Top of Utah Snowmobile
Association
CLUB NEWSLETTER FOR
December 2007
Chairman Kelly Leishman 435-245-4689, V.Chairman Kerry
Hendrickson
Treasurer: Jon Kleven, Willie Duersch, Bryce Berry
(web master), Garth Barker (Search/Rescue),
Dennis Ostermiller, Mike Everhart, LeGrande Ellis, Teri Johnson,
Colter Leishman, Jim Beazer,
Scott Murray, Stuart Speth, Jason Allred, Tony Tuddenham (website)
The TOP OF UTAH SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: The
NEWSLETTER is sent to registered club members. Membership
is October to October. Its time to renew!!!!!!!!
In this issue:
Why Join a Club
Current Snowmobile
Issues
Snowmobile Family of the Year
Why Join a Club?
I have been asked that question many times. I have my reason
for joining the club. But there are many reasons for people
to be a member of a club.
Don Bienvenu joined the club when he moved here from Louisiana.
Not knowing many people in the area or the backcountry around
us his reason was to get to know people that love to snowmobile.
That would connect him with friends who would take him on some
of our trails and show him the backcountry out west.
Jason Summers joined the club because he wanted to be part of
our search and rescue efforts. (You need to be a current member
to be covered by insurances.) We don’t get called out
very often. But it is very rewarding to know you are doing all
you can to possibly save lives.
Legrande Ellis joined because he had Grandson’s that needed
outdoor experiences. Those experiences have helped them grow
up with some great memories of enjoyable times with their Grandpa.
Brent Petersen has been a member of our club for many years
because of his love for snowmobiling. But because of medical
conditions he is no longer able to ride. We still receive his
membership as one of the first each year with a note thanking
us for all we do.
Gary Bowen joined the club from pure peer pressure. He was always
a regular at our fall socials, enjoyed our Dutch oven suppers
and always seemed to win a few of our prizes. He finally joined
the club after several years of coaxing.
Kerry Humphries joined because he was the last one that lived
on Hollow Road that owned a snowmobile and was not a member
of our club.
Kerry Hendrickson joined because my wife Cindy pays him to be
my friend, and still does.
Mike and Laurie Bradshaw joined because… WELL!! I don’t
know why. They never come to our fall social. I have never seen
them on a club ride and they never attended our auction.
Then Why Join a Club? I think Mike and Laurie represent the
majority of our club. They join because of land issues, closures
and rumors of more closures. They understand the importance
of numbers -- organized numbers. When there is a need to attend
a public input meeting or write a letter I can always count
on the Bradshaw’s to be there and voice their opinion.
I applaud all the rest of you who join and support our club
for land issues. We continue to donate to the Blue Ribbon Coalition
and others that battle for our right to ride our public lands.
We continue to manage our membership dues and do fundraisers
so we are ready to help out financially when the need for litigation
comes.
For whatever reason you joined the Top of Utah Snowmobile
Association, we are pleased to have you as a member.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kelly Leishman
With the fall hunts coming to an end, its time
to put our full attention to the upcoming snowmobile season.
I know some of us have been doing the Snow Dance for quit
a while now. With the looks of all the reservoirs we shouldn’t
have any problem getting some help from the Farmers, Boaters,
Fisherman, Ski resorts and frankly anyone who wants to water
their lawns next summer to help out with the SNOW DANCE!!!
As I reflect over the last couple of years with all the changes
that have happened with the White Pine, Steam Mill being opened
back up only to be closed then opened back up there are a
lot of people really confused. I’m not sure how quick
the confusion will all clear up. Most of you know that Rob
Cruz left last spring for a different assignment, We had a
new interim Janet Valle for a 90 day period, we currently
have a new 90 day interim Rick Schuler out of Evanston and
Jack Troyer has retired, so there will be many new faces to
get to know this year. We encourage all to give them a warm
welcome.
We have several items of
business we are currently working on regarding snowmobile
issues.
