mike1 Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 Finally a step in the right direction... Mount St. Helens sets snowmobile boundaries Posted by Terry Richard, The Oregonian December 29, 2008 15:31PM Olivia Bucks/The Oregonian Mount St. Helens managers have adopted new regulations for snowmobiles. A non-motorized zone along the Monitor Ridge and Worm Flows climbing routes on the south flank of Mount St. Helens has been established by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The climbing routes are being closed to snowmobile use to improve safety for winter climbers, skiers and snowshoers. Officials have also made mandatory climbing permits for ALL winter visitors who travel above 4,800 feet on the southwest Washington volcano. This is a change from previous policy that exempted snowmobiles from the climbing permit requirement. Last April, a snowmobiler fell into the crater of the volcano and had to be rescued. Tom Mulder, manager of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, said that closing the climbing route to snowmobiles increases safety and enhances the experience of climbers and skiers while still accommodating snowmobile use on the south side of the mountain. The permit requirement helps track use. When assistance is needed, the climbers' register helps emergency responders identify who is on the mountain. Between Nov. 1 and March 31, permits are required for all travel above 4,800 feet on Mount St. Helens. They are free and available by self-registration at Marble Mountain Sno-Park and at the Climber's Register at the Lone Fir Resort in Cougar, Wash. During the spring climbing season, April 1 to May 14, permits cost $22 and are available for advance purchase on-line. Permits for the May 15 to Oct. 31 summer climbing season are limited to 100 climbers per day and will be sold on-line on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 a.m. PST on Feb. 1. Detailed information about the Mount St. Helens climbing permit system and the non-motorized climbing corridor is available on-line at www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/mount-st-helens/permit-system.shtml A map of the non-motorized zone is available on-line at www.fs.fed.us -- Terry Richard; terryrichard@news.oregonian.com Quote
shortstow Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 now it is time to see if the snow-machines will follow the rules Quote
Reilly Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 I don't recall any snowmobiles on the Shoestring Glacier route. Hmmm.... A cougar did try to join me at the start though! She didn't have her own Terrordactyl and there wasn't a rope to tie onto so away she went, mad as hell! Quote
Frikadeller Posted January 24, 2009 Posted January 24, 2009 So does this mean that I am going to see climbing rangers hiding behind obstacles trying to catch morons like me, who refuse to get a permit? I guess I'll find out tomorrow.. Quote
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