 hours to do in March to complete our grooming contract. If we do not get any more snow, I can probably groom over Bolam Pass a couple of time before the snow goes away but that will leave us about 90 to 100 hours short of our contract. Please start praying for colder temps and more snow now. I did get it groomed from Purgatory over Bolam Pass and even across Hwy 145 for four miles west groomed, on Wed., Feb. 26. I set off two slides, on purpose, on the east side of the pass and then cleaned them up, and then cleared numerous slides on the West side of Bolam from about 1 mile from the Barlow Trailhead to a half mile above Barlow Lake that has run after the last storm. See either www.sanjuansledders.org or www. coloradosledcity.com for current trail grooming conditions. We also try to keep the Avalanche Report fairly recent as well. I learned today the Forest Service closed the bottom gate again on Missionary Ridge on Thurs., Feb. 20 and will not reopen it until there is enough snow to groom from the bottom. They want to protect their roads from resource damage. They have always left the lower gate unlocked and closed the gate above the gravel pit so people can drive to the gravel pit and park as there is always snow from this point on Missionary Ridge. There is plenty of snow above the gravel pit to groom but since you cannot even get a motorcycle around the lower gate and I have been told we cannot groom above until there is enough snow down low to groom, I guess we will not be doing any more grooming on Missionary unless we get some snow out of the storm that is here while I write this. They have the gate closed at West Mancos as well and have been asked to
open the gate at the parking lot and close the gate at Transfer Park so people can drive to the snow but here again they want to protect their roads from resource damage and not have vehicles driving on narrow roads where a head on can happen. I do not know what has changed this last year because they used to open gates and allow us to the snow in past years but this seems out of the question this year. I am going to try to have a meeting with the District Ranger Matt Janowiak and ask him to reconsider and open the gates so people can access the snow. If he does not, I believe I may start with a letter to the editor with some figures of what the businesses are losing per snowmobiler per day since they cannot access the snow due to the Forest Service policies. I will then call and write Senator Udall, as I believe he is the one on the Department of Agriculture Committee who controls the purse strings for the Forest Service. I will let him know what kind of ridiculous policies they are using on our forest roads, what kind of damage is being done to local businesses all over maybe having to run a motor grader up the road in the spring to fix the ruts that might get put in there by snowmobilers dragging their sleds to the snow. Oh and the Dog Sledders that are mad too. I will be asking for further cuts to their budget since they do not need it to sit behind desks or lock gates. The rest of you might start making phone calls to our legislators’ offices, call our County Commissioners and the Forest Service too. File complaints daily. I was told that because we had plenty of snow on Molas Pass we could go there and ride so they were not planning on having their wet roads torn up. Of course if you have not heard, we may not have Molas to ride on next year due to it having been included in a Wilderness Study Area way back when and when they pulled out part of it to add to the Weminuche Wilderness the Legislature did not remove it as a Wilderness Study Area and even though we have been allowed to ride it for years, like since the ‘60s, The BLM decided that might no longer be allowed after this winter. The only options we have is Purgatory, (Hermosa Park Rd) Barlow Creek trail head off of Hwy 145 north of Rico, which is not really safe to ride from that side right now due to the HIGH AVALANCHE DANGER, Miller Mtn. Road above Lemon has no gate on it but there is a big berm of snow to keep people from driving up the road and Middle Mtn. Road above Vallecito that have no gate on it. Beaver Meadows is gated and the logger is plowing the first five miles of the road so we will not be able to access the snow there and First Notch Road the bottom gate was closed after the guys who stole the car went up it to get away from the State Patrol and set the trailer and van on fire, so we cannot access snow there either. So your choices are not good as La Plata Canyon is not safe either due to Avalanche Danger. We have a new President of the club, Ron Smith who has been the VP for the last three years or so. We now need a new VP to finish out the one- year term there until elections next year in February for a two-year term for VP and Secretary. Dave Hall was continued as our Treasurer when he said he would serve another twoyear term. Many thanks are due Marty Gunn for serving as President the last few years. He was our Treasurer for several years before that and he has been one of our groomers putting in many hours a winter grooming winter recreation
trails. I have had a change of work days so am not able to make the CSA meetings any more so we are looking for someone who would be willing to take on the Club Representative to CSA and go to the meeting and vote for the club. The club pays mileage and meals and motel if you need to spend the night. In the winter, for those of you who like to travel and ride other areas, this gives you a chance to ride other places as the hosting club for a CSA meeting usually arranges to have rides. There is a meeting in May, August, October, January and March. The January and March meetings have the riding at them. October is in Denver at the Snow Show and May and August have tended to be in Glenwood Springs the last couple of years. May is a planning thing and August is the groomer and capital grant awarding meeting. You would need to come back to the club and report what went on at the meeting too. It would not hurt my feelings if you would want to take over the Club Reporter to CSA as well...LOL! The Fun Days for People with Special Needs is Sat., March 8 at Molas Lake. If you have not ever helped with this event.... you have really missed out on a very rewarding day on the snow. Be sure and plan on coming up and helping out that Satuary at Molas Lake. This year the Dog Sleds of Greg and Gretchen Dubit of the Durango Dog Ranch are not going to be able to attend due to other commitments but we will still be giving snowmobile rides and snowcat rides and feeding the Clients and Councilors lunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your sleds and afterwards we usually go for a ride there on Molas. We have a training event planned with La Plata Country Search & Rescues on Saturday – March 15, 2014 in La Plata Canyon – the “upper canyon – Columbus” depending on safety, they are looking for some sleds to assist with the insert/extraction and communications. The training specifics include…Pre-deployment planning, including weather and avalanche evaluation: 1. Search 2. Patient assessment/package/transport 3. Communication-team relay 4. Others For more information or to volunteer to help out, call Ron Corkish at 970-946-4437. We have a club ride scheduled for March 22, at Barlow Creek Trail Head, which is eight miles north of Rico on Hwy 145 that runs between Cortez and Telluride. This will be led by Jay Stroud and Justin. I am going to guess they are meeting at 10 a.m. there but for more info give Jay Stroud at 970-759-8047 or Justin at 970-565-8357. We are still looking for a newer truck to haul the snowcat. We have found a couple that would have worked but have not been lucky enough to get them. We will continue to look and one of these days we will get an upgrade. In closing, I will let everyone know I have been nominated for membership in the Iron Dog Brigade Snowmobile Club. You have to have been involved in snowmobiling for at least 15 continuous years and you have to be nominated by a current member and then go through an application and approval process, so it is not for sure I will get to join but I am hopeful. If I get to join, the induction ceremonies are held at the International Snowmobile Congress in June which this year is being hosted by CSA in Keystone. Till next time, REALLY START THINKING SNOW!
