February 2000
Steamboat Springs Chapter Update
The 1999/2000 season has been and continues to be full of action. The Steamboat Springs Chapter of the BSA has named their chapter the Friends of the Routt Backcountry, giving us more of a local identity. The connection with the larger organization will be maintained with Leslie Lovejoy's commitment to serving on the Board of Directors.
The Friends of the Routt Backcountry and local snowmobilers have been serving on a committee since early in 1999. In January 2000, the group officially created a group called the Routt Winter Task Force which works with the Forest Service to discuss solve problems among snowmobilers, skiers, snowshoers, and snowboarders.
The Routt Winter Task Force is working on three main areas where conflicts have occurred: Rabbit Ears Pass, Buffalo Pass, and North Routt. This year we are focusing our attention on Rabbit Ears Pass since there is already a "suggested use" non-motorized area in place. Our goals here have been to beef up the signage along the border of the non-motorized area, place volunteers in the parking lots during weekends to survey and educate both skiers and snowmobilers about the non-motorized and mixed-use areas. (A skier and a snowmobiler make up a volunteer team.) It has been a wonderful learning experience for all of us, and the community effort has been phenomenal. As skiers we have learned that the snowmobilers are for the most part willing to fill out surveys and willing to honor the boundary lines. Everyone has enjoyed the one-on-one contact that the survey teams provide.
It has also been observed that there continue to be some snowmobilers who do not respect these boundary lines and some skiers who continue to try and sabotage the snowmobiles. We hope that we can isolate these folks and try and make them understand that if this continues, then all of the efforts put forth so far will be for naught. If we cannot find solutions ourselves, the Forest Service will make the decisions for the area. This will require enforcement and possibly a "pay for use" system, which no one really wants to see.
On the lighter side, the Friends of the Routt Backcountry have hosted two exciting events. The first was the 2nd Annual Wooden Ski Festival, held on Rabbit Ears Pass this year to bring the skiers attention to the area on which we are presently focused. This free event brings skiers of all ages and abilities together to see how people used to ski -- on wooden skis! The day was wonderful with fresh snow, and 24 pairs of beautiful vintage skis out to grace the snow.
We also held our first Backcountry Ball, which was a smashing success with over 200 attendees. In Steamboat, we love to dance! Thanks to B&K Distributors for donating the refreshments. Items donated for the raffle included a pair of skis donated by Backdoor Sports, Scarpa T2 boots from Ski Haus, ski poles from Straight Line Sports, and Ascension kicker skins, Outdoor Research Mittens and a John Fielder book donated by Westcliffe Publishers. The funds raised from this event will help pay for signage and other costs associated with the Rabbit Ears Pass Project.
Many thanks to Jim Linville, Ken Kruse, Gigi Walker, Kent Eriksen, and the many other volunteers who have helped to make this all a success.