News |
| 1/10/2012 | Special Use Permit approved for Grooming at Spring Creek!
more info... |
| 12/19/2011 | Additional wilderness signs installed at Elliot Ridge!
more info... |
| 7/28/2011 | Club member update on Travel Management
more info... |
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Events |
3/9/2012
11:00 AM | March Weekend ride in Rifle at the Coulter Lake Guest Ranch
more info... |
3/13/2012
6:00 PM | March Monthly Meeting
more info... |
3/18/2012
9:00 AM | March Monthly Ride
more info... |
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News
Information on all things related to snowmobiling in Summit County, Colorado.
Date
| News Item
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1/10/2012
12:00:00 PM | Special Use Permit approved for Grooming at Spring Creek!
The Dillon Ranger district is finalizing the permit process allowing us to begin grooming 15 miles of trail in the Spring Creek.
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12/19/2011
6:36:00 PM | Additional wilderness signs installed at Elliot Ridge!
We have been notified that the Dillon Ranger District has installed new signs marking the boundary of the Eagles Nest Wilderness area adjacent to Elliot Ridge.
These additional signs were located by GPS and should mark the exact boundary of the wilderness area.
Please respect the wilderness boundary and encourage all other snowmobilers to do the same! |
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7/28/2011
7:10:00 PM | Club member update on Travel Management
Hello Summit County Snowmobilers,
It's been a little over 2 months since my last e-mail. Since then I have been in touch with Ken Waugh and Paul Semmer of the Dillon Ranger District. I really don't think those guys like snowmobilers. They told me in a packed town hall in Blue River: Too bad, we don't have the money or staff to keep snowmobile trails open, so we are closing them all.
CSA has been very active on our behalf meeting with Scott Fitzwilliams the WRNF supervisor in Glenwood Springs. It seems my last club update e-mail ended up on Scott's desk and he was sympathetic to our concerns.
CSA filed an appeal to the Travel Management Plan decision and included our input on the various closures in Summit County.
I have been told by CSA that the result of these meetings and appeal is that the re-designation of the Indiana Gulch and Pennsylvania Gulch open motorized area to restricted has been reversed. This means snowmobilers will still be allowed to legally ride the entire area below Boreas Pass road. The upper Horseshoe Basin of Pennsylvania is still designated as non motorized (as called for in the forest master plan).
In exchange for this reversal, the local ranger district is asking for our help installing no snowmobiling signs where the non motorized boundary is located. Scott Jones the VP of CSA is obtaining the signs from State Parks, so our club can install them later this fall.
In addition to Pennsylvania, I have been told the trail restriction to the Miners Creek area in Frisco has also been restored to open motorized. Looks like we will have to do some exploring up there next winter and figure out the best riding in the few small open motorized areas. (Should be a lot better riding once the dead trees fall.)
There has been no change to Porcupine or Mayflower/McCullough gulches.
This information has come straight from CSA via Scott Fitzwilliams's office; I haven't been notified by the local district of any changes by the local district. My guess is they won't be happy being told what to do by Glenwood, that's their problem.
Our club owes a big thanks to CSA and especially VP Scott Jones for the hard work writing the appeal and negotiating with the Forest service for us. They certainly earned their $22 portion of the club dues this year.
I would like to pursue the club filing a formal proposal to the forest service, amending the forest plan to allow snowmobiling in the upper Horseshoe Basin of Pennsylvania. As I've said many times, the more logical boundary for the non motorized area would be the upper ridge of Red mountain, not Pennsylvania Creek. This forest plan amendment will be a pretty big deal. It would require a NEPA study and hiring someone to help us craft the proposal however I believe there are multiple funding sources which could help us with the costs. I have been in communication with the Town of Blue River to see if they would contribute, since this would be a benefit for all the residents who snowmobile in the area.
In other news, I have recently been getting hassled by the Hidden Gems folks about expanding the Eagles Nest Wilderness further into Elliot Ridge past Mahan Lake and including the back side of the ridge as Wilderness. If anyone thinks this is a good idea, please have a friend smack you in the head, and let me know. Otherwise I will draft a response that says we will support no additional loss of snowmobiling terrain.
I already told them if they want to pull the wilderness boundary back to the top of that Sleeping Indian Mountain and the end of the Gore Range, we'll be willing to talk about some boundary adjustments.