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BRECKENRIDGE LASER GRAPHICS PO BOX 257 970-453-4907
laser@colorado.net
DAYLIGHT DONUTS PO BOX 1378 970-389-1028
rickydonuts@gmail.com
JLH CONSTRUCTION PO BOX 8793 pp46ski@aol.com
MOUNTAIN MULTIVISION & SOUND, INC. PO BOX 6843 970-453-9234
info@mountainmvs.com
PREMIER ROOFING, LLC PO BOX 3681 970-409-8836
benstuckey@hotmail.com
PSQ ENTERPRISES, INC., EXCAVATING/HAULING PO BOX 4146 970-418-4146
psquigley@comcast.net
SKI COUNTRY RESORTS & SPORTS PO BOX 649 970-418-0628
dgarrett@skicountry.com
SMMIT PUBLIC RADIO & TV, INC. PO BOX 6392 970-485-2188
gpeterson@sprtv.org
MARK THOMAS
PO BOX 2069
mark@ptbreak.com
BRUSH
SCHILLING HAY
31766 CR V 970-847-3090
porkchopms@gmail.com
BUENA VISTA LIARS’ LODGE
30000 CR 371 888-542-7756
innkeeper@liarslodge.com liarslodge.com
TIMBERLINE MOTORSPORTS 29770 US HWY 24N 719-395-4272 timberline.co@gmail.com timberlinemotorsports.net
Arctic Cat
SWISHER DIESEL AND AUTOMOTIVE PO BOX 1680 719-395-6461
edswisher49@yahoo.com
BURLINGTON
CASCADE
LEWIS LOGWORKS PO BOX 475 719-661-4713
lewislogworks@msn.com
CEDAREDGE
BOB BREWER CONSTRUCTION & HAULING 23045 T RD 970-856-3318 bal1@tds.net
GRAND MESA LODGE, INC. PO BOX 49 970-856-3366
grandmesalodge@gmail.com
CIMARRON
ARROWHEAD RANCH REAL ESTATE
21501 ALPINE PLATEAU RD 970-862-8402 llebon05@gmail.com arrowheadranch.com
INN AT ARROWHEAD DUSTY PLAINS REALTY - RON LUCKE THE 21401 ALPINE PLATEAU RD 19149 RD 52 719-349-8840
dustyplainsrealty@hotmail.com
CARBONDALE BISHOP & MOHL, CPAS
1000 DOLORES WAY 970-379-9324 greg@gregorymohlcpa.com
CHENEY PLUMBING & HEATING, INC. 94 WILLOW LN 970-963-0275
cphcolorado@gmail.com
CMCI
49 MIDLAND AVE 970-309-7685 chrismaes@live.com
ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN LODGE 1925 DOLORES WAY (970) 929-5522
cory@electricmountainlodge.com electricmountainlodge.com
GIANINETTI’S PERFORMANCE & SERVICES 601 COWEN DR 970-963-9195
IRMW OF COLORADO INC PO BOX 1252 970-963-8600
MOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION, INC. PO BOX 207 970-963-9205
PREMIER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 237 DEER TRAIL AVE 970-923-0300 jallensmu@gmail.com
RIVER DOG RANCH
311 CRYSTAL CANYON DR 970-948-2097 thechipsta@aol.com
ROCKY MTN POOL & SPA 1380 ROCK CT 970-876-0666
rockymtnpool@yahoo.com
SKUTLEY, INC.
380 ALTO LN 970-963-9114
WIN HEALTH INSTITUTE
401 TREE FARM DR 970-279-4099
drdave@winhealthinstitute.com winhealthinstitute.com
CRYSTAL VALLEY PLUMBING & HEATING PO BOX 1323 970-947-1251
970-862-8206
relax@innatarrowhead.com innatarrowhead.com
TREE SPECIALISTS, INC. PO BOX 306 970-275-0284
katiedoss1@gmail.com
CLARK
CHASE MANAGEMENT, INC. PO BOX 705 970-846-4663
chasemanage06@msn.com
HASSLE HAVEN RANCH, LLC 54395 CR 62 970-846-3912
hasslehavenranch@zirkel.us
COLLBRAN VEGA LODGE
67270 64 6/10 RD 970-487-3733 glennrstoll@gmail.com vegalodge.com
COLORADO SPRINGS
GUTTER HELMET OF THE PIKES PEAK REGION
14520 OLD LASSO POINT 719-482-5885 gutterhelmetcoloradosprings.com
KOSCOVE METAL
431 W COLORADO AVE 719-492-0030 info@snoslutz.com
CRAIG
A & E TIRE, INC.
1251 LINCOLN AVE 970-824-0217 jhergert@aetire.com
ACTION DRAIN
195 CLAY AVE 970-824-2564
AXIS STEEL
PO BOX 1282 970-824-3256
BLACK MOUNTAIN GLASS 75 E 4TH 970-824-5353 restewart@q.com
CANDLEWOOD SUITES-CRAIG NORTHWEST 92 COMMERCE 970-824-8400
ttbooker@mars-llc.com candlewoodsuites.com/craignorthwest
COOK CHEVROLET SUBARU
1776 W VICTORY WAY 970-824-2100
CRAIG POWERSPORTS
2607 E HWY 40 970-826-0060 Skidoo, Polaris, Yamaha
DEER PARK INN & SUITES 262 COMMERCE 970-824-9282
LEISURE TIME LTD.
941 SCHOOL ST 970-824-5821 jtonso@msn.com
MCKEY CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC 469 BREEZE ST 970-824-4444
mcclininc8@qwestoffice.net
MJK SALES & HARDWARE 290 RANNEY ST 970-824-6581
MOUNTAIN STATES ELECTRIC 424 RUSSELL ST 970-824-6568
sspe263865@msn.com
NORTHWEST EYECARE CENTER, LLC
1111 W VICTORY WAY STE 110 970-824-3488 eyecare-specialties.com
RHINO LININGS OF CRAIG 2415 W 3RD ST 970-826-6271 gbrewer9@msn.com
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MACHINERY 2611 W HWY 40 970-824-5434
T & H PARTS, INC.
400 TAYLOR ST 970-824-3496
THE FLOWER MINE
410 W VICTORY WAY 970-824-7441
THE OP BAR & GRILL
536 E VICTORY WAY 970-824-8918
TLC CARPET ONE
1820 W VICTORY WAY 970-824-4945
CRAWFORD DESPERADO, INC.
40486 D LN 970-921-5655 ghess@usa.net
TSM CONSTRUCTION, LLC
6144 CRAWFORD RD 970-921-5179
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WEST
38700 FRENCH FIELD WAY 970-812-7215 mike@vmwest.us vmwest.us
CREEDE
CREEDE & MINERAL CO. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PO BOX 580 719-658-2374
office@creede.com creede.com
FREEMONS GENERAL STORE 39284 HWY 149 719-658-2454
creedestarr@gmail.com
MINERAL COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT. PO BOX 424 719-658-2600
mincosheriff@centurytel.net
SAN JUAN SPORTS
BOX 700 719-658-2359
info@sanjuansports.com sanjuansports.com
18 M
arch/April
2 014
w w w. s n o w m o b i l e c o l o . c o m
Business Sponsors Please support those who support our interests!
