Action Alert Notice:
Wanted to share with all of you that we have been having some issues this winter
with ATV's, Jeeps, and Trucks driving the Snowmobile Trails up at Owl Creek and
on the Plateau. The groomed routes have been signed as closed to wheeled
vehicles for many years and we have not had an issue. The Travel
Plan did not speak to the groomed routes being closed to wheeled vehicles and
our law enforcement will not ticket violators unless we do a closure order.
All of our Snowmobile routes on the Plateau and in the Cimmarron are groomed
by the Uncompahgre Valley Trail Riders. This issue is causing major headaches
for the Trail Riders (that is Dan Turner and company) as they have been having
to take the Snowcat out to pull people out. When the vehicles drive the
snowmobile routes it messes up the grooming and people are getting stuck and
having to be pulled out.
We are going to issue a closure order and do a press release to emphasize that
the groomed routes are for the snowmobiles and are closed in the winter to
wheeled vehicles.
Did not want to see anybody be surprised by the action and wanted to let you
know why we are doing it.
I do not believe that any of you are doing this….but know you all can help get
the word out about the concern. What is important for us is to get
the word out that groomed routes are closed to wheeled vehicles and the actions
of a few are affecting the snowmobile experience.
If you have any questions or thoughts on this.... please give me a call.
Tamera Randall-Parker
Ouray District Ranger
Grand