WINTER SPORTS — A portion of the popular Kings Lake groomed snowmobile route in Pend Oreille County is being closed for the rest of the 2013 season because of a logging operation.

The Colville National Forest and Stimson Lumber Co. announced the closure today as routes will be plowed to accommodate truck traffic.

The snowmobile route provides access to the north shore of Browns Lake.

“While this closure along with the two other we have in the valley this winter will be an impact to the groomed snowmobile routes the area has to offer, there are still a number of options for snowmobiling,” said Gayne Sears, district ranger. The Washington State Parks Sno-Park website features maps of the options. 

The two other closures in place are:

• Cee Cee Ah Creek Road, because of a large storm washout.
• the National Forest portions of the Middle and East Branches Le Clerc Creek Roads, and the Hanlon Cutoff Road due to winter logging operations.

Details from Nan Berger, recreation staffer in Newport:

Only a portion of the entire route is closed. The national forest roads closed are as follows: 1920000 (CCA Road) from the jct. with 1920306 (approx. 10.0 mile mark) to its jct. with 1920306 (approx.. 12.0 mile mark); 5030000 (Browns Lake Road) from the jct. with County Road 3389 (Kings Lake) to its jct. with 5080000 (Sheepherder) at approx. 3.5 mile mark. 5080000 is closed from the jct. with 5030000 to east boundary of section 13 (T34NR44E) approx. 3 mile mark.

Info: Newport Ranger Station, (509) 447-7300, or the Sullivan Lake Ranger Station, (509) 446-7500. 

 

WINTER SPORTS – Idaho snowmobile registrations, which fund trail grooming and access plowing, were down by nearly 8,800 early this month, probably because of meager snowfall to start the season.

That means Idaho Parks and Recreation collected $286,000 less for its snowmobiling programs, or about 20 percent less money for this winter than last winter, the Idaho Statesman reports. 

It’s the first time since 2009 that statewide snowmobile registrations dipped below 30,000, according to Todd Wernex, trails specialist for Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. 

It’s common that fewer snowmobilers register their sleds after a winter with low snowfall, he said. 

Snowmobilers in some areas of the state could find fewer trails groomed, or trails groomed less often, this winter. 

WINTER SPORTS — About a dozen volunteers from the Spokane Winter Knights Snowmobile Club convened at Mount Spokane State Park recently and rolled up their sleeves to get the CCC Cabin near Mount Kit Carson ready for winter.

The group  takes on the annual event to cut and split firewood and neatlyh stock it into the shelter, which is used by a wide range of snowmobilers, skier and snowshoers.