CRESTED BUTTE ACTION ADVENTURES, INC. PO BOX 1790 970 349-5909
snoking@actionadventures.com snowmobilecb.com
CB MOTORSPORTS PO BOX 2056 970-209-6720
Grossman.greg@yahoo.com cbmotorsports.com
CRESTED BUTTE TRUE VALUE PO BOX 229 970 349-5305
crestedbutte@truevalue.net truevalue.com
DONITA’S CANTINA
PO BOX 1149, 332 ELK AVE 970 349-6674 donitas@crestedbutte.net donitascantina.com
ELECTRONIC SOLUTIONS PO BOX 3522 970-349-7700
Chris.electronicsolutions@gmail.com electronicsolutions.info
GUNNISON OHV ALLIANCE OF TRAIL RIDERS PO BOX 3772
gunnycbgoats@gmail.com
GUNNISON VALLEY CONSTRUCTION 23501 HWY 135 970 349-5398
pchamberland@hughes.net
MARK’S BACKHOE SERVICE, INC. PO BOX 1078 970 596-2240
MUNDY SNOW REMOVAL PO BOX 291 970-497-9811
mundycb@gmail.com
PARKER DIRTWORKS PO BOX 1567 970-349-1469
DELTA
GRAND MESA MOTORSPORTS 1325 HWY 50 970-874-8621
kevin@grandmesamoto.com
Arctic Cat, Yamaha
H H HUFF, INC.
1727 F RD 970-874-4850
dirtdipper@aol.com
KIRKPATRICK CONSTRUCTION CONSULTING, LLC PO BOX 366 970-835-3030
kabinkirk@msn.com
PEST AWAY SPRAYING
1188 SUNSET CT 970-874-0920
weylinjohnson@aol.com
WARREN BUILDERS 704 1550 RD 970-874-0762
royceandtammy@gmail.com
DENVER
APPLEWOOD PLUMBING HEATING & ELECTRIC 5000 W 29TH AVE 303-458-5988
josh@applewoodfixit.com applewoodfixit.com
FRONT RANGE INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE CO. PO BOX 200640 303-237-9021
sflanders@frimco.com frimco.com
T-MAX PACKAGING, INC. 1875 S PEARL ST 303-722-6059
tonyt@tmaxpackaging.com
VICKERY MOTORSPORTS, INC. 2231 S PARKER RD 303-755-4387
info@vickerymotorsports.com vickerymotorsports.com
Skidoo, Polaris, Yamaha
DOLORES
GROUNDHOG LAKE RV PARK AND CABINS 13310 RD 27.6 970-739-5533
bonniecan@live.com groundhoglake.com
DURANGO
AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE
341 S CAAMINO DEL RIO 970-247-5828
EAGLE BLOCK COMPANY 16073 HWY 550 970-247-9450 j_piccoli@yahoo.com
FUN CENTER, INC.
29603 US HWY 160 E 800-720-6686 tonya@funcentercycles.com funcentercycles.com
Skidoo, Polaris
HANDLEBAR MOTORSPORTS
346 S CAMINO DEL RIO 970-247-0845
tgrover@handlebarmotorsports.com
Arctic Cat, Yamaha
MCDONALD’S
15 ARROWHEAD CIR 970-259-1642 jbronson@frontier.net
EAGLE
PAULSEN CONSTRUCTION, INC. PO BOX 4107 970-328-5058
kppaulsen@centurytel.net
ECKERT
CONCEPT AUTO BODY PO BOX 331 970-835-4564
conceptautobody@tds.net
EDWARDS
STATE FARM INSURANCE PO BOX 1227 970-926-1600
cathy.thompson.coq1@statefarm.com
ELIZABETH EBI
37525 BLUEBIRD LN 303-697-5256 awsmev1@aol.com
ENGLEWOOD
STANMARK ELECTRIC CO.
14 INVERNESS DR E H-128 303-627-2714
ERIE
GAPTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS 2760 S MAIN ST 303-666-6404
gapterseptic@gmail.com
FARMINGTON NM ALLEN THEATRES
PO BOX 1500 505-325-9313
nathana@allentheatresinc.com
TECHNA GLASS
PO BOX 5910 505-326-6545 jgroen@ymail.com
FRISCO MOTOBRECK
PO BOX 495 970-453-0353
jp@motobreck.com
Polaris
SKI COUNTRY SHELL & TOWING PO BOX 158 970-668-3093
scstowing@msn.com
THE HYDRO SHACK
753 TEN MILE DR, PO BOX 71 970-668-0359 powderdaysrule@aol.com
GLENWOOD SPRINGS
ADVANCED CARPET CARE & RESTORATION
353 MOUNTAIN SHADOWS 970-945-0955 slymerd@gmail.com
B&H GENERAL CONTRACTORS 5317 CR 154 STE 206 970-945-0102
BERTHOD MOTORS
2914 S GRAND AVE 970-945-7466
COLORADO POWERSPORTS RENTALS, INC. PO BOX 1131 970-230-9605
info@coloradopowersportsrentals.com coloradopowersportsrentals.com
ELK MOUNTAIN RENTALS 7434 RD 117 970-947-9509
halfassedranch@gmail.com
GLENWOOD SHELL
0067 SUN KING DR 970-618-0676 beightel@sopris.net
GRAN FARNUM PRINTING PO BOX 954 970-945-9605
HAPS PLUMBING AND HEATING SPECIALISTS 114 TIMBERCREEK DR 970-928-9222
JIM & MYRIA 66 SERVICE PO BOX 2194 970-945-6666
MOUNTAIN PEST CONTROL 3758 HWY 82 970-945-5942
christopher0993@hotmail.com
MOUNTAIN POWERSPORTS 2302 DEVEREUX RD 970-928-0788 Polaris
MR. VAC, INC.
PO BOX 2006 970-309-5551
ted@nodustbunnies.net
R&A ENTERPRISES, INC.
5317 CR 154 STE 201 970-945-6500 chrisb@raelectric.com
TOPGUN PLUMBING & HEATING, INC. PO BOX 1197 970-945-2580
WASH-BY-U
0091 MEADOW WOOD RD 970-945-0475 tcjhegland@sopris.net
GOLDEN HABER VISION
15710 W COLFAX AVE 303-459-2220 jani@habervision.com habervision.com
WELCH INDEPENDENT AMSOIL DEALER 246 S HOLMAN WAY 303-279-8436 jrwelch@frii.com
lubedealer.com/welchautomotive
GRAND JUNCTION ALL SPORTS HONDA/ARCTIC CAT 555 25 RD 970-243-7730
arne@allsportshonda.com allsportshonda.com
Arctic Cat
AXA ADVISORS, LLC
744 HORIZON CT 970-256-1936
adam.camacho@axa-advisors.com adamkcamacho.com
BARNES ELECTRIC
2811 RIVERSIDE PKWY 970-242-6473 barneselectricdon@yahoo.com
CROSSROADS FITNESS
2768 COMPASS DR 970-242-8746
creece@crossroadsfitness.com crossroadsfitness.com
FCF PREMIUM FINANCE, LLP PO BOX 1358 970-241-0890
jkeller@fcfpremium.com
HIMES DRILLING COMPANY, INC. 2390 HWY 6 & 50 970-268-5234 tshimes@aol.com himesdrilling.com
MOTOR CIT Y AUGNMENT, INC. 1405 MOTOR ST UNIT 1 970-242-4135 tbhulet@msn.com
PNCI CONSTRUCTION, INC. 553 25 1/2 RD 970-242-3548
frank@pnciconstruction.com
SHEAR, INC.
