Logging in the north end of the Snowy Range Mountains, which will effectively close about 36 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, has the green light to begin Dec. 15.
A finalized “forest order” for the logging has been issued, meaning the operation is clear to go, Aaron Voos, spokesman for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, told Cowboy State Daily.
‘We’ll See How It Goes’
Some snowed-in Forest Service roads in the Snowy Range are groomed for snowmobile travel each winter. This year, logging companies will be allowed to plow more roads than usual to run logging trucks.
That raised some concern among snowmobilers, as well as people who own cabins in the mountains.
However, most to the usual 183 miles of groomed trails in the Snowy Range will remain open, said Forrest Kamminga, program manager for Wyoming State Trails.
Main trails running to and from lodges and other businesses that rely on snowmobile traffic will remain open, he said.
Cabin owners also will be permitted to use the plowed roads to drive to their properties.
None of the “off-trail” snowmobiling in the Snowy Range will be affected by the logging, Voos said. Off-trail riding is one of the biggest attractions that draws snowmobilers to the Snowy Range from all over the country.
As to whether the same routes will be plowed next year or during subsequent winters, that remains to be seen, Voos said.
“Right now, it’s just for one year,” he said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
