April 1999
Improvements at Vail Pass
We have seen major improvement this season in conflicts between motorized and non-motorized users at Vail Pass. The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, local hut owners and many hut users report that snowmobile incursions into non-motorized areas are significantly down from previous years. Last June, Martha Kettelle, Supervisor for the White River National Forest, signed an order making the separate use areas enforceable. This change has increased compliance with the plan and reduced snowmobile/skier conflicts which have escalated over the past 10 years as increasingly powerful snowmobiles are able to access more difficult terrain.
We are encouraged that our years of work to reclaim routes and ski terrain as quiet zones is making a difference. Without our efforts over the past 10 years there would be little opportunity to enjoy a quiet backcountry experience at Vail Pass. The BSA will continue to support the effective use of fees to manage use separation in the Vail Pass area. We are also exploring the idea of a ski park program to fund trailhead plowing throughout the state and to manage highly-used areas like Vail Pass. While skier and snowmobiler visits are slightly down this year due to lower than normal snowfall, we are cautiously optimistic that the improvements will continue next season.