PO BOX 3669 970-549-1010
qshear@optimum.net
STEPHAN SCHWEISSING ATTORNEY AT LAW
319 COLORADO AVE 970-462-7656 schweiss@mac.com
SUMMIT AE
2764 COMPASS DRIVE 230 (970) 261-9952 keithm@summitae.com
T.P.I. INDUSTRIAL, INC.
2471 RIVERSIDE PKWY 970-243-4642 tpichris@earthlink.net
GRAND LAKE BRP, INC.
PO BOX 1437 970-627-1680
chris.ruske@brp.com
GRAND MOUNTAIN RENTALS BOX 808 970-627-1131
glrental@rkymtnhi.com grandmountainrentals.com
MOOSE TRACKS MANOR 74 CR 4920 303-335-0833
moosetracksmanor@gmail.com amoosetracksmanor.com
MOUNTAIN FOOD MARKET PO BOX 1397 970-627-3470
MOUNTAIN LAKE PROPERTIES PO BOX 1350 970-627-3103
donnaready@hotmail.com mountainlake.com
MOUNTAIN LAKES LODGE/ NORTH SHORE RESORT 10480 US HWY 34 970-627-8448
info@mountainlakeslodge.com grandlakelodging.net
ON THE TRAIL RENTALS
1447 CR 491, PO BOX 629 970-627-0171 wrrcowboy@yahoo.com onthetrailrentals.com
SLOOPYS GRILL, LLC
39 CR 48, PO BOX 842 970-627-8182 schliep51@comcast.net sloopysgrill.com
SPIRIT LAKE POLARIS PO BOX 1248 970-627-9288
mattwoody@wildblue.net
Polaris
SUN VALLEY RANCH PO BOX 470 970-627-3670
shawn@sunvalleyranch.com sunvalleyranch.com
TOM OF ALL TRADES PO BOX 2329 720-635-5354
t.yurack@comcast.net
WESTERN RIVIERA LAKESIDE LODGING & EVENTS PO BOX 1286 970-627-3580
motel@westernriv.com westernriv.com
WIZARD REPAIR
PO BOX 1095 970-627-8122
wizardrepair@phreego.com
GRANDBY
THE BROWN GROUP, LLC
50 CR 6418 UNIT 9 970-372-6201 brown.rond@gmail.com
GREENWOOD VILLAGE
FIRST FINANCAIL EQUITY CORPORATION 5619 DTC PKWY 303-850-5734 khimelright@ffec.com ffec.com
GUNNISON
CHAMBERLAND ORTHOPAEDICS 711 N TAYLOR ST 970-641-4355 scopesurgery.com
DAVID THOMPSON
147 QUARTZ RD 817-565-3334
bthompson925@yahoo.com
DOVE GRAPHICS
PO BOX 1309 970-641-4751
doveoffice@dovegraphics.net dovegraphics.net
GUNNISON MOTORSPORTS 500 W HWY 50 970 641-7377
gunnisonmtrsports@yahoo.com gunnisonmotorsports.com
Arctic Cat
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS-GUNNISON 970 E TOMICHI AVE 970-641-1288 hiexpress.com/gunnison
w w w. s n o w m o b i l e c o l o . c o m
M a r c h / A p r i l 2 014
19
Business Sponsors Please support those who support our interests! MASTER MOTORSPORTS PO BOX 1113 970-862-8308
mastermtr@msn.com
MURPHY MECHANICAL 182 TOBIN LN 970-209-6058
murphymechanical@yahoo.com
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ALUMINUN SIGNS 113 SHAVANO 970-275-6536
STANDARD TIRE & SERVICE CENTER 412 W TOMICHI AVE 970-641-0202 standardtire@adelphia.net unnisonstanardtire.com
SUNSPORTS UNLIMITED 219 W HWY 50 970-641-0883
sunsportsunlimited@yahoo.com sunsportsunlimited.com
Polaris, Yamaha
THE POWERSTOP
905 N MAIN 970-641-2328
the-powerstop.com
WATER WHEEL INN PO BOX 882 970-641-1650
info@waterwheelinatgunnison.com waterwheelinnatgunnison.com
WESTSIDE CONSTRUCTION, INC. PO BOX 402 970-641-1402
westsideconstructioninc@msn.com
GYPSUM
BOYZ TOYZ AND SONZ
PO BOX 950 boyztoyzsonz@hotmail.com Arctic Cat
CROWN TROPHY
5670 E WICKERDALE LN HIGHLANDS RANCH 303-730-1711 crowntrophy24@yahoo.com
HOTCHKISS
D&S UNDERGROUND, INC. 9950 3200 RD 970-872-6166
HUBBARD CREEK OUTFITTERS PO BOX 25 970-872-3818
lallen4286@aol.com
INN THE ORCHARD
30846 L25 RD 970-872-3066 edconner@tds.net
WEEKENDER SPORTS PO BOX 240 970-872-3444
weekendersports@tds.net
Skidoo, Polaris
ZACKS BBQ
PO BOX 665 970-872-3199 mntnbike@tds.net
IGNACIO
SPRING CREEK HORSE RESCUE PO BOX 663 970-884-4425
springcreekhorserescue@yahoo.com
KREMMLING
ALPINE MOTOR SPORTS PO BOX 916 970-724-9655
erik@alpinemotorsportsinc.com
Arctic Cat, Polaris
LAKE CITY
AB CONSTRUCTION, INC.
PO BOX 281, 970-944-2230 albrownlakecity@yahoo.com
BLUE SPRUCE BUILDING MATERIALS, INC.
