The Feb. 10 article, on “Has time come to better regulate snowmobiles in the San Juan Mountains?” assumes snowmobiles are not currently better regulated.

I strongly disagree. There is excellent synergy between the Colorado Snowmobile Association, U.S. Forest Service, local clubs and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Local snowmobile clubs work with the Forest Service for approval to groom trails and to expand trail head parking. These activities are funded by registration fees on snowmobiles and used by cross-country skiers, snowshoers, ice fishermen and fat tire bikers.

The statement that you can take a snowmobile anywhere you want is ridiculous. Wilderness Areas and non-motorized areas exist everywhere and are growing. Unfortunately there is not a red line on the ground showing boundaries making it difficult to comply even though vast majority of snowmobilers do.

Elk and deer migrate to lower, mostly snow-free areas in the winter away from snowmobile use areas. About the only trace of snowmobile use are tracks in the snow that disappear in the summer, leaving no trace of use.

As I come and go from the National Forest, I see the sign with the motto, “Land of Many Uses.” I hope that it stays that way, so that all users of the forest can play alongside one another. My motto is “Be nice, say hi.”

I hope that a one-off, unusual year of a virus driving new users to the forest and poor snow conditions concentrating people to a few areas is not used to justify yet more regulation of our lives.

Ken HilfikerDurango