Apple Country Snowmobile Club

06/01/2026

The Department of Fish and Wildlife will be hosting two meetings next week to discuss changes to their motorized recreation rules. These changes would require DFW to actively designate any motorized route and prohibit off trail travel for all motorized recreation. This would effectively lock us out of most, if not all, boondocking, hill climbs and off trail exploring.

I will be going to the meeting in Ellensburg if anyone wants to ride with me.

Here are the details

Meetings will be held from 4-7 p.m. on June 11 and 12 at the following locations:

June 11: Armory Hall at the Kittitas Event Center
901 East 7th Avenue
Ellensburg, Washington 98926

June 12: Selah Civic Center (Main Room)
216 S 1st Street
Selah, Washington 98942

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is creating a Travel Management Plan for the Wenas and L.T. Murray wildlife areas in Kittitas and Yakima counties. WDFW seeks input from the public to better understand the route network and how those routes are used to inform future route design...

05/04/2026

Please add our summer meeting to your calendar. June 20 at Faith Presbyterian. The club will provide burger and fixings, and the rest will be potluck. Bring your favorite side.

This meeting is open to all current members and interested people.
Hope to see you there. Please RSVP by June 15th so we can buy enough food.

Thank you!

Jim

04/13/2026

Just a reminder that we will NOT be meeting tomorrow. See you in June for our summer meeting. Watch this space for the date.

Thank you for supporting us during this past, difficult season. Here is to better snow next year.

04/13/2026

Chelan County has published theproposed, updated land use plan for the Stemilt Basin. The link is here.

https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/files/community-development/archives/planning-commission/2026/03%20March%2025%202026/03%20March%2025%20PC%20Agenda%20Pkt.pdf The motorized section starts about page 124. There was a lot of work and $ put into this.

Here is your chance to shape this policy by commenting and advising. Please invest a little time to do that.

Thank you

03/19/2026

Here is the Blue Ribbon Commissions fact sheet in response to Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife's proposed travel restrictions.

It is not to late to make your voice heard.

FACT SHEET: Proposed Rule Will Impact Snowmobiling Access
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is developing a new rule that would change how motorized vehicles are used on lands it manages across the state.
● WDFW manages over 1 million acres of land and hundreds of access sites statewide
● The rule would apply to all WDFW-managed lands, including Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)
Under the proposal:
● All motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles, would be limited to roads or routes specifically designated as open
● Areas would be considered closed to motorized use unless explicitly designated and posted open
● The agency is also proposing to:
○ Define key terms like “designated” and “department-managed lands”
○ Expand how routes are identified (maps, signs, kiosks, websites)
Current Management: Areas are effectively open unless posted closed
Snowmobile Impacts
Although the rule is aimed at wheeled vehicle impacts, it explicitly includes:
● Cars and trucks
● ATVs and side-by-sides
● Snowmobiles
● E-bikes and other motorized devices
This is a concern because:
● Snowmobiles are not road-based
● Snowmobile use is typically managed by open riding areas and boundaries, not designated roads
● Many current riding areas could become closed unless specifically re-designated
● Snowmobiles were not part of the original proposals, and have recently been included without stakeholder involvement.
● This represents a growing trend to remove snowmobile use from our public lands

03/14/2026

Both cats were out last night packing down the routes to the top.
Pole Flats, Schaller, and Jumpoff were done. Put in new large berms to preserve the trails.
Naenum Middle, Rocky Ridge, and Basin Loop Rd were also groomed.

Thank you, Mike and Rick, for your sleepless night!
P.S. we apologize for the groom, Clear Lake to Schaller due to tiller issues

03/13/2026

Ah.. it snowed! In spite of my last message, the cats are going out today to groom and clear blockages. We will also rebuild the snow berms to protect the roads a little father into mudding season. Be careful up there if you go out.

03/13/2026

Hey all!!! The groomers are on their way to get the cats rolling!
Yep, you heard that right! GROOMING is happening tonight!
It'll be a great weekend to ride...

03/11/2026

We are wrapping up the season. Gates are being closed this week at Lily Lake, Poll Flats and the Elk Trail. The sanitation will be picked up soon. If the new storm creates a rideable trail, remember you will not be able to go up Poll Flats so, take the Upper Basin Loop to Schaeller Rd and watch out for the wheelies.

Thank you for your support during this difficult year and we wish for a better season next year.

03/10/2026

Here is a YouTube video regarding Motorized vehicles on WDFW-managed lands public meeting

There is also a link for more information on the proposed rule and to stay up-to-date on additional opportunities to comment or participate.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hosted a public meeting on March 3, 2026 as part of developing new rules governing the use of motorized...