PO BOX 162, 970-944-2581 marian@bluesprucelc.com bluesprucelc.com
G & M CABINS
BOX 1165 970-944-2282
gmcabins@centurytel.net
HINSDALE COUNTY ROAD AND BRIDGE PO BOX 96 970-944-2684
hinsdaleroads@msn.com
LAKE CITY AUTO/SPORTSCENTER 809 N HWY 149 970-944-2311
lakecityauto@lakecity.net lakecityauto.com
Skidoo, Polaris
UTAH’S SANITATION SERVICE PO BOX 837 970-944-2453
jhearn@centurytel.net
LAKEWOOD EXTREME RENTALS
5741 W 6TH AVE 303-232-9342
extremejensen@msn.com extremerentalsinc.com
SUNSET VISTA PROPERTIES
3110 S WADSWORTH BLVD #106 303-988-7771 vonnie@sunsetvistaproperties.com sunsetvistaproperties.com
RON BAIRD
PO BOX W 6TH AVE #C ronb@motorado.com
LEADVILLE
CORBIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY PO BOX 951 719-486-2673
rcorbinconstruction@yahoo.com
LEADVILLE NORDIC CLUB PO BOX 823 719-486-0746
leadville-nordic@gmail.com leadvillenordic.org
LITTLETON
TWO STEP LIMOUSINE
5220 S SHERMAN ST 303-781-5555 info@twosteplimo.com
LOMA
DIXON BUILDERS
1220 0 1/2 RD 970-208-7250
darrylwdixon@gmail.com
LONGMONT
BENDELOW LAW OFFICE, LLC 1707 N MAIN ST, #301 303-837-9600 tedbendelow@bendelow.net bendelow.net
CLANCEY CHIROPRACTIC 195 S MAIN STE 1 303-651-2060 drclancey@aol.com clanceychiropractic.net
LOVELAND
GERRARD EXCAVATING INC 27486 CR 13 970-669-1463
ngerrard@frii.com earthdevelopers.com
LOVELAND BREAKFAST CLUB 1451 N BOISE AVE 970-461-1261
anghertrich@aol.com breakfastclubcolorado.com
SPECIALIZED TEST ENGINEERING, INC. ENGLISH BROS POLARIS 2253 HALF HITCH CT 970-215-4396 jerry@steng.com
LYONS
LYONS AUTOMOTIVE
403 BROADWAY ST 303-579-1409 ski-laxn@comcast.net lyonsautomotive.com
MARBLE RPS RENTALS
112 E MAIN ST 970-963-3747 rusbyps@aol.com rpsrentals.net
MEEKER
CHUCK WHITEMAN & ASSOCIATES PO BOX 957 970-878-5194
chuck@rioblanco.com
DOLE EQUIPMENT
PO BOX C 970-878-5322
suzanpelloni@yahoo.com
NORTHWEST AUTO SALES & SERVICE 485 MARKET ST 970-878-5026
RIPPLE CREEK LODGE 39020 CR 8 970-878-4725
dan@ripplecreeklodge.com ripplecreeklodge.com
SLEEPY CAT MOUNTAIN LODGING & RENTAL SLEDS 42112 CR 17 970-878-5258
johnwix@sleepycatmountain.com
WATT’S RANCH MARKET PO BOX 630 970-878-5868
WHITE RIVER ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION PO BOX 958 970-878-5041 tzbrown@wrea.org
WYATT’S SPORTS CENTER PO BOX 1538 970-878-4428
stanwyatt@nctelecom.net
MESA
MESA LAKES LODGE & RESORT PO BOX 230 970-268-5467
MONARCH
MONARCH SNOWMOBILE TOURS & RENTALS 22763 HWY 50 719-539-2573
elliottmh53@yahoo.com snowmobilemonarch.com
MONTE VISTA
67809 E HWY 50 970-249-0101 english@montrose.net
Polaris, Yamaha
J.S. CHIMNEY PEAK RANCH
3838 GRAND MESA DR 435-592-5812 bobcburke@hotmail.com
MONTROSE IMPLEMENTAND MOTORSPORTS 4690 N TOWNSEND 970-240-1720
brian@montroseimplement.com
Skidoo
PROFESSIONAL THERAPY SERVICES, INC. 1543 OGDEN RD 970-252-0888 ptsinc@skybeam.com
TRI RIVER APPLIANCE
333 N TOWNSEND 970-249-1236
NATHROP
MT. PRINCETON HOT SPRINGS RESORT 15870 CR 162 719-395-2447
scott@mtprinceton.com mtprinceton.com/snowmobiling-colorado
NEW CASTLE
NEW CASTLE FAMILY HEALTH, PC
820 CASTLE VALLEY BLVD STE 210 970-984-0651 denniseicher@juno.com
REDNECK EXCAVATING PO BOX 992 970-984-2237
bobbyh41@msn.com
NORTHGLENN
ROCKY MOUNTAIN XTREME, LLC 10789 IRMA DR 303-654-0867
donavon@rmxtreme.com rmxtreme.com
NORWOOD
HI COUNTRY MOTORSPORTS PO BOX 611 970-327-4271
hi-countrymotorsports@centurytel.net hi-countrymotorsports.com
Polaris
SAN JUAN SOUND AND VISION PO BOX 1159 970-327-0431
simonpandrew@yahoo.com telluridesound.com
OLATHE
WDR CAD SERVICE LLC
54414 HICKORY RD 970-323-6742 wdrcad@aol.com
OURAY
MOUNTAIN SKILLZ WITH MATT ENTZ LLC THE CITIZENS STATE BANK OF 559 N CR 1 E OURAY 719-849-3168
matt.663@hotmail.com mountainskillz.com
MONTROSE
AMSOIL LUBRICANTS/DL AUTO SERVICE 59745 KRISTAL DR 970-249-3060
larry.fandrich@gmail.com lubedealer.com/dlautosalesservice
DAVIS SERVICE CENTER 2380 W MAIN ST 970-249-8161 dsc@montrose.net
Yamaha
PO BOX A, 970-318-8481 dennisr364@gmail.com
PAGOSA SPRINGS
ARCHULETA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE OF EMERG. MGMT PO BOX 638 970-731-4799
tmckain@archuletacounty.org acemergency.org
THIRD GENERATION OUTFITTERS
135-F COUNTRY CENTER DR PMB 93 970-219-7523 thirdgenerationoutfitters@aol.com thirdgenerationoutfitters.com
WOLF CREEK SNOWMOBILE TOURS PO BOX 3505 214 601-8626
chiragkpatel@hotmail.com
PALISADE
DREAMCATCHER BED AND BREAKFAST 3694 F RD
commons-j@yahoo.com
PAONIA
COLORADO SLEDSTYLE PO BOX 370 970-379-7799
welchex@sopris.net coloradosledstyle.com
PARKER
DIMENSIONAL FRAMING
6903 E LOOKOUT DR 303-902-8554 rjstone4@comcast.net
PINEDALE WY visitpinedale.org
PO BOX 709, 307-749-1533
info@visitpinedale.org visitpinedale.org/activities/winterrecreation/snowmobiling.html
PUEBLO
DAVE SOLDN NISSAN
1810 TIERRA BERRVENDA 719-545-4145 jeremyhamm@hotmail.com
ODF INC/SNAP ON TOOLS PO BOX 3635 719-542-2353
REDCLIFF
MANGO’S MOUNTAIN GRILL 166 EAGLE ST 970-827-9109
esr@mangosmountaingrill.com mangosmountaingrill.com
RIFLE
6 & 13 QUICK MART PO BOX 868 970-625-1467
kirkswallow@sopris.net
ALPINE BANK RIFLE 100 E 4TH ST 970-625-9610
jayrickstrew@alpinebank.com
AVALANCHE AIR
PO BOX 1238 970-379-4780 avalanche@rof.net
COULTER LAKE GUEST RANCH, INC. 0080 CR 273 970-625-1473
ranch@coulterlake.com coulterlake.com
GARFIELD STEEL & MACHINE, INC. 1815 AIRPORT RD 970-625-3551 gsmi@sopris.net
HOFFMEISTER PAINTING, INC. 0164 BOOMS PL 970-625-2120
scotthoffy@hotmail.com
KUERSTEN CONSTRUCTION, LLC PO BOX 1530 970-625-8210
john@kuerstenconstruction.com
RIFLE INSURANCE AGENCY PO BOX 1700 970-625-1689 jsours@sopris.net
RIFLE PERFORMANCE MOTORSPORTS 1014 ACESS RD 970-625-2041
kyle@rifleperformance.com
Skidoo
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Business Sponsors Please support those who support our interests!
