A grave concern is for the rights of private owners to access their property in the
winter. For example, the road above Albany was blocked off in April to allow the Cheyenne
water contractors to bulldoze the trail to start early work on the pipeline. Private
landowners are faced with rapidly increasing property taxes. It is grossly unfair to limit
or restrict access for these property owners who receive limited services from their
county taxes.
Sleds create more of an influx of funds because of fees, hotels, fuel, meals, etc. This
is a valuable asset to both Laramie and Centennial. Skiers tend to flock to Steamboat. The
skiers will definitely take a back seat for this, because few people travel from Iowa,
Neb, Colo, to ski the Snowies, even though it is a great place to ski. We should value
both groups contribution, although my family has tapered off dining in Centennial café
due to an anti-sled atmosphere (no one has troubled us to ask how the skiing was when we
do that).
Snowmobilers pay a high cost for their sport--more than other winter recreational users.
Many of the same people who complain and moan about the noise and smell are business
owners who gladly accept the money from snowmobilers. Snowmobiling will pick up the
slack in our economy once we leave the safety of our mineral/gas royalties. Start
planning now and have some foresight (which is asking a lot in Wyoming).
Winter recreation supports the local communities. That cash infusion is the 'vote' that
counts the most.
I would like to be sure local communities and businesses prosper from all winter
sporting activities. People need to be educated on private property laws and respect.
Genuine concern for each other's rights must be the priority. We cannot take another's
right away without damaging our own freedoms.
This is a touchy subject! It pits friend against friend and neighbor against neighbor.
Local businesses, home owners, etc. benefit from a stable and safe and welcoming
recreation environment--right now people are upset and that effects the other areas of the
community such as friendliness and neighborly help.
Access to public land must be maintained for all of the public. Local businesses do
depend on the public use of USFS land near Laramie. Opportunities for motorized and
non-motorized recreation should be provided.
The Forest has private cabins. We must be careful not to regulate the Forest for the
purpose of privatizing the land for the sole benefit of adjacent land owners. Hunters see
ads for private land hunts "adjacent" to Nat'l Forest Land. If we keep the
public out does this unfairly benefit these private holdings?
Their rights must be protected.
The very reason that Wyoming is seeing a huge increase in winter recreation is because
other states have regulated theirs too much.
Local communities need all winter recreation and we feel the economy would be adversely
affected by the elimination of snowmobiling particularly in these communities. Let's try
to advocate all users to respect landowners but elimination is not the answer.
A lot has been said about the money snowmobilers bring into the local economy. What
about money lost by skiers and snowshoers who don't come here because the huge and
unregulated snowmobile traffic has made going to the Med Bow too unpleasant.
I have a cabin in White Rock Estates on Rd 111 So of Arlington. Trail "O"
snowmobile is my only access to my winter use area. We live to snowmobile and need access
to our property. My wife is ill and can't walk or snowshoe the 6-8 miles. We pay use fees
and taxes to support these.
I think winter recreation is the lifeblood in the winter for most related Wyoming
communities.
Local landowners are very concerned about possible contamination of the watershed by
excess numbers of snowmobilers.
Local landowners are closing access roads to all users because of perceived
abuse/arrogance of snowmobilers. (Access to Lake Owen via Fox Creed Rd.)
Locals have been poor at communicating issues to agencies and out-of-towners.
May out-of-towners speak to locals w/arrogance.
I have a cabin near Rob Roy Reservoir and my only access in the winter is by snowmobile.
By the way we x-country ski around the area once we are there. I also have elderly parents
and a small grandchild who can get in in the winter by snowmobiling.
I have a snowmobile to access a cabin near Turpine Reservoir. Really the only way to get
there is from the Green Rock parking area. Elk Mountain and Arlington have no road
maintenance or parking areas. Every other way requires stashing gas along trail for days!
Local communities are often the worst stewards of public lands. This is because they are
bored by them. They are blinded by their own proximity. I live next to a National Forest
but I never forget that it is Public land. I don't own it anymore than I won the
peacekeeper nuclear missiles that are beneath our feet. They belong to every American
Citizen.
We have a parent who is disabled and can only use our cabin in the winter by snowmobile
access.
Landowners, you moved to these areas for the same reason users visit these areas. We
just have a different address. I don't own a piece of the national Forest then why do we
call it national and why do I pay the taxes I do! Give us all a chance to enjoy the
forest.
Snowmobilers fly by private cabins at all times of night.
Snowmobiling brings a lot of money to Laramie and the state of Wyoming.
I have a cabin that we snowmobile into--does this mean that I am out of luck using it
when I want because it is surrounded by forest service land which is owned by the tax
payer?
We have property in Keystone (owned) The situation in Yellowstone is crazy (no
snowmobiles over a period of years) We pay county taxes. They have increased. Please do
not disallow snowmobiling to gain access to private property even public roads.
There seems to be much concern about a concerted effort by the federal government to
close off access to much public land. People feel that Yellowstone is only the beginning
(snowmobiling access) and will filter down to the national forests in the country &
the Snowy Range will be the first.
If the national forest belongs to all citizens of the US, WHY is one small minority of
citizens (snowmobilers) being allowed to run rough shod over it for 9 months??
Education to respect private property and to stay off put on acc public maps clearly!
Travel lightly &leave your area cleaner than you found it.
All people should try & work together, a lot of people have land &cabins that
are only reached by snow machines during winter.
I'm concerned about losing the natural beauty in my backyard for the price of commerce
and profit
Our local dollars are paying for rescuing snowmobilers who don't pay the
"registration & license" fee
We don't have enough money (as a community) to support snowmobile issues in the MBNF
(ask local law enforcement & search and rescue)
How much $ does the skier spend @ the fuel stop? Laramie is going to suffer if sleds
don't fuel
I own land in the recreation area and have had no problems.
Recreation is a quality of life issue for all of us.