<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1264" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 2/13/2005 23:16:18 PM Pacific Standard Time, srlb@eskimo.com writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>Though typically brilliant rule<BR>making, the NPS has reduced the number of winter visitors to Yellowstone's<BR>interior by nearly two thirds.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As pointed out by the article, some of this may be due to a "new attitude" among visitors, and quite a lot due to the court cases and NPS decisions -- but I also wonder how much might be due to the snowpack (or lack thereof). I haven't gone to the effort to look at specifics for West Yellowstone and vicinity, but I do know 1) the snowpack in western Montana is said to be about 25% (only) of normal, where at least five ski resorts are closed because of the lack of snow; 2) the YNP daily report has cited Fountain Flats snow as "thin"; and 3) there have been times this season, I believe, when snowmobiles were _not_ allowed into the park but coaches on rubber track and even wheeled vans _were_ allowed in. Seems to me that all this can make quite a difference.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If there is a "new attitude," the success or lack of success of the "1st Annual" big snow mobile festival to be held in West in March might be especially telling. It will, I think, be held the weekend after the park closes. (If there's snow!)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Scott Bryan</DIV></BODY></HTML>