I just want to ride…I want
to high mark that hill…jump off that cornice…carve through that meadow…sweep
down that groomed trail… stop on that bluff and enjoy the view of nature at
it’s finest moment…life is great with no worries on my snowmobile. After
all, isn't that what snowmobiling is all about.
To be with our children, parents and friends, enjoying life with nature and
leaving our stressful work days behind. For how long and in how many places
will we be able to enjoy our form of environmentally friendly recreation in the
years to come? After all, when the snow melts our tracks disappear. It is up to
YOU to help save our form of recreation. We need YOU now! If
not YOU, then WHO?
It is a very unfortunate
reality that many national organizations such as the Sierra Club, The
Wilderness Society, Blue Water Network, Winter Wildlands
Alliance…. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture…want our form
of recreation eliminated, and they want it done yesterday! After spreading
their deceptions they have the money and members to get the job done.
After snowmobiling is eliminated, what will be next? Maybe horse back riding, mountain bike riding, or even camping in
your RV by the river at your favorite spot that you have been going to for
years?
People that run these
types of organizations have full time paid jobs dedicated among other
things to erasing our form of recreation from this planet. If you don’t believe
me, send me an email and I will pull up the blinders on your closed
window shade and hopefully I will be able to show you what is
happening across the western
There are a few
organizations on our side attempting to slow this sad process down, but we
are not going to be able to stop it, at least not without much more help.
One of the first and biggest organizations on our side is the Blue Ribbon
Coalition. They have been around since the late 1980’s. They are also one of
the few organizations on our side that has a paid attorney that can help to
stop some of these ridiculous potential closures. If you are not a member
of this worthy organization, you should sign up today at https://www.sharetrails.org/index.cfm?page=512 . It is only $20 bucks a year, and it is well
worth your money. I have been a member since I started snowmobiling in the
early 1990’s and I have recently become a Lifetime member. Will you please join
Are you a member of your
state snowmobile association or local club? If not, why not? Don’t want to
get involved… don’t like the politics….don’t think it matters…don’t have the
time? Well it does matter. Even if you don’t have the time to volunteer
numerous hours each month, or go to the meetings, or help clear a
snowmobile trail, become a member and be counted as someone who truly cares
about snowmobiling. Write a letter to the Forest Service, the National Park
Service, or your Congressional representative, and let them know what you think
about the various potential closures to our form of recreation. Of course be
processional in your comment letter even if you are angry as you well should
be. The cost of joining most of these groups per year is less than one tank of
fuel in your sled. Is that too much to ask? You don’t even have to give up the
latest mod on your sled to afford to join them.
There are numerous
individuals in every state and region that volunteer their time to activities
that help our form of recreation continue year after year. In
Several of us recently
formed the Snowmobile Alliance of Western States (
What is missing from all
of the above organizations? Members! And members that care.
Members do make a difference. We need your help. We can not save your riding
areas for you. You need to help these groups to make a difference. Many people
have been fighting these battles for many years and are either burning out
now, or possibly soon will be. Who will fight our battle after they have burned
out? Can you hear me?
Can you hear me now?
Some snowmobilers do not think we have access issues. Tell Larry, Moe and Curly, or whoever you may ride with that just doesn’t seem to get it that they are wrong. Tell them to get involved now before it is too late. Many snowmobilers don’t think there is a problem until their favorite riding area is closed. Is your favorite riding area next? It could be. Many of your riding areas are on the list for potential closures. Will you help to keep them open, or whine about it after they are closed? After they are closed, they will most likely never be open again for you or your children to enjoy…and that is a very sad vision. Do you care enough to get involved? I hope you do.
Dave Hurwitz
Snowmobile
Alliance of Western States
Copyright © 2006 Snowmobile
Permission
is granted to distribute this information in whole or in part, as long as
Snowmobile Alliance of Western States (