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Rivalry Between Snowmobilers and Skiers Dead

By Ashlie Rodriguez

Story Created: Jan 27, 2012 at 6:26 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 28, 2012 at 11:39 AM MST

Monday through Saturday, beginning at dusk and lasting till early morning, Jeff Kinnick grooms trails on King Hill. The groomer belongs to the Kings Hill Snowmobile Club, which maintains about 250 miles in the Little Belt Mountains.

"I did the ski trails last night," Kinnick said.

But once a week, the club grooms trails for Silver Crest cross country skiers and snowshoers. Snowmobilers and skiers working together is new phenomenon in Montana, and in some places, non existent.

"Sometimes I have just seen a little bit of a rub between the two groups," said Lewis and Clark National Forest Spokesman Dave Cunningham, "where one group or the other maybe didn't like the group just because of different types of uses."

Ten years ago, snowmobilers and skiers had to share the same trails...a source of annoyance for many.

"There was some unfriendly confrontations here and there," said Kings Hill Grooming Assn. Acting Chairman Ron Myre.

"The cross-country skiers don't want to ski on something that the snow mobilers have gone on," said Silver Crest Trails Assn. Spokeswoman Gerry Jennings.

"And we understand that they want the peace and quiet and tranquility," said Fish, Wildlife and Parks Cascade County Safety Director John Virgin. "And us guys on the snowmobiles tend to want to cover more ground and we're a little more aggressive riders."

Cross country skiers and snowshoers are slower, and like exploring in natural solitude. On the other hand, snowmobilers are loud, fast and prefer adrenaline over relaxation.

"When you're operating snowmobiles in close proximity to cross country skiers," Virgin said, "it is a conflict. "But today, when we're out on the trails snowmobiling and we see a cross country skier coming down a trail, we pull over, stop, and let them go by peacefully and then we precede."

"It's a great cooperative effort and its one that really moves my heart," Jennings said.

"From what I've seen and what I've heard," Cunningham said, "there's a lot of mutual respect when the different users encounter each other on the trail."

The courtesy shown on Kings Hill is unique to this area with the help of the Forest Service, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, snowmobile clubs and Silver Crest Trail Association, there's more space for everyone then there was a couple years ago, and a stronger willingness to get along.

"We try to get all these clubs to work together and be friendly and enjoy the forest," Myre said. "It belongs to everybody."

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