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By Cameron Hanson
Managing Editor, Iowa Snowmobiler
Not unexpectedly, snowmobile access to public lands--and Yellowstone
National Park in particular--resurfaced during discussion at the 2006
International Snowmobile Congress (ISC) in June in Vermont.
According to Ed Klim, president of the International Snowmobile
Manufacturers Association, the Congressional elections this November
will certainly have an impact on the future of snowmobiling in the park
system, and he asked ISC attendees to rate the candidates on their views
and voting records on Yellowstone and other such hot-button topics as
the Healthy Forests Initiative and the Endangered Species Act.
“These are all important issues to snowmobilers,” Klim said. “Look at
them and how they relate to the candidates to gauge how they feel about
snowmobiling. You’ve got to know the players. We are going to continue
to argue with our detractors and continue to tell the truth about
snowmobiling.”
Also stressing the importance of remaining informed was Dr. Emilyn
Sheffield, professor of recreation at California State University, Chico,
and one of three keynote speakers at the ISC. Sheffield is chair of the
largest undergraduate recreation department in the western United States
and has worked for more than 20 years with federal, state and local
groups to increase support for public lands.
“Snowmobiling is one of the few activities on public lands that generates
income, but don’t think that will protect our rights,” she said in a break-
out session, as reported in a daily recap of ISC events. “The legislators
created the public lands and they can dismantle them. We need to stay
connected with the legislators...Don’t underestimate the lack of
knowledge that most non-snowmobilers have about nature.”
This year’s Congress was hosted by the Vermont Association of Snow
Travelers at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center June 7-
10. Vermont Gov. James Douglas welcomed attendees to his state, and a
dozen members of the ISSA registered for the event. In addition to
keynote speakers, they were involved in various ACSA meetings,
seminars and receptions.
For continued reading, see the September 2006 issue of the Iowa Snowmobiler.
Managing Editor, Iowa Snowmobiler
Not unexpectedly, snowmobile access to public lands--and Yellowstone
National Park in particular--resurfaced during discussion at the 2006
International Snowmobile Congress (ISC) in June in Vermont.
According to Ed Klim, president of the International Snowmobile
Manufacturers Association, the Congressional elections this November
will certainly have an impact on the future of snowmobiling in the park
system, and he asked ISC attendees to rate the candidates on their views
and voting records on Yellowstone and other such hot-button topics as
the Healthy Forests Initiative and the Endangered Species Act.
“These are all important issues to snowmobilers,” Klim said. “Look at
them and how they relate to the candidates to gauge how they feel about
snowmobiling. You’ve got to know the players. We are going to continue
to argue with our detractors and continue to tell the truth about
snowmobiling.”
Also stressing the importance of remaining informed was Dr. Emilyn
Sheffield, professor of recreation at California State University, Chico,
and one of three keynote speakers at the ISC. Sheffield is chair of the
largest undergraduate recreation department in the western United States
and has worked for more than 20 years with federal, state and local
groups to increase support for public lands.
“Snowmobiling is one of the few activities on public lands that generates
income, but don’t think that will protect our rights,” she said in a break-
out session, as reported in a daily recap of ISC events. “The legislators
created the public lands and they can dismantle them. We need to stay
connected with the legislators...Don’t underestimate the lack of
knowledge that most non-snowmobilers have about nature.”
This year’s Congress was hosted by the Vermont Association of Snow
Travelers at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center June 7-
10. Vermont Gov. James Douglas welcomed attendees to his state, and a
dozen members of the ISSA registered for the event. In addition to
keynote speakers, they were involved in various ACSA meetings,
seminars and receptions.
For continued reading, see the September 2006 issue of the Iowa Snowmobiler.
