Here are the root level links that show all of the documents for the proposed changes:
Root Folder Link:
CLICK HERE
Link to the full document with PDF Maps:
CLICK HERE
The thirty-day comment period starts today, Sunday, November 3rd, 2013, and notice should have been posted in the Steamboat Pilot newspaper, according to Ken Foster's email.
As you can see from the map, parking areas will slightly increase, as will the opportunity to maneuver larger trailers. However, the biggest change to this area is closing the parking areas along the highway and the introduction of designated turn lanes at the new and existing approved parking areas. The major push behind this improvement was safety.
The DOT has looked at the stream of accidents over the last few years, and has found that area unacceptable. Instead of giving people another reason to shut down riding areas (ie traffic safety), please make sure to, at a minimum, support the safety changes that would help prevent accidents from occurring in the future.
My opinion, for anyone who cares, is that growing snowmobiling as a sport is critical to keeping it alive. Even on the busiest of days at Rabbit Ears, I know that personally, once I get past the first few meadows, I rarely ever see another person. I want to preserve riding areas that are safe to visit, for my kids, for people that love the sport, and for people that are new to the sport, to encourage the continued success of our sport and passion. The forest belongs to everyone, and I suggest that we, as snowmobilers unite towards expanding access and our passion. This goes hand in hand with expanding the economic impact to proximal areas like Kremmling, Walden, Steamboat, and more.
Look at what the opponents to motorized recreation are doing. We don't ever see them bickering about adding more parking space to a ski area, or to a staging area for backcountry skiing. And, because they can present a unified front, it is often easier for forest planners and managers to say that, yes, this is the popular and correct choice to make for a tentative change.
Snowmobiling at Rabbit Ears will continue to gain in popularity. It has become a recognized destination, across the United States for snowmobilers. Why not provide a safe and viable solution to the increased activity, while supporting our local communities?
I'm not trying to rag on anyone, and this is just my opinion. Please take a moment FIRST READ THE FULL DOCUMENT, and then to submit your comments directly to the forest service at:
comments-rm-medicine-bow-routt-hahns-peak-bears-ears@fs.fed.us