RIFLE TRUCK TRAILER & ARCTIC CAT PO BOX 961 970-625-8884
SANTA FE NM
WESTERN TILE SERVICES
PO BOX 868 970-625-9051
kirkswallow@sopris.net
thepartshouse@hotmail.com partshousecarquest.com
SALIDA
A-1 AUTO SERVICE
445 W HWY 50 719-539-7251
1317 ANGELVIEW CIR 719-539-3688 samandchris@yahoo.com
ALL SEASON ADVENTURES, INC.
WAG’N TAILS
SILVERTHORNE
CIRCUIT CONCEPTS, INC.
7505 W RAINBOW CREEK RD 303-901-6160 kirk.circuitconcepts@gmail.com
SILT
PO BOX 247
jportinga@powerworldsports.com powerworldsports.com
Skidoo, Arctic Cat PO BOX 194 970-406-8700
12 SUNRISE BLVD 970-876-1944
kmcbrearty@msn.com summitcountypropertymaintenance.com
FLATOPS ELECTRIC 3720 CR 214 970-876-5520
SILVERTON
flatops@sopris.net
CANYON VIEW MOTEL
31947 HWY 6 970-379-1582
cheryl@canyonviewmotel.com
GARY MEENACH
GRAND IMPERIAL HOTEL
PO BOX 347 970-876-1949
PO BOX 57 970-387-5527
gpmeenach@yahoo.com
sanjuanservices@yahoo.com
info@dgoicepirates.com dgoicepirates.com
SILVERTON LIQUORS
IT’S YOUR PARTY PHOTO BOOTH PO BOX 378 785-458-2005
shastanicolef@gmail.com
PO BOX 176 970-387-5491
doitup@hotmail.com
SILVERTON MOUNTAIN
lastockebrand@gmail.com itsyourpartyphotobooth.com
PO BOX 856 970-387-5706
LIFT SERVICES
info@silvertonmountain.com
PO BOX 363 970-387-0700
THE HARDROCK RESTAURANT PO BOX 417 970-387-5754
bill@liftservicesinc.com
LOLAS PLACE
beccyrhoades@yahoo.com
PO BOX 588 970-387-5705
THE PICKLE BARREL PO BOX 196 970-387-5713
shutterbugs@frontier.net
thepicklebarrel@msn.com
SIOUX FALLS SD
WORK CONSULTING RED MOUNTAIN CABINS, MOTEL, RV TRAILS 4015 S BRADY CT PARK & JEEP RENTAL 605-371-9799 PO BOX 346 970-387-5512
PO BOX 729 970-387-5400
srayc2000@yahoo.com
PO BOX 288 970-387-3462
PO BOX 233 970-247-3706
pmaisel@thebent.com
silvertonparade@yahoo.com
THE SLED SHED
SAN JUAN SERVICES
PO BOX 286 970-759-9291
PO BOX 550 970-387-5630
PO BOX 539 970-876-5696
ICE PIRATES BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURES
MAISEL EXCAVATION
BROWN BEAR CAFE
NATIVE AMERICAN CRANE
10525 CR 120 719-539-9246
POWER WORLD SPORTS
SUMMIT PROPERTY MINTENANCE
CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS
7345 HWY 50 W 719-530-0651
info@allseasonrentals.com
stanwoodmotorsports.com
SEDALIA
a1autosalida@yahoo.com
A-1 AUTO SERVICE
705 OHIO ST 719-783-2880
westerntile71@gmail.com
THE PARTS HOUSE
1000 RAILRD AVE 970-625-2000
STANWOOD MOTOR SPORTS WEST
3600 CERRILLOS RD 970-260-2611
rifle_trailer@msn.com
SWALLOW OIL CO.
SILVER CLIFF
trailswork@aol.com
info@redmtmotelrvpk.com redmtmotelrvpk.com
SOUTH FORK
SAN JUAN BACKCOUNTRY
DOCS OUTDOOR SPORTS
PO BOX 427 903-288-6745
PO BOX 1215 817-740-9080
lcoombs5276@yahoo.com
jbs76106@yahoo.com
CSA’s Valued Supporters! Donations from our valued supporters 3/1/13-2/28/14 Boondockers: $50-$499 GENERAL FUND DONATIONS:
A & E Diemoz Andy Meverden Bob Hansen Chris & Ginger Payne Dale & Margaret Anderson Dan Groustra Darryl Davis David & Penny Gobbo Don Hilkey Doug Moll Ed & Debby Tafoya Edward Bendelow Excalibur International Limo
RIGHT TO RIDE DONATIONS Bruce & Sharon Holt Bryan McCarty Chris Tarr Curtis Miller
Floyd & Janet Keeble George Conrades George Kornreich George Preiser James and Linda Haselden James Parent Jasper Mangum Jeffrey & Heather Howard Ken West Larry Krug Leon and Chris Husman Leslie Nienaber Linda Gerrans
Mark & Nora Bloomquist Mark Bond Martin Custom Construction Michael Edwards Michael McCarron Mike Sizemore Morrill Griffith Phillip Munsch Ralph Hamilton Rich & Vicki Cook Richard & Shannon Sturtevant Richard Doucette Robert Davis
Robert Sims Rocky Gentry Rod Fraser Ron Baer Ross Dixon Sid Arola Skip Harutun Sun Sports Unlimited Thomas Davis Tom Oliver Tom Walz William Adams
Ed Calhoun Eric Renner Frank Shepherd Frank Smith
Gerrit & Rita Schneider Greg Gapter Greg Peterson North Park SnowSnakes
Russel Higgins Sheri Lynton Tim Stroup
Kevin Himes Leonard & Susan Verhoven Mark Buckland Martin Cella Michael Sladdin Pat Thompson Ramsey Flower
Russell Drangstveit Sandra Scholz Scott Dechant Scott Erchul Timoth & Shannon Smith
RIGHT TO RIDE AND GENERAL FUND DONATIONS: Andy Kelley & Judy Vanderleest Chuck Goetz Dan Woltmann Daniel Corbin David Dempsey Dennis Cavit Don Dustin
Doug Charlson Earnie & Carol Gianinetti Edward Lara Gary Guagenti Howard Vagneur Jon B Spain Jon Carter
Highmarkers: $500-$1499 GENERAL FUND DONATIONS: KLIM
RIGHT TO RIDE DONATIONS: Delta SnoKrusers
Polaris Matt Entz of Mountain Skillz
RIGHT TO RIDE AND GENERAL FUND DONATION: Tom & Deb Weiland
Extreme Rider: $1500 or more RIGHT TO RIDE DONATION: Darren Jacobson
Mile Hi Snowmobile Club
South Fork Powderbusters
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Business Sponsors Please support those who support our interests! LAZY BEAR CABINS PO BOX 608 719-873-1443
kentwilson@durango.net lazybearcabins.com
RAINBOW LODGE & GROCERY PO BOX 224 719-873-5545
rainbow@rainbowsouthfork.biz
TWIN PINES MOTORSPORTS INC PO BOX 966 719-873-2001
tpms@qwestoffice.net twinpinemotorsports.com
Arctic Cat
UTE BLUFF LODGE
27680 US HWY 160 719-873-5595 stay@uteblufflodge.com uteblufflodge.com
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
AMERICAN CARPET & FLOOR PO BOX 881608 970-879-3282 acc@springsips.com
CROSS SEVEN, INC.
