Snowmobiles Panned

Mount Spokane State Park

Snowmobiles are a target while Washington State Parks officials collect input on a new management plan for Mount Spokane.

Several letters have been received asking park planners to further restrict or eliminate snowmobile use within the park.

A letter from The Spokane Mountaineers, representing nearly 1,000 members, says:

“The problems caused by snowmobiling have become progressively worse, making the winter experience substantially less enjoyable.

“Despite attempts to sign and fence off the ski areas from snowmobiles, it’s well documented that snowmobilers regularly ignore the boundary markers, often damaging them in the process.”

As an alternative to eliminating snowmobiles, the group asks the park planners to “provide for and enforce snowmobile rules inside the park boundaries including the current requirement that snowmobiles stay on the groomed trail system.”