3 snowmobilers cited in Mokelumne Wilderness
By AP
The U.S. Forest Service has issued a warning after citing four snowmobilers for illegally riding in a designated federal wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada.
The snowmobilers were cited for riding last week in the Mokelumne Wilderness on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
The wilderness is located in Alpine County west of Markleeville, and the snowmobilers entered from Hope Valley off Highway 88.
Carson Ranger District spokesman Dan Morris said the citations are not to be taken lightly because fines range from $425 to $5,000.
He noted the use of snowmobiles and other mechanized equipment is illegal in such designated wilderness areas.
He said the wilderness is posted as closed to motorized use, and the four snowmobilers were observed entering the wilderness directly next to closure signs.
Finally the “ranger cops” were in the right place, at the right time!
Yea, Because Snowmobiles are soooo much more impactful than horses….
Stop making the poor animal carry you around all the time.
The fines should be higher and maybe lose of their sleds. These are the one the will ruin it for the rest of us.
The law is pretty clear and they knowingly (or stupidly and they went in by the sign) enter the wilderness area illegally. They deserve what they got.
If I get a speeding ticket for driving over the posted limit – oh well, I’m bad and I must suffer the consequences and not whine.
Don’t be a whiner.
Rick
YEAH! Nature-1, irresponsable snowmobilers-0
nature bats last!!!
I snowmobiled these areas for 20 years and never saw any sign that where we went caused any damage to the forest or anything else. If your a responsible Snowmobiler you don’t damage the area, you just enjoy it.
The same rule applies to off road A.T.V.,Jeeps etc,etc Just be responsible.
XLocal: These snowmobiles enter the wilderness next to a sign that prohibited their access. Whether or not they believed they were not causing damage is not relevant. The fact that snowmobiles, ATVs, jeeps, mt bikes, etc. are not allowed in the wilderness areas is what is relevant – plain and simple, that is the law and well known. If you enter the wilderness area with one of these types of vehicles you are breaking the law and if caught you will and should be fined. Not at all complicated.
I do not snowmobile or ride ATVs but I do mt. bike, and I will not enter a wilderness area as they is a clear violation of the law and I have plenty of legal trails to ride.
Rick
“I snowmobiled these areas for 20 years and never saw any sign that where we went caused any damage to the forest or anything else”
Because you never looked, never looked at other cases, and were not capable of studying the impacts in any way.
It would be like saying ‘i drove drunk and nothing happened.’ in response to learning an article about someone being caught for DUI.