In my area the forest service plan is to give the sledders a big wide open area in the center of the forest Then systematically close off the access points to that large open area one after the other. Nobody pays enough attention because the closures are all small little areas. However in the end by closing off all the access points they in turn close off the entire area. They stand there and argue that they have left all this open area to ride. which of course they have, its just nobody can get into it without breaking the law. It has worked great for them. Then on our side we have people saying things like it will never happen and they will kill off tourism i am too busy for there BS. In the end we are all standing there screaming they cant do this. They purposely hold meetings in small areas so that the turnout will be kept to a minimum and the opposition will be small to their plans to close areas. I get the idea of conservation but there is a right way and wrong way to go about doing it.
So quit bothering with the letter writing and the meetings. It is a HUGE fail for sledders, we always lose land, always.
FACT; The USFS doesn't have the resources to patrol these lands.
They support closures because it is the easiest way to get the whining greenies off their backs. If we would all just say screw thee lines in the snow and ride the public land, I assure you they would be forced to change this tact. Pretty soon we would become the thorn in their side and they would have to respond by opening lands for the public to recreate on.
For too long they have just closed areas without just cause. Time to start protesting it in a more tangible fashion. Ride it, make them catch you, if they can.
Anything less is a complete waste of your time money and efforts.
