Letter: Forest Service’s unlaid nest egg

Published 6:15 am Thursday, August 31, 2023

To the Editor:

Huddleston Snowpark has been a success in attracting that segment of winter recreationalist to our area. According to the Malheur National Forest’s Huddleston Snowpark web page, its is the “hub of the hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails and access to ungroomed areas on the Forest. There is a cozy warming hut with fireplace and a restroom as well as a large, plowed parking area.”

Here’s a short list of the many more websites promoting Huddleston Snowpark: dyrt.com, 183bivy.com, oregonnews.uoregon.edu, naturalatlas.com, recreation.com, braa.pdb.com, visiteaster,noregon.com, traveoregon.com. All free advertisement for our area.

However, cross-country and backcountry (randonnee) skiing represents a much greater participant body combined with greater collective spending outlay.

Recently, my wife, Nancy, and I hiked the vicinity of Dixie Pass Snowpark, particularly the road network comprising FS 365 to FS 183 (presently bermed and log-blocked), then off-trail from the FS 183 terminus down to FS 2610 to reach our car back at U.S. 26.

FS 183 is an almost flat gradient mile, perfect for beginner cross-country skiers. Accessed from its terminus is a broad acreage of moderately mounded topography, perfect for plotting a network of interlacing cross-country ski trails, appealing to intermediate skiers yet not too daunting to encourage beginners.

Affordability factors importantly in determining which demographic among winter recreationists constitutes the larger market. Huddleston users are numerically lesser due to inherent cost associated with motorized mode, made even more exclusive by cost of transport platform and tow rig (not unusually combined with camper combo).

By contrast, winter recreation enthusiasts opting for human-powered recreation — whether due to cost factor or simple choice preference — tend to be more reliant upon area businesses such as lodging, grocers and eateries.

Storie Mooser

Prairie City