Judge banned snowmobles in Yellowstone

“What works for 500 people/visitors does not work for 50,000. Grand Canyon visitor/days exceeds 3 million annually, how can that many people drive in without it being a WalMart parking lot. Something's gotta give, and none of us will like it completely.

50 Snow mobiles is not a problem, 5000 certainly is, especially if the air pollution is so bad you need masks. I was there @ Christmas a few years ago, can't imagine why anyone would do it in -30 but it's their call.”

“On the North entrance to the park there is the Roosevelt Arch, on the top of the Arch the rule of Yellowstone; "FOR THE BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE". T Roosevelt would agree with snafu29 and so do I. Enjoy folks!!!!”

“The backcountry should be for everyone, access for all!

Paved road ways into all your favorite lakes, we could use golf carts so that those who have problems walking can see the beauty.

A cable system to the tops of all the mountains so everyone can catch the beautiful views.

Wheelchair access for the AT, the PCT and all the other through trails...all they need is a little asphalt so EVERYONE can enjoy them

Lets open the tops of all those caves, some folks cant be expected to crawl around...that way you could just drive by and look in.

Some places derive their beauty and special nature BECAUSE of the difficulty getting there, thats how it is and how it should be.

We all backpack because of that.”

“Good point mtnsteve and I totally agree!”

“My personal thoughts are that snowmobiles should be banned in National Parks. We have so much other public lands open to snowmobiles. But the new, cleaner and quieter 4-stroke sleds would certainly be a big improvement over the old 2-strokers, but even so, there is so much other public land all around Yellowstone to zoom around in. I also understand the concerns of the YNP border towns and their reliance on snowmobiles, but they can cater to backcountry skiers just the same, or snowmobiling in surrounding National Forest lands. There are also large snow coaches that could shuttle people to and from places like Old Faithful and such. But even then, the grooming necessary for these roads has an impact on environment, like changing migration patterns of bison who are more apt to use these groomed trails, etc.

These are just my thoughts on the issue. I know you all cared very much. :^D”

“It would be fair to fire up a chainsaw beside the bedroom window of every snowmobiler and jet-skier in the country at about 2:30 every morning until they get the idea.
Then, let's talk.”

“Greater Yellowstone Coalition with links to AP news article, press release and reaction from NPS workers.”

“Gee I guess Yellowstone doesn't belong to any of you folks according to the Montana Republica Party:

"E-Brief" from the Montana Republican Party: "Perhaps keeping snowmobiles out of the (Yellowstone National) park is the right thing to do, and perhaps its not. But the decision belongs to citizens of the states involved, not by (sic) a pseudo-omniscient federal judge driven by an extreme enviro philosophy."

Apparently (to some) Yellowstone belongs to Montana, Idaho and Wyoming; the rest of you states can go suck eggs.”

“All together now:
"This land is your land,
This land is my land...”

“LOL @ dunadan.......”

“I will say, as I have before ON THE ZION BUS ISSUE... it's a good idea, but the buses are the worst design for where they travel!!! I CAN'T SAY THIS ENOUGH!!! They have small side windows in three sections.... They have little windows on the top, little squares. Isn't Zion about expansive views??!? Amtrak can have the DOME CAR with no frickin pieces of metal to block your view.... WHERE WERE THOSE CONCEPT PEOPLE WHEN THE ZION BUSES WERE DESIGNED???

I agree that the they help move people and cut down on cars. But I was horrendously disappointed at the views from the frickin' buses!! I thought it was unbelieveable that design was used!!!”

“As far as restrictions and reservations are concerned, I say either plan ahead or don't go. If reservation systems are required to keep fragile places from being overrun by the populace, then by all means put them in place.

It's more important to me that some of these places endure. If I can't personally make use of them, then that's a price I'm easily willing to pay.

Fee 'Demonstration' Programs are another matter entirely. Restricting use of Public Property by limiting it to those who can PAY is intrinsically WRONG.”

“They've overruled it again. :-(
For now.

http://www.fresnobee.com/24hour/nation/story/1145322p-7980340c.html

This stinks. I wish they could get it closed for good.

question: do they allow four wheelers, motorcycles and other ATVs in the summer?”

