I had posted up recently on threads concerning Mike Wiegele and his latest media campaign against snowmobiling.
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Call+backcountry+snowmobile/1560067/story.html
Besides venting... My posts really served no constructive purpose.
I belive that this recent publicity and others like it make this an important issue for both Canadian AND USA snomobilers.
I propose this plan to help deal with, in a constructive way, Mr. Wiegele’s position that snowmobile deaths related to avalanches have become an epidemic and that snomobiles should be BANNED in the backcountry because of it.
We, as an organized group of snowmobilers, should kick off an early season meeting of snomobilers in Blue River to conduct a sled specific Avalanche training and awarness session for a large group of snomobilers in this area. Late November/early December….
This could be conducted with the assistance of the Blue River Community, administration, Businesses and as many other supporters as possible. Companies like SOS, BCA, ABS and other avy backpack companies, BRP, Arctic Cat, Polaris, Yamaha, and the Canadian/USA Avalanche centers could be invited to participate.
Make it an effective and informative session with classroom and on snow sessions that would last a long weekend and have good media coverage to promote the better image of snomobiles and the awarness of avalance dangers in the backcountry.
This would also serve the purpose of training good ambassadors for the sport to spread the word in our own communities and riding areas about safe/responsible operation in avalanche areas.
I think that opening this opportunity, with great press coverage, local/regional support would be a step forward in promoting the responsible, aware image of sledding in the backcountry.
Publicly invite Mr. Wiegele and others to participate in a constructive way rather than generating the bad media that he has produced towards snowmobiling in the backcountry.
I believe that now, this year, is a VERY important “tipping point” for national awareness of snowmobiles that could go either way in the fostering of a GOOD image towards snowmobiling. If the Public has this reckless image of backcountry snowmobilers… it won’t be long before we are relegated to the radar enforced trails in many of the areas we love to explore the beauty of the mountains.
PLEASE, no bashing of Mr. Wiegele on this post… Let’s focus on how to make the situation a positive one for the sledding community as a whole.
Also, BTW, I am an American; I've enjoyed sledding often in B.C. as well as having been on Heli trips with Wiegele and with other heli operators. I am an avid snowmobiler and snowboarder and I consider the Backcountry experience, no matter what I ride, to be a big part of my life.
Please post up your suggestions for a plan of action on this in A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY!
Thanks in Advance
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Call+backcountry+snowmobile/1560067/story.html
Besides venting... My posts really served no constructive purpose.
I belive that this recent publicity and others like it make this an important issue for both Canadian AND USA snomobilers.
I propose this plan to help deal with, in a constructive way, Mr. Wiegele’s position that snowmobile deaths related to avalanches have become an epidemic and that snomobiles should be BANNED in the backcountry because of it.
We, as an organized group of snowmobilers, should kick off an early season meeting of snomobilers in Blue River to conduct a sled specific Avalanche training and awarness session for a large group of snomobilers in this area. Late November/early December….
This could be conducted with the assistance of the Blue River Community, administration, Businesses and as many other supporters as possible. Companies like SOS, BCA, ABS and other avy backpack companies, BRP, Arctic Cat, Polaris, Yamaha, and the Canadian/USA Avalanche centers could be invited to participate.
Make it an effective and informative session with classroom and on snow sessions that would last a long weekend and have good media coverage to promote the better image of snomobiles and the awarness of avalance dangers in the backcountry.
This would also serve the purpose of training good ambassadors for the sport to spread the word in our own communities and riding areas about safe/responsible operation in avalanche areas.
I think that opening this opportunity, with great press coverage, local/regional support would be a step forward in promoting the responsible, aware image of sledding in the backcountry.
Publicly invite Mr. Wiegele and others to participate in a constructive way rather than generating the bad media that he has produced towards snowmobiling in the backcountry.
I believe that now, this year, is a VERY important “tipping point” for national awareness of snowmobiles that could go either way in the fostering of a GOOD image towards snowmobiling. If the Public has this reckless image of backcountry snowmobilers… it won’t be long before we are relegated to the radar enforced trails in many of the areas we love to explore the beauty of the mountains.
PLEASE, no bashing of Mr. Wiegele on this post… Let’s focus on how to make the situation a positive one for the sledding community as a whole.
Also, BTW, I am an American; I've enjoyed sledding often in B.C. as well as having been on Heli trips with Wiegele and with other heli operators. I am an avid snowmobiler and snowboarder and I consider the Backcountry experience, no matter what I ride, to be a big part of my life.
Please post up your suggestions for a plan of action on this in A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY!
Thanks in Advance
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