32950 HWY 131 970-879-1774 cross7@zirkel.us
EXTREME POWER SPORTS PO BOX 776389 970-879-9175 eps@resortband.com
Arctic Cat
NORTHWESTERN SUPPLIES, INC. 39770 RCR 33 970-879-9235 jh@nwsupplies.net
RWR ENTERPRISES-COLORADO GROUP REALTY PO BOX 882500 970-870-8800
ron@mybrokers.com steamboatcommercialproperties.com
SCHERER BUILDING CORPORATION PO BOX 880581 970-819-6768 scott@sbc-us.com sbc-us.com
SLEEPING GIANT ELECTRIC 1810 HUNTERS DR 970-846-5522
sleepinggiantchris@yahoo.com
STATE FARM INSURANCE PO BOX 773957 970-879-1756
Debbie.aragon.g95b@statefarm.com debbiearagon.com
STEAMBOAT POWERSPORTS
2989 RIVERSIDE PLAZA 970-879-5138
jasonstanhope@steamboatpowersports.com
Skidoo, Polaris, Yamaha
STEAMBOAT SNOWMOBILE TOURS PO BOX 882805 970-879-6500
jasoncobb914@yahoo.com
SUPERIOR CARPENTRY, INC. PO BOX 774003 970-871-7836
superiorcarpentry@hotmail.com superiorcarpentryinc.com
STERLING
JACKSON INSURANCE AGENCY 330 W MAIN 970-522-3502
rick@jackson-agency.com
SUNDANCE WY
THE SUNDANCE TIMES PO BOX 400 307-283-3411
jeff@sundancetimes.com sundancetimes.com
TAYLORVILLE IL ZACHS REPAIR
2118 W SPRESSER ST 217-824-3545 zachs07@live.com
TELLURIDE
TELLURIDE OUTFITTERS PO BOX 785 970-728-4475
info@telluridesnowmobile.net telluridesnowmobile.net
TELLURIDE OUTSIDE
121W COLORADO AVE 970-728-3895 fun@tellurideoutside.com tellurideoutside.com
TWIN LAKES
BLACK WOLF LODGING 250 REVA RIDGE 719-486-1830 tldkwlv3@hotmail.com blackwolflodging.com
TWIN LAKES GENERAL STORE 6451 E HWY 82 719-486-2196
info@twinlakesgs.com twinlakesgs.com
WALDEN
ANTLERS INN/RIVER ROCK CAFE PO BOX 1007 970-723-4521
CORKLE OIL COMPANY PO BOX 278 970-723-4455
GOULETTE CONSTRUCTION PO BOX 1062 970-723-4958
mgoulette@centurytel.net
MOOSE CREEK CAFE PO BOX 578 970-723-8272
jhcarothers@moosecreekcafe.net
NORTH PARK ENGINEERING & CONSULTING PO BOX 395 970-723-3725 randy@npeng.com
NORTH PARK INN & SUITES PO BOX 55 970-723-4271
north014@centurytel.net northparkinnandsuites.com
PARADISE LANES
PO BOX 1014 970-723-8616 RAY RANCH 21536 STATE HWY 14
STINTON ENTERPRISES PO BOX 62 970-819-6416
dcjstinton@aol.com
THE CABINS & GIFT SHOPS 55862 HWY 14 970-723-3750 keyfir@keyfir.com
THE POWDERHORN CABINS 35336 CR 21 970-723-4359
WYATT REDI MIX
PO BOX 1052 970-723-4471
WESTCLIFFE
BATSON PLUMBING, INC. 3820 CR 271 719-371-4540
batsonplumbing@netzero.com
NORDYKE SANITATION LLC PO BOX 29 719-783-2747
nordykeus@yahoo.com
WESTMINSTER
EXCALIBUR INTERNATIONAL LIMOUSINE 10451 HOLLAND CT 303-243-3900
WICHITA KS
SKYDIVE EL DORADO, INC.
1349 N CRESTLINE ST 316-648-2981
skydiveeldoradoinc@yahoo.com
WINDSOR
AC/DC APPLIANCE SERVICE 11316 WELD CR 70 970-481-0230 rexford.bill@gmail.com
C & C OILFIELD SERVICES
2002 BAYFRONT DR 970-618-3431 hookedupak@yahoo.com
WINTER PARK GRAND ADVENTURES
PO BOX 1329, 79303 US HWY 40 970-726-9247 info@grandadventures.com grandadventures.com
WOODLAND PARK ANDERSEN ENTERPRISES, INC. 455 DOUGLAS FIR DR 719-687-1179
WOODY CREEK
SUMMERS PROPERTIES WEST, INC. PO BOX 590 970-925-4446
summersproperties@comcast.net
WESTERN ADVENTURES INC PO BOX 900 970-923-3337
pinionspring@rof.net
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What is an International Snowmobile Congress (ISC)?? Jack Sheets
Keystone, CO. What is ISC? The Colorado The ISC (InternaSnowmobile AssoSnowmobile ciation bid and was tional selected 3 years ago Congress) has been to host the 46th ISC held for 45 years. This annual event June 11-14, 2014 in
brings together all of the different organizations related to snowmobiling and the GRASS ROOT Snowmobilers for a series of meetings, as well
as some fun. There is usually between 350 to 500 attendees at the ISC. This meeting is International in nature. Representatives from
all over the world will attend. There will be representatives from snowmobiling areas in Canada; Russia; Sweden and the Unites States.
