Winter trail conflicts bubble up again

SUMMIT COUNTY - No sooner is the ground covered with snow, than the annual and seemingly endless wrangling over who, and what kinds of vehicles, gets to use which mountain trails begins.

This winter, the U.S. Forest Service has already logged reports of snowmobiles in closed areas, including the Mohawk Lake Trail, the Peaks Trail, the Burro Trail and even in the vicinity of the Old Dillon Reservoir Trail, just off Dillon Dam Road.

Long-time local snowmobile enthusiast Joe Casselberry traces the history of conflicts back more than 20 years, to 1984, when the White River National Forest issued its first management plan. Casselberry said it took six years before the federal agency produced maps needed to clarify the rules.

A similar situation exists today. More than four years after the White River forest plan was revised, the agency has yet finalize the rules for who gets to use which trails.

"From a snowmobiler's perspective, which law do you follow?" Casselberry asked. "I do my best to follow the laws, but I know I break some. They're conflicting."

Casselberry said it's important for snowmobilers to check in with the Forest Service to get the latest information.

One example of the confusion over local snowmobile rules relates to Dillon Reservoir, he said. Rules posted on Denver Water's Web site designate the ice as closed, yet old signs in some spots around the reservoir suggest the surface is open to motorized use, he said.

Vail Pass playground

But local Forest Service rangers say that, even without the travel plan, both snowmobilers, hikers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers should be able to find suitable areas.

"The White River National Forest cannot provide all opportunities for all individuals in all areas," Dillon forest ranger Rick Newton said. "While an individual may not always be able to snowmobile closest to where they live, there's still a great amount of snow available for folks to use in designated places."

In and around Summit County, some areas that are open to snowmobile use include: Vail Pass, Straight Creek, Miners Creek to just below Ten Mile Peak, Spruce Creek/Crystal Creek, Pennsylvania Creek, Indiana Creek, Wilder Gulch, north of Mahan Lake, and the area from the south fork of the Swan River northeast to Peru Creek.

Casselberry said Vail Pass, which is intensively managed by the Forest Service and volunteers from the Vail Pass Task Force, is the premier snowmobile playground in the area. Good maps are available for the area and most routes have signs.

"It's the safest, the nicest and has the most parking," he said.

Casselberry said Spring Creek is another suitable spot that may be among the least-crowded snowmobile areas. He also touted Boreas Pass Road, the three forks of the Swan River (near Breckenridge), and areas around Montezuma, including Webster Pass and Deer Creek, but said there are serious parking problems at the latter areas.

Forest Service explains

\The Forest Service said the 1991 maps have been altered by decisions made in 2001 that restricted snowmobiles and were aimed at protecting wildlife and reducing conflicts between snowmobilers and others on the trails.

In the mean time, snowmobilers are encouraged to stay on established routes - that is, where other snowmobiles traditionally have traveled, Dillon District recreation supervisor Ken Waugh said.

"Regardless of the lack of good maps, it is the responsibility of snowmobilers to know where they are allowed to ride," Waugh said

The agency also received complaints from hikers and skiers who do not understand where snowmobiles are allowed, he said.

"Some skiers assume areas where they have not seen snowmobile use in the past are closed to snowmobiles, but that's not always the case," Waugh said. "Some of these areas have long been open to snowmobiles, but they are just beginning to have that use."

Newer snowmobiles can get to areas that were previously difficult to reach, Waugh added.

'A good marriage'

Waugh said conflicts can be resolved with signs, maps and a strict enforcement of the rules. When he worked in the Boise National Forest in Idaho, Waugh said, education, clear maps, lots of signs and fines of up to $200 for repeat offenders, helped prevent conflicts.

A similar effort on the White River forest and the Dillon Ranger District could show similar results, he said.

Casselberry said local trail users worked out an agreement in 2002 on who can use which trails. The problem, he said, is that agreement hasn't been adopted because the forest service hasn't finalized its rule.

"People came together in a process facilitated by the county," Casselberry said. "Those rules should be implemented," he said.

That conclusion was seconded by Brian Holt, who operates a commercial snowmobile touring business at the end of Tiger Road, in the three forks of the Swan River.

"I think there should be a good marriage between motorized and non-motorized users," Holt said.

There is an adequate base of public lands in the county to accommodate both uses, given good management and education, he said.

"We need to know. Knowledge is power," he said.