I'll keep you posted on final Travel Management Plan results and to see who wants to install some cool no snowmobiling signs.
In the mean time, please go to CSA's web site http://www.snowmobilecolo.com/ and renew your club membership for next winter.
Rich Holcroft
President,
High Country Snowmobile Club
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5/16/2011
3:36:00 PM | White River National Forest- Releases Travel Management Plan
The Forest Service has just released their final version of the plan. Web version here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72DTUE8TAwjQL8h2VAQAMtzFUw!!/?ss=110215&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=STELPRDB5297489&navid=091000000000000&position=SubFeature*&ttype=detailfull&pname=White
Highlights for snowmobilers? Well if you like driving to Spring Creek or Montezuma to ride powder, you are in luck. If you like riding the trails in the Swan drainage, you are in luck. Everyone else, you're not going to be very happy next winter.
The prefered alternative when we were commenting was Alt G, it closed several smaller open motorized areas but kept open some motorized areas to ride near the towns. Areas like McCoullough Gulch, below Porcupine Gulch on Tenderfoot, Pennsylvania Creek, and the valleys ofthe Swan off Tiger Road all had open motorized areas. Miners Creek was also open among several others. We commented to keep those areas open but they did not listen. The comments from the Town of Breckenridge and other various non motorized users seemed to carry more weight.
Effective in 45 days, the only open motorized areas for snowmobiles (areas where you can ride off a trail) are out of Montezuma, on Green Mountain Res. or up Spring Creek. The kick in the pants of this plan is the change of designation in Alt GM of several areas from open motorized to motorized restricted. The restricted label means you have to stay on designated winter trails. Why is this the best part of the plan? They did not desinate any winter trails!
Check it out on the Alt GM winter map, open motorized is green, restricted is purple, non-motorized is tan. Only the roads in red are the designated winter routes.
This means, Miners Creek is closed. Porcupine Gulch is closed. Pennsylvania Gulch is closed. Not just the Horseshoe Basin at the top, the entire jeep road from Coronet to Indiana Gulch, including all of Boreas Pass is closed. The entire Ten Mile Range is closed, (both sides, McCullough and Mayflower.)
Yea, sure, but they can't enforce it you say?
If it is not a designated trail, any forest service person or sheriff who catches you coming out of a trail can and will write you a ticket.
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9/30/2010
4:48:00 PM | Congressman Polis Introduces Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act
Congressman, Jared Polis
2nd District, Colorado | 501 Cannon HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515 | (202) 225-2161
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2010
Contact: Lara Cottingham
(202) 503-6067 or Lara.Cottingham@mail.house.gov
Congressman Polis Introduces Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act
WASHINGTON—After an intense public review and consensus building process, late last night Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced H.R. 6280 – The Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act – which would designate nearly 166,000 acres of public land in Summit and Eagle Counties within Colorado’s second congressional district as wilderness and special protection areas.
“Colorado’s wild places are the heart of our state’s character and our state’s natural beauty is itself a precious resource that we must preserve,” said Polis. “These areas are essential to our economy and our environment, and through this legislation we can ensure that our beautiful areas continue to provide habitat for our diverse wildlife, opportunities to enjoy and appreciate the great outdoors, and jobs for local economies. After working extensively with stakeholders and examining the areas in question trail-by-trail, I am proud to introduce this legislation that has gained support and backing from the community.”
The legislation incorporates further discussions with area water providers, the Colorado National Guard, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the recreation community and conservationists to ensure that the legislation meets the long-term needs of these stakeholders. The next step in the legislative process is for the bill to be referred to the House Natural Resources Committee for review.
More info @ http://www.polis.house.gov/wilderness/ |
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8/30/2010
11:37:00 AM | Congressman Polis's Wilderness Proposal AKA- Hidden Gems (170,000 acres)
The Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Protection Act seeks to add new designated wilderness areas in the White River National Forest within Summit and Eagle Counties to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Designated areas would hold the highest level of land protection, with public access and usage still available, but certain types of development and activities prohibited.
This draft legislation would preserve in perpetuity a number of pristine Colorado wild areas by designating some areas as Wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964, and designating others that have outstanding community needs, as special management areas.
Details can be found at: http://polis.house.gov/Wilderness/ |
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6/17/2010
1:02:00 PM | Aspen Times Article
Update on Hidden Gems from Aspen Times
Polis: No Hidden Gems legislation expected soon |
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6/10/2010
1:53:00 PM | Polis's Hidden Gems Survey
Share your comments on the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal.
