Snowmobilers Rip It Up at Tony Grove w/Photos

On the afternoon of October 29, 2006, we hiked from Tony Grove Lake to Cold Water Spring (pictured to the left). The distance is 1.5 miles on a trail closed to motorized vehicles with wheels but evidently open to snowmobiles.

I took a few pictures along the way and I'm going to submit a report to the Forest Service. The report will be filed through the Bear River Watershed Council's effective "SNO" program.

When we arrived at the lake there was no snow on the parking lot or on the trail going across the dam. As we started walking we noticed several snowmobiles had driven thru the mud across the dam. We followed the Cold Water Trail to the CW Spring as had several snowmobiles. The deepest snow cover was 6 inches (average depth was 2 inches) and there were distances of over 50 meters that had absolutely no snow but this did not stop the snowmobilers from doing what they do best- rip it up.

This picture was taken along the trail. The recently released FS Preliminary Environmental Assessment document states that snowmobiles do not access this area until there is adequate snow coverage. This statement is used to endorse the recommended "Proposed Alternative" designed to drastically decrease the acreage set aside for non-motorized use.

Remnants of a way-gnarly-solid- mud "rooster tail." About half way between TG Lake and CW Sprg.

Alot of young trees were killed.

This shot was taken of very recent snowmobile tracks at the Backcountry Trailhead near Tony Grove Lake on Oct 29th. I followed the motorized bush whacking tracks across this sage brush meadow.

The final three images are of the Tony Grove Campground/Off Road Vehicle Park.
Interestingly on October 29th the SL Tribune ran a story on page B12 entitled "Snowmobiles tear up the sod at annual drag race on grass." The article said the racers top 100 mph!