COLORADO SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (PLEASE PRINT) Date________
__Individual $22
__Family $22
__Business $32
____New Member ____Renewal
Last Name__________________________________First Name______________________________________ Spouse Last Name___________________________Spouse First Name________________________________ Total in Household_____
Number of Snowmobiles Owned_____
Mailing Address__________________________________________City________________________________ State_______Zip____________Best Contact Phone________________________________________________ Email__________________________________(for association use only) ********************************************************************************************************************************* Business Name_____________________________________________________________________________ Contact Person Last Name____________________________First Name________________________________ Mailing Address________________________________Physical Address________________________________ City_____________________________________State________Zip___________________ Business Phone___________________________Website____________________________________________ Email___________________________________(for association use only) If Snowmobile Dealer, what brand(s)______________________________________________________________ ********************************************************************************************************************************** Sponsor (Who influenced you to join CSA)________________________________________________________ To buy new CSA Merchandise go to CSA’s website www.snowmobilecolo.com Please consider contributing to the CSA “Right to Ride” Fund
$________________
Please consider contributing to the CSA SEEDS Fund (Support, Education, Events, Development, Safety)
$________________
Membership dues from above
$________________
__Payment Enclosed
__Bill my Credit Card
Total
$________________
__Visa __Mastercard __Discover #_______________________________________________Exp Date_________ Security Code:________Name on Card_____________________________________________________ Signature______________________________________________ (credit card not valid without signature)
PLEASE REMIT TO: CSA, 325 RIVER ROCK DR, JOHNSTOWN, CO 80534 970-587-0364 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Amt Received$__________________
Check #__________ Date Received_______________
The purpose of the ISC is to bring the major leaders of organizations that are involved in the sport of snowmobiling together under one roof to discuss the issues that snowmobilers and the industry are facing and how we want to address these issues and needs. There are nine distinct organizations that also send representatives to ISC each year. These organizations are described in more detail on the ISC 2014 website: www. isc2014.com; under the FAQ tab – ISC Alphabet Soup. • ACSA • ISMA • CCSO/CCOM • IASA • SNO-FED • ISMC • RSAA • ISTC As well as several other groups, namely; Iron Dog Brigade and Thirsty Dogs. Many important discussions and decisions are made during ISC. Including: • Our Right to Ride on Public Lands • Getting accurate information to leadership making decisions about snowmobiling • Funding: including RTP (Recreational Trails Program) • Snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park • Standards for Snowmobile Registration • Snowmobile Safety • Environmental and noise issues • Concern regarding increased levels of ethanol in motor fuel Check out additional information about ISC 2014 www. isc2014.com
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Yellowstone Park in Winter, a National and International Destination
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Trek to Old Faithful from the South Gate, what an adventure! Jack Welch, BlueRibbon Special Projects Consultant
In January I had the opportunity to join a guided group on the trek from Flagg Ranch to view Yellowstone Park with Old Faithful as our destination. Our guide was Dino Zimmerschield from Jackson Hole Snowmobile Tours, one of the commercial trip providers from Jackson, Wyoming. Before I start the story on the trek, I want to set the stage with the makeup of my group of riders. The locations represented by my fellow riders was very interesting. I had folks from Queens Town, Australia, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, Miami, Florida and Jackson, Wyoming. The group makeup clearly shows that Winter in Yellowstone appeals to folks in the Eastern United States, Internationally and locally. On the 110 mile round trip trek, I saw first-hand how first time visitors enjoyed the snowmobile as transportation to Old Faithful. In addition, how having a very knowledgeable guide added to the adventure! Here is a summary of our adventure trek. We started our day early with a van ride to Flagg Ranch from Jackson, Wyoming. At Flagg we got suited up for the adventure. Next we had a short safety talk by Dino, our guide, who covered the operation of the new 2014 Arctic Cat four stroke snowmobiles and the hand signals we would use as we toured the Park. As we left Flagg Ranch the weather was overcast and the road/snowmobile trail had been freshly groomed. Our first stop was the Yellowstone Park South Gate. This is a very popular stop because of the large Yellowstone entrance sign, a great place for group pictures. With only a few miles under our belts, my group looked forward to riding the Arctic Cat four strokes, and the guide and I wanted to make sure they had a great experience on the trek. I also wanted to explain the history of the winter access issue and snowmobiling in the Park. After Dino, our guide, checked us in, he returned and we discussed our destination for the day, Old Faithful. On the trek to the Old Faithful we planned on having lunch after the geyser went off and seeing additional thermal activities on the way back. Also, we would have time to view many of the animals that inhabit the Park in the winter. The weather was cool and crisp; the trail was, of course, the groomed summer highway and it was very smooth. However, we saw that snowcoahes can leave ruts. As we headed for our next stop, the Lewis River Falls, the riders got their first taste of the beautiful scenic vistas of the Park as we traveled along the rim of the Lewis River Canyon. They also saw evidence of the historic 1988 Yellowstone fires. At Lewis Falls the folks from Australia commented that so far the snowmobile was a great way to experience the Park and looked forward to
the rest of the day. In addition, one of the riders asked why the snowmobiles had restrictors on the throttles? I explained the Park’s speed limit is only 45 mph and these Arctic Cats without restrictors would go much faster. I also pointed out to the group that the snowmobile is just one of the forms of transport in Yellowstone for winter access. The group commented that this trip in the Park would be the major highlight of their vacations. We continued on to the Old Faithful area with a short rest stop at the Yellowstone Lake overlook. During our stop at overlook the group got to see their first snowcoach and asked about how it fit into the Yellowstone transportation system. I explained that it was another form of access to the Park. The folks from New York commented they like the snowmobile better! We continued on to Old Faithful. The timing was perfect! We arrived with just a few minutes before the Old Faithful Geyser went off. When the geyser finished it was lunch time. Dino, our guide, had brought a large cooler with hot stew, soup, cheese and bread. We had a choice of hot cider or hot chocolate. The hot meal was great. During the lunch I was asked why anti groups want to eliminate access by snowmobile to Yellowstone. I explained the issues and how the snowmobile community had solved the many issues presented by the antis. Time was growing late. However, before we headed back to Flagg Ranch we headed toward West Yellowstone to view several groups of bison. We also got to tour several thermal features on foot. After returning to our snowmobiles we started the trek back to Flagg Ranch. We kept pushing and arrived back at Flagg at 4:45 p.m. After filling the Arctic Cats with fuel we exchanged contact information. The entire group, and especially the folks from Australia, agreed that “closing snowmobile access to Yellowstone would just not be right because they felt that the snowmobile provided the best form of transportation to see the natural wonders of Yellowstone Park!” They all agreed that “Snowmobiling to Old Faithful was something they will long remember!” As we said our goodbyes they stated they would return some day for another Yellowstone winter snowmobile adventure! For information on Yellowstone Park Snowmobile tours go to www. jacksonholesnowmobile.com or call 800-633-1733. Note: Starting in the 2014-2015 winter season in Yellowstone you will be able to enter the Park without hiring a commercial guide. You can take a total of five BAT machines into the Park as a non-commercial guide after meeting the Park Service certification requirements. Please look for more information on this non-commercial guide program at the BlueRibbon dedicated website site of www.saveyellowstonepark. com
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Safe City Youth Team Annual Snowmobile Ride
Janelle Kukuk
Three of the last four years a partnership of volunteers, businesses and CSA has worked together to host a snowmobile adventure for the Safe City Youth Team from Denver. For the vast majority of the youth involved it is a first time adventure, although many now fight for a spot on the trip! Denise Escobedo, from the Youth Programs of Denver Public Safety, contact CSA in 2011, asking for help as to how to take the kids in the Safe City Youth Program snowmobiling. CSA contacted Lance Trujillo of the Holy Cross Powderhounds for help. Lance jumped at the chance to help take the kids if we could find some sleds. Next call was made to Steve Pittel of Nova Guides in Red Cliff. Steve
has been a great friend to CSA for many years and through his support behind the project. Steve offered some sleds at a greatly reduced rate and the trail system maintained by Nova Guides. So all of the pieces were in place and to say that the kids had a terrific time would be an understatement. In the years following, it is something that everyone looks forward to doing. Lance and many of their club members have taken the kids under their wings and shown them a great time. Steve continues to be so very generous with his equipment, time and facilities (we really could not pull this off without him). So the Monday of Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend has become a date each year. This year all the stars aligned so we can tell you all about this event and share the fun and appreciation of the kids and their chaperones. And I wanted to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to Lance and the members of the Holy Cross Powderhounds and Steve Pittel of Nova Guides and his kind, helpful staff. With your generous help we have made a difference in the lives of these kids and introduced a group of young people that might not have ever had this opportunity to our sport. THANKS!!!