Polis's Hidden Gems Survey
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6/6/2010
2:09:00 PM | Update from WRFA
6/6/10
Welcome to White River Forest Alliance
Greetings!
WRFA would like to send out a great big THANK YOU to Congressman Jared Polis and all his staff for putting together a true public comment forum, also to the all the panelists that participated and to all of the concerned local citizens that turned out for the meetings last week. The turnout in Boulder and Breckenridge was great and the turnout in Edwards was incredible. I was personally overwhelmed with the response of the WRFA supporters and am sure it left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. This turned into an amazing display of democracy in action with WRFA's grass roots efforts VS Hidden Gems 'whatever it takes' (money), which makes it feel that much more successful.
Thanks to John Hembel for spearheading the t-shirt effort that created the 'Sea of White' of supporters who decided to wear our t-shirts at all of the meetings.
I wanted to send out a special thanks to Jack Albright, VP of WRFA for personally taking the time to sit on the panel at all three meetings. His commitment to the process and thoughtful comments deserves many thanks!
There is still a lot of work to do regarding this and Congressman Polis and his staff has urged everyone to continue providing comments and opinions on the specific areas that the Hidden Gems proposal impacts. Keep your emails, letters and phone calls flowing to their office. Here is some contact info for them:
Nissa Erickson
District Representative
Congressman Jared Polis
101 W. Main Street, Suite 101D
PO Box 1453
Frisco, CO 80443
Office: 970-668-3240
nissa.erickson@mail.house.gov
They have also established a special contact email for Hidden Gems issues at: feedback.polis@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Tony Fisher
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5/25/2010
2:46:00 PM | June Hidden Gems Public Forums
Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal Public Forums THIS week Thursday and Friday!
Greetings!
Please try to attend these meetings!! Arrive as early as possible doors open at 4:30 pm, this is due to the opposition trying to pack the room, so we don't have areas to sit or share our thoughts and concerns.
Look for a sign up sheet and let Congressman Polis know our concerns regarding this proposal.
This is just a quick reminder to everyone that Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal Public Forums are now a week away.
Mark you calenders!!! Please be sure you notify as many people as possible regarding these meetings.
If we don't show up in numbers and voice our opposition, we will likely lose access to several areas of public land in Eagle and Summit counties.
Dates, times and locations are below.
Public Forums
What: Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal Public Forum
Who: Congressman Polis and Community
Where/When:
Tuesday, June 1
5:30-7:00 pm
Boulder Public Library
Canyon Theater
1000 Canyon Boulevard
Boulder, CO 80302
Thursday, June 3
5:30-7:00 pm
Battle Mountain High School
Auditorium
151 Miller Ranch Road
Edwards, CO 81632
Friday, June 4
12:00-1:30 pm
Colorado Mountain College, Breckenridge Campus
Community Auditorium
107 Denison Placer Road
Breckenridge, CO 80424 |
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5/12/2010
2:52:00 PM | May Club Meeting Notes
5/12/10
Hello Summit County Snowmobilers,
Thanks to everyone who showed up at last night's meeting, it will be our last meeting until probably October.
We talked about the Hidden Gems, increasing club membership next year, trail grooming and establishing a web site for the club.
Donna Lewark kindly volunteered to be the club's new Secretary/Treasurer. Ron Lewark was elected as our Group Ride Chairman and Pat Quigley was elected as our Grooming Program Chairman.
Congratulations to all our new club officers!
Hidden Gems News: The future of snowmobiling in Summit County and in a way, the future of the High Country Snowmobile Club hangs on this Wilderness Proposal.
The next few weeks are crucial, please do whatever you can to voice your opposition to this wilderness proposal.
As a reminder, Polis's Rep Nissa has office hours in Frisco next Tuesday, May 18 from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm and the following Tuesday, May 25 from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the West Professional Building lobby.
This is our last chance to voice our concerns outside of the large meetings.
The large meetings are sure to be a cluster and I imagine we won't have much time to speak.
Let your voice be heard.
Here's some additional info on Polis's large Hidden Gems community meetings coming up. I'll be at all three meetings.
If you are not already on the WRFA's list, please join their mailing list, if's free.
Rich
Rich Holcroft
President, High Country Snowmobile Club
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