[Geysers] Yellowstone Winter Use Plan (Stephens)

[Seeyellowstone at aol.com]

Reply to the winter use plan,
 
Paul you bring up some good points on the winter use plan.  First of  all, 
I want you to know that the park is heavily patrolled currently in the  
winter and I doubt that would change. I'm sure they would do a sweep if the  
roads are closed at night (which I'm sure they will be).  As for YPSS, I  doubt 
they would open in the winter, fuel is available by credit card.  How  it 
works in the Northern Range, fuel is available at Tower and Mammoth by Credit 
 Card, towing is handled by The Tire Iron in Gardiner (for about 1/2 the 
price  YPSS charges for towing in the summer). I'm sure the West tow companies 
would be  happy to cover the plowed roadways.
 
I think it is important to point out that the snowcoaches breakdown way  
more often than wheeled vehicles, this is of course because most of these  
vehicles are working way harder than they are designed to.  There are  several 
antifreeze, transmission fluid and oil leaks every winter, and my  
experience is that I may see one in the summer, compared to about 3 in the  winter.
 
I feel the park does an outstanding job responding to incidents on 191 and  
the Northern Range Highway at all hours of the night.  I have complete  
confidence that the Park will do the same between Old Faithful, Canyon Mammoth  
and West.
 
As for West Yellowstone, more businesses have closed down this winter as  
the park's capacity is now down to about 600 people per day (if that) from 
the  West Gate.  If the roads are plowed, the park could easily get in 4 or 
5000  people per day using about the same amount of fuel, which would 
translate into  hotel rooms, restaurants, ect. opening back up in West again.  This 
winter  West has looked like it does in the off-season, this includes 
President's day  and Christmas Week. 
 
The potential to increase visitation is really the only way to save the  
town in the winter at this point, 600 people is not too far from 0. West has  
kind of brought this on themselves, because if you don't evolve with change, 
you  die off, and I have heard a couple of the snowmobile operators say 
they are  ok with plowing it, as they can not make it on the low numbers that 
there is  this year (20 snowmobiles per company, 2 of which must be guide 
sleds, so 18 per  company for rent).
 
This would also help West by making more of the park accessible to those  
staying in West by giving West access to the Lamar Valley without switching  
vehicles in Mammoth or driving around through Bozeman.  This allows West to  
add day trips to the Canyon and Old Faithful trips that are already  
offered.
 
In the past I would go in the park on my days off to gaze, and I can't  do 
that anymore because much like most Americans, I can't afford the 60 mile  
trip in Yellowstone in the winter.
 
For those who like the ambiance of over-snow use, snowmobiles and  
snowcoaches would likely continue between The South Entrance and Canyon and Old  
Faithful.  This area is above the inversion, has a lower traffic volume and  is 
unreasonable to plow because of the elevations.
 
As for the East gate, there were less than 100 visitors who traveled this  
road last winter, and I'm sure that number is down more this year.  With  
the thousands of tax payer dollars spent on avalanche control the park  could 
save money by plowing the 12 miles between Cooke City and the  Chief Joseph 
Highway Jct. giving Cody a safe reasonable access.
 
Plowing will also save the park thousands by cutting down the spring  
snowplowing miles, and grooming costs much more than plowing.  It's time  for the 
park to buck up and do what's right for the public, and start saving  some 
of our taxpayer dollars. 
 
Good for the environment, affordable to the public, no off seasons for  
West, more jobs for West, cheaper for the park, plowing is win-win. 
 
Jim Holstein  
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