• We are pleased to announce
that Jennefer Parker will be the new District Ranger in
Logan, Utah, effective January 7, 2008. Jennefer is currently
the Environmental Coordinator on the Clearwater NF in Orofino,
Idaho. Prior to her job as EC she was the Rec Staff Officer
on the North Fork Ranger District. She brings a wealth of
skills and has a great background
in resource management. (Faye Krueger, Forest Supervisor,
Wasatch-Cache NF)
• The Forest service has been installing gates at
several locations to be closed around mid Nov each year
to keep the trucks and ATV’s from doing damage to
the roads. Though we support this agenda they are putting
the gates in locations where there is no room for a 40”
wheeled vehicle to get through, which is what they need
to do to keep all wheeled vehicles out of the closed area,
but that also creates a difficulty getting our snowmobiles
around the gates also. We are talking about some alternatives
to this problem. Most of these gates are in the Dip Hollow,
Right Hand fork area.
• Implementing the reopening of the White Pine, Steam
Mill drainages to snowmobile use. Which will include clarifying
maps, orange poles and signage wherever possible to educate
all wintertime users of the new boundaries.
• UDOT is planning a new turn lane and acceleration
lane at the Beaver Mountain turn off, this is scheduled
for the summer of 2008 the preliminary drawings show moving
the existing road further to the east to make a better visual
from west bound traffic. This will eliminate 65% of the
parking in the lower parking lot. This is State Trust Lands
property (SITLA), which includes both parking lots and Beaver
Mountain. After looking at several different options of
expanding the lower parking lot further eastward, having
possible parking on both sides of the road, and even making
a new one on the south side of the road which is Forest
Service property, we have determined the best solution would
be to expand the upper parking lot. We will keep you informed
on any updates.
• Last, is the Spring Ski race, which closed both
the Franklin Basin and Beaver Creek trails for the majority
of the day? We fought the closure part of the race, with
some very direct letters from both the club and a separate
letter from Utah Division of Parks and Rec and others, which
stated we would not tolerate any closures. They seemed to
rest on deaf ears with Rob Cruz. These are also county roads,
which needed the county’s permission to close, which
happened with out proper authorization there. In your travels
I would suggest you bring this issue up with your county
councilman. Let them know of your displeasure with any closures.
Again we are not trying to deny them the opportunity to
host a ski race, just any closures associated with it.
We look forward to seeing you
on November 17th for our opening social, always a fun night
with great Dutch oven cooking, Live entertainment with Ugly
Earl and the Tumbleweeds. And many great auction items. We
will see you then.
Kelly Leishman
President: Top of Utah Snowmobile Association
******* Garths
corner *******
Everything is quiet on the
home front; I haven’t heard much out of the skier community
except one attempt at fund raising for more litigation. I
really think they would be wasting their money with more lawsuits
unless one of us does something stupid. On that note, mind
your manners and avoid conflicts on the trails, stay out of
their areas, be courteous at the trailheads and I think we
can get along with no more closures.
Last year was slow for rescues and lost sledders lets keep
it that way though I don’t mind going out for a good
search from time to time.
We may have a real District Ranger soon but understand we
do have a new Federal LEO who will be patrolling the back
country on a snowmobile so get on his good side and keep it
that way.
I know it was a skier who thru the first physical punches
in this conflict; my hats off to you guys and gals for keeping
your cool. Let the skiers make fools of them selves not us.
Thanks for all your support over the years.
Garth Barker
Club Public Land Director
If you haven’t paid your membership dues
yet, its that time again.
This is the easiest way to keep your self involved in this
great sport.
Your paid membership helps to keep your great sledding areas
open by giving you a voice in the constant battle to keep
our backcountry open, it pays for your membership in the Utah
Snowmobile Association, you’ll receive great newsletters
keeping you informed of all the latest happenings, and get
your club discount card.
The $35 is by far the best investment in your sleds that you
can make.
You can print up registration forms on line by clicking the
link below.
Membership
Sign Up / Renewal Form
If you are just renewing and all your info is the same all
we need is your money $35
EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL
We need your email addresses. If you haven’t been getting
any of the club emails we need your email address. The fastest
most efficient way to get news out to our club members is
through the Internet. We can get out last minute changes,
the latest news or upcoming meetings. You’ll get a copy
of the newsletter in color, much better then black and white.
Plus we can get pictures out to everyone of your buddies stuck
in the trees.
YOUTH OHV EDUCATION CLASS
Utah State Parks and Recreation offers
a Know Before You Go! Snowmobile education courses. Students
must pre-register for this class and will be notified of the
course time upon registering. Children age 8 to 16 are required
by state law to take a safety class prior to operating snowmobiles
on public lands or trails. To pre-register call 1-800-648-7433.
Only $10
http://stateparks.utah.gov/ohv/education-forms.html
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