This happens every winter, some folks ride illegally into an area closed to snowmobiles and meet an avalanche. Jewel Basin is in the Swan mountain range, east of Kalispell, Montana. Story no. 1. Story in the Casper Star Tribune
Story no. 2. Illegal and ill-equipped snowmobiling. Montana Avalanche Victim Survives An 8 Hour Burial. By Lucia Stewart. New West.
Story no. 3. Added on March 10. Opinion of the Missoulian. Snowmobilers need ethic of responsible play “SUMMARY: Irresponsible, illegal snowmobile use creates needless dangers and invites greater restrictions.”
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My personal opinion is, it isn’t worth shedding a tear for a snowmobiler caught in an avalanche inside an area closed to them. If they survive the avalanche, jail them.
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
