FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS

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SNOWMOBILE TRESPASS IN SIERRA NEVADA WILDERNESS

In the past few years, the number of snowmobiles has increased, and the machines have become so powerful that they can go almost anywhere.  Unfortunately, some of the places the machine operators go frequently is into designated wilderness areas, particularly in the Sierra Nevada.  Many snowmobile intrusions have been documented in the past two years in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, the Hoover Wilderness, the Emigrant Wilderness, the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, and the Mt. Rose Wilderness.

Although some snowmobile groups try to comply with the exclusion of all vehicles from wilderness, many vehicle operators choose not to comply with the law.  It seems to be difficult for the small number of Forest Service rangers to cite these lawbreakers.

The Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs urges the U.S. Forest Service:

(1) to effectively stop snowmobile intrusions into designated wilderness:

(2) confine snowmobiles to designated areas and trails; and

(3) where intrusions into wilderness are occurring, the areas or trails that are designated for snowmobiles should not extend to the boundaries of wilderness.

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