“Yep! This surfaced just the other day...

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/17412.php


Speaking of judges, it looks like there's going to be another battle in the Senate over this next one...

Environmental advocates are bristling over President Bush's nomination of William G. Myers III to the San Francisco-based U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

This guy can do lots more damage as an appeals court judge.”

“from the article -----

"According to Elliot Mincberg, vice president and legal director of the People for the American Way Foundation and a founding member of the Coalition for a Fair and Independent Judiciary, a filibuster might suit the Bush administration just fine. "There's little chance Myers will make it through, and I think [presidential advisor] Karl Rove knows that," he said. "This is more likely a symbolic political gesture. He's using judicial nominations to make a statement to the right-wing base."”

“What is it with Conservatives and their motors, anyway? Is it some repressed sexual anxiety or just making up for other shortcomings?”

“I knew a guy who had a BMW that was always in the shop. We called it the 'BMDW'... 'Bavarian Motor Don't Work'.

Once, when that comment was made, his wife said, "That ain't the only thing..."

(stunned silence from the peanut gallery on that one... and they were divorced within a year)”

“Big SUV, little....”

“Why do you think they call it a 'Hummer'?”

“I drive a tiny S-10 :-)”

“I have a itty bitty Escape.”

“Me too Le Subtil. What year? I'm 96. Gotta love a vehicle that's paid for. S-10s suck on snow and ice though. I have to put sandbags in the back.”

“I have a teeny-weenie Subaru.”

“I have a teeny-weenie Wrangler”

“I think you break even with that one, WK!”

“Mini SUV's are rock and roll!”

“They tell me the Exploder is a 'compact' but I ain't too sure.”

“My rig is one size smaller than the Exploder.

I cracks me up when I'm in the vicinity of an Extrusion......its threee sizes bigger.”

“'Extrusion' ---- LMAO

How about.... 'Excretion'?

LOL”

“I have a Festiva. It has a handle on the top so I can turn it around manually. Really!!

And it gets 45 miles to the gallon.

Ask Lumberzac when we get back from FYAO IV.”

“"Me too Le Subtil. What year? I'm 96. Gotta love a vehicle that's paid for. S-10s suck on snow and ice though. I have to put sandbags in the back."
Indiana John

Mine is a '91. I had a '99 leased one, and when the lease was up, nobody seemed to want to sell me another one, so I took the down payment I had and bought/paid for my '91. I like it so much I've driven it for almost 3 years.
It REALLY sucks on ice. It likes going sideways, back and forth, just to scare the crap out of me.
The concrete blocks in the back only help so much...

It just turned over 135,000 miles. I just might drive it another 3 years.”

“Five snowmobilers illegally rode into Yellowstone National Park's backcountry last week in what may be the biggest case of its kind investigated by park rangers.

The snowmobilers crossed the park's western boundary from Idaho on Feb. 5 and rode for more than 45 miles, slicing off young trees and driving over meadows, canyons, frozen waterfalls and off "dangerous cliffs," the Park Service said Thursday.

"We have had incursions into the backcountry before but I haven't heard of one that has been this extensive," said Cheryl Matthews, a Yellowstone spokeswoman.



Park seeks Illegal snowmobilers”

“Peace of the Park: Visitors in winter can find quiet in Yellowstone
Billings Gazette-

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. - Carole Erickson stopped talking in midsentence, her thought clipped short by the penetrating howl of first one and then three wailing wolves on a snow-covered ridge.

The dozen or so other visitors gathered along the roadside in Lamar Valley fell silent, too. For some, it was the first time they'd heard wolves in the wild, a piercing and primitive call that brought smiles to all. The moment lingered in the cold morning air long after it had passed.

"We had a whole chorus," Erickson said. "It's beautiful."

Most people actually use the Park for which it was envisioned and intended --it's not a racetrack.”

“I was saddened to open my hometown newspaper and see a picture of a buffalo being run off a road by a group of snowmobilers. There has to be a way to keep them out of Yellowstone and all other national parks. Even if it is the few snowmobilers who are giving the majority a bad name, the laws need to protect the parks from this kind of abuse.”