Before Smokey Bear - but still an accurate message!

Forest Service Cuts

The U.S. Forest Service recently held an employee-wide phone call to announce that it will not be hiring any seasonal workers outside of wildfire in 2025. In Fiscal Year 2025, they will not be hiring any temporary employees outside of fire.

“Temporary” employees may sound like reasonably expendable pieces of the Forest Service, however that is not the case. Temporary / seasonal employees are key to recreation! They build and maintain trails and campgrounds, bathrooms and signage, among many other duties.

The Forest Service has talked about their budget crisis since the beginning of this year when a hiring "pause" was put into place, which turned into a hiring "freeze", and now this latest announcement of a freeze on all non-fire seasonals. They have requested additional funding, but the budget shortfall remains.

The Forest Service benefited from Great American Outdoor Act funding.

The Great American Outdoors Act, authored by Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID), was signed into law by President Trump in August 2020, marking the biggest change to American public lands in decades. It was designed to make critical investments to create tens of thousands of jobs, safeguard the environment, and help ensure that national parks and public lands were ready to meet the challenges of climate change and increased visitation.

The money the agency received from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration’s signature climate law, has also been spent.

The Inflation Reduction Act, a central policy achievement of President Joe Biden, was a major climate bill that provided $369 billion for funding clean energy and electric vehicle tax breaks, pollution reduction along with some health care and tax policies attached, including funding for many of the agencies.

The Forest Service has requested a budget of $8.9 billion for fiscal year 2025, but expects the actual budget to be far lower. The requested budget was a $685.5million increase in budget from fiscal year 2024.

This budget shortfall and is very unfortunate for recreation - and will no doubt impact snowmobiling. 

Washington State Park Closures

This week the Washington State Parks announced it will not open 14 Sno-Parks that serve snowmobiles for the 2024-2025 winter season. In their news release, Washington State Parks says the nearly 25% reduction in funds available from snowmobile registrations prompted this decision.

The motorized Sno-Park program receives $94 per annual snowmobile registration, and parking a vehicle at a motorized Sno-Park costs $50 per season. The program is self-funded from those fees plus a percentage of the gas tax.

The program has also received RTP grants in the past, however under new management Washington State Parks did not apply for any grant funds in 2022. The funds received in 2020 were spent by end of the 2023 season. Washington runs the RTP program on a 2-year cycle. State Parks indicate they will submit snowmobile RTP applications for this year by the deadline of October 31st.

Records indicate a decline in snowmobile registrations over the last two decades. Last winter’s mild snowfall resulted in lower Sno-Park permit sales.

The Washington State Snowmobile Association is working with the Washington State Parks on this temporary closure, including RTP grant applications.

Fires in the West

Idaho has many fires currently, including Salmon-Challis National Forest, expanding to over 68,000 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire, named the Red Rock Fire, is currently 19 percent contained, with 513 personnel actively battling the flames. Nearby, the Garden Fire is also growing, now approaching 10,000 acres with no containment yet. In total, 15 wildfires are burning across 469,308 acres in Idaho, as reported by the National Interagency Fire Center.

In Wyoming, the massive forest fire burning in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest about 40 miles west of Laramie added 14,871 more acres since late Saturday. and Mullen Fire totals 151,711 acres. The Elk Fire in Big Horn National Forest has consumed 73,000+ acres of land and is only 10% contained. This fire started 2 weeks ago, the elk are literally running through fire because they have no place to go, and the fire is about 10% contained.

Elk View Lodge

Ski-Doo and Avalanche Safety Education

BRP has been committed to educating riders in the backcountry since 2009. As part of their Responsible Rider program, they will once again sponsor in-person avalanche education seminars.

American Avalanche Association Pro member, course provider and certified instructor Mike Duffy (Avalanche1.com) brings over 30 years of motorized access experience and training to share with riders of all brands and abilities. 

October 16 - Missoula, MT

Gull Boats & RVs @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 406-549-6169

October 17 - Great Falls, MT

Paulsens Power Sports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 406-761-0303 dustin@paulsenspowersports.com

October 18 - Billings, MT

Elevated Powersports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 406-252-2323

October 22 - Saint Cloud, MN

Mies Outland @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 320-253-7878 patty@miesoutland.com

October 23 - Johnson Creek, WI

Rob's Performance Motorsports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 920-734-3288 x 102

October 24 - Mankato, MN

Mankato Motorsports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 507-304-6786 text or call

jacquedonahue@mankatomotorsports.com

October 25 - Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Motorsports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at:

https://www.motorsportsmn.com/eventslist/46794/550397

October 29 - Spearfish, SD

Rice's Spearfish Canyon Motorsports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 605-642-7731

October 30 - Kamas,UT

Weller Recreation @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 435-783-8360 sergio.castellanos@wellerrec.com

November 6 - Fairview, UT

Big Pine Sports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 435-427-3338

November 7 - Boise, ID

Dennis Dillion RV & Marine

Sign-up at: 208-999-0929

November 8 - McCall, ID

Mile High Powersports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-up at: trent@mhpsmccall.com 208-634-7007

November 12 - Honeyville, UT

Frank May Ski-Doo @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 435-279-8421 frankmayskidoo@gmil.com

November 13 - Vancouver, WA

Pro Caliber Motorsports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 360-892-3030 customerservice@procaliber.com

November 14 - Issaquah, WA

Location: I-90 Motorsports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 425-391-4490 parts@i-90motorsports.com

December 2 - Sioux Falls, SD

Vern Eide Motoplex @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 605-221-4000 parts jzuraff@verneide.com

December 3, - Toronto, SD

Roelofsen Implement @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: Call or text 605-794-2131 roeimp@itctel.com

December 4 - Worthington, MN

Jaycox Powersports @ 6:00 pm

Sign-Up at: 507-343-8046 James.brooks@titanmachinery.com

UPCOMING DATES & EVENTS

October 25 - 27:

PA Powersports Show

Bloomsburg Fairground 

MnUSA Fall Workshop - Carlton

Wisconsin Fall Workshop - Wisconsin Dells

November 8-9: Idaho Convention - Island Park

November 22-24:

 Iowa Convention - Okoboji

Nebraska Convention - Kearney

December 6-7: South Dakota Convention - Brookings

December 7: MISORVA Meeting - Munising

January 23-25: Trails Region Ride

Chewomegan National Forest - Tower, MN

February 19 - 23: Mountain Region Ride:  

Big Horn Mountains - Dayton, WY

June 11-15, 2025: ISC in Charlottetown, PEI

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P.O. Box 1670, Brighton, MI 48116

(517) 351-4362  | Email