CLUB UPDATE by Bob Smith – TTF Vice President
Hi Snowmobile Friends
Just wanted to send out a mid-summer club newsletter to keep members up to date on what’s happening behind the scenes this summer and fall so everything is ready for the winter snowmobile season.
Chapman Bone Springs Firewood
Saturday, September 29th at 9am we plan to have a firewood cutting party to fill the Chapman Bone Springs warming shelter. There is rumor of a BBQ afterwards. This is always a fun time so plan to attend even if you’re not a club member. Please bring chain saws and log splitters. The club will provide drinking water and hotdogs when we finish.
Trail Maintenance
Some of our trail marker poles have fallen over and are in need of straightening so if you’re out and about please take the time to straighten a few as you go.
Fire Danger
The Forest Service has listed the current fire danger rating as HIGH so please be careful with fire and check the following web site for current conditions on campfires, firewood cutting and much more.
Know before you go…Umatilla National Forest – Alerts & Notices – Forest Service – USDA
Blue Mountain Forest Plan Revision 2018.
The Blue Mountain Forests including the Umatilla National Forest have been going through a forest plan revision. This is a process to determine how to manage the forests to accommodate the various interest groups such as Logging, Cattle, Environmental, Wildlife, Sportsman and Motorized Access. This includes over the snow (Snowmobiling) and other motorized vehicle access such is 4 wheelers and side x sides. Other considerations are wilderness area designation and many other items that are too numerous to mention in this newsletter. The old plan has been in effect for many years and the USDA is in the process of forming a plan that will designate how our Umatilla National Forest will be managed for many years to come. The plan is getting closer to being finalized and we are down to the final objection period. The 60-day objection period is June 29 to August 29th. This is a big deal to our snowmobile club as it may impact our snowmobiling footprint. The attached link will provide in-depth info on the plan. There are several meetings planned around the area… the closest one in our area is as follows:
August 8, 2018
American Legion Hall
424 NE 8th Ave.
Milton-Freewater, OR
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the American Legion Hall.
Please plan to attend and support our snowmobiling interests.
Click on the following link for more information about the Blue Mountain Forest Plan Revision
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/BlueMountainsPlanRevision.
The following is an Interactive Map Link:
https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7f92f7b2fc944071a423355f447bc0a3
Leadership
We plan to have a pre-season get together over pizza in the Tri-Cities for club leadership to discuss ideas to make our 2018-2019 snowmobile season a great success. If you are a board members or officer, put on your thinking caps and be ready to share your ideas. Date and time coming soon.
We will have updates on our website www.tollgatetrailfinders.org as well as on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/Tollgate-Trail-Finders-Snowmobile-Club-216591179932. Make sure to LIKE us on Facebook so you get the latest updates.
Have a great summer!
Tollgate Trail Finders