Snowmos in Jellystone

HOLY COW. Sometimes, the system actually works:

NY Times Story (need free membership)

Here's the gist:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 — On the eve of the winter snowmobile season in Yellowstone National Park, a federal district judge on Tuesday evening struck down the Bush administration's regulations permitting more than 950 snowmobiles a day in the park.

The judge, Emmet G. Sullivan, said the Clinton administration's decision to phase out snowmobile use in that sweeping landscape of canyons, geysers and jagged horizons had been arbitrarily reversed.

With the latest rule invalidated, an earlier regulation holding the maximum number of machines to 493 in Yellowstone and 50 in nearby Grand Teton National Park and the road connecting the two goes into effect, a park spokeswoman said.

Next winter, she said, a full ban goes into effect if Judge Sullivan's ruling stands.

The ruling bristled with sharp characterizations of the Bush administration's actions.
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YES!!!!!!!!!

x-post

i care a lot more about the sanctity of yellowstone in the wintertime than i do about motels.

Praise da Lord! Park workers wearing gas masks and earplugs - no more!

Hoorayy!!!

Saw last night that that decision was expected any minute, glad it came down on Jellystone's side.

Sadly, haven't been to Yellowstone yet, I was hoping that there might be some semblance of nature left by the time I got there. News report showed park workers wearing respirators for fuk's sake because of all the snomo traffic :eek:

I'm sure I'm gonna get hammered for this, but this is facking bs. There's other options than not letting the snowmobilers in, at least let in 4 strokes, they aren't any worse than cars. What the hell are they going to do next, not let anyone in. As in my other post, what the hell is the use preserving it is no one is going to see it.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by crashnburn'd
what the hell is the use preserving it is no one is going to see it. [/QUOTE

F That. Have you ever been to Old Faithful in WInter? Have you ever smelt the exhaust at the gates? Have you ever yelled at a redneck for chasing bison off trail?

Give the animals a break! You live in MN, try and go sleep outside for the winter and see how you fair.

I feel for the communities like W. Yellowstone, but does capitalism have the right trump EVEYTHING else, apparantly not.

Quote:

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Originally posted by crashnburn'd
what the hell is the use preserving it is no one is going to see it.

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Are you high? This is a ski forum. Put a pack on and ski in!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jiffy

Quote:

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Originally posted by crashnburn'd
what the hell is the use preserving it is no one is going to see it. [/QUOTE

F That. Have you ever been to Old Faithful in WInter? Have you ever smelt the exhaust at the gates? Have you ever yelled at a redneck for chasing bison off trail?

Give the animals a break! You live in MN, try and go sleep outside for the winter and see how you fair.

I feel for the communities like W. Yellowstone, but does capitalism have the right trump EVEYTHING else, apparantly not.

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YES

1. Yes I have
2. Yes I have
3. No, have you ever seen how big a damn bison is? I'm sure as hell not going to chase it off the trail.

As for giving the animals a break, I have, but I don't get your point. I don't think capitalism shold trump everything, but there are alternatives to banning things.

For you Benny - how many people here would take a tow in somewhere if it was offered for them.

Quote:

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Originally posted by crashnburn'd
what the hell is the use preserving it is no one is going to see it.

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How about preserving for nature's sake? People don't have to see it to make it worth protecting.

I suppose you favor drilling in the ANWR, too, becuase you aren't planning a vacation there anytime soon.

Quote:

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Originally posted by The AD
How about preserving for nature's sake? People don't have to see it to make it worth protecting.

I suppose you favor drilling in the ANWR, too, becuase you aren't planning a vacation there anytime soon.

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Yep, sure do. :rolleyes: You have a good point though, what I meant and should have said is since it is such a unique and beautiful place, they should work to try to keep it open to everyone who want's to see it. I totally agree that if it's going to completley destroy the place, people shouldn't be allowed in, but do I think thats going to happen, NO. Point being, people jump to conclusions because of things that have been happening in the past. Just because snowmobiles have been smoky pigs for 40 years, it doesn't mean they will be in the future. Take a look at any of the manufacturers, they all have 4 strokes available.

Quote:

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Originally posted by crashnburn'd
I'm sure I'm gonna get hammered for this, but this is facking bs. There's other options than not letting the snowmobilers in, at least let in 4 strokes, they aren't any worse than cars. What the hell are they going to do next, not let anyone in. As in my other post, what the hell is the use preserving it is no one is going to see it.

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so they should let motorcycles off road in the summer too>?
shit if nobody sees it it aint worth nuttin

Wyoming & Montana are FUKKING HUGE!
you know how many places there are to wind it out>?

Quote:

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Originally posted by crashnburn'd
Just because snowmobiles have been smoky pigs for 40 years, it doesn't mean they will be in the future. Take a look at any of the manufacturers, they all have 4 strokes available.

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For me the pollution is a secondary issue to the depletion of energy reserves that wildlife suffers in the winter. The respirators do make an argument that the "typical" american can understand though.

Winters are so long and hard in Jellystoned that the animals deserve a rest if they are expected to survive. Personally, i think they need to limit the traffic in the summer too. Establish a car quota and bus everyone else.
If Yellowstone is suppossed to be the "crown jewel" of the parks system then it deserves to be treated as such.

Yes i think there is a compromise b/w access and preservation, but for the first time that i can remember a judge decided that the environment is on equal footing with human rights and capitalism. Hopefully, this case will spark a reformation in the way our lands are managed.

Conversely, i feel for those in towns like West Yellowstone. Of course a smart businessperson would have a contigency, but this ruling should have been handed down long ago. Business in that town derive a majority of the income from the snowmobiling biz, and there world is on its head 2 weeks before xmas? that suxs.
But then again we all make choices and have to accept the potential outcomes.

There's plenty of forest service trails for 'bilers to ride on around there anyway.