by Rachel Odell The Bulletin A furious group of snowmobilers derided Deschutes National Forest officials Tuesday night for banning the machines from about 1,375 acres near and around Tumalo Mountain. By keeping snowmobilers from riding on the west face of Tumalo Mountain the agency is cutting off access to gentle slopes and meadows where beginner snowmobilers learn the basic of off-road traveling, said John Hickey of Bend. We’ve rode up there for years and years, and as our sport grows you are cutting us out. Hickey said during the meeting at the Bend Community Center. Roughly 75 people attended the meeting, the vocal majority of which were snowmobilers. Thought out the night the crowd shouted angry questions about the Forest Service’s motives to Walt Schloer, district ranger for the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District. Schloer announced his decision to ban snowmobile use on April 30. He said that is was unsafe to have snowmobilers and skiers share trails at the popular Dutchman Flat area off of Century Drive and on the mountain. With the Dutchman Flat parking lot situated at its base, Tumalo Mountain is one of the most accessible backcountry areas for winter recreationists. It is also one of the most popular areas. Throughout the meeting, snowmobilers said they felt betrayed and confused by the agency’s decision. Veteran snowmobiler Frank Ellis reminded the agency that snowmobile clubs groom the majority of trails used by winter recreationists and said he felt that work was unappreciated. After 35 years of working for nothing for you guys, this doesn’t mean a whole helluva lot, Ellis told Schloer. “What you’re saying, what the skiers are saying is you guys can groom it, we’ll use it, we’ll let you use it for a little while and then we will kick your..out of there.” Schloer defended his decision saying that he had stacks of written complaints from skiers and snowshoers of close calls, confrontations and other negative interactions with snowmobilers. Two skiers jumped to the agency’s defense during the hour and half long meeting and their comments elicited jeers and criticism from the snowmobilers in the crowd. Dale Neubauer a long time advocate for restricting snowmobile use at the area told a personal story, when a snowmobiler sped within several feet of him during a backcountry excursion. Neubauer said he felt the charge was malicious and admonished snowmobilers for using those tactics. “When you have a 500 pound machine come full throttle at you, you have two options, Neubauer said. “You can get out of his way, or you can take your ski and decapitate him. One’s legal, one’s not.” Schloer’s decision culminates a winter during which the Forest Service held a two-day summit to reconcile the conflicts between snowmobilers and skiers. Complaints have ranged from concerns over a lack of parking to excessive snowmobile speeds to unsafe conditions. Some snowmobilers argue the issues have been exaggerated by media coverage and a handful of vocal skiers. Schloer said Tuesday night that the closures are final and may not be appealed. In exchange for banning snowmobiles from the area, the Forest Service has proposed building a new sno-park at the juncture of Forest Service Road 45, the road to Sunriver and Century Drive. However officials do not currently have funding to build the park, Schloer said. Forest Service spokeswoman Sue Olson said the earliest the park could be built would be in the summer of 2005. Rachel Odell can be reached at 541-617-7811 or rodell@bendbulletin.com FYI; Walt Schloer will go up on Tumalo Mtn and take another look. Peggy and John Spieger will ask to go with them. Also OSSA is pushing for 200’ or 300' or 1/2 & 1/2 on Dutchman. Walt said the forest service is not hearing from the snowmobiler’s and are not getting complaints from the snowmobilers about conflicts with other users of the Dutchman Flat/Tumalo Mountain area. Walt stated the forest service has received several complains from cross country skiers about close calls with snowmobiles in these areas. |