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Oh let it snow, let it snow
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
The weather grinches have brought about a sledding ban on Mount Charleston because of an unseasonable lack of snow.
U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Judy Suing said sledding with so little snow can damage sensitive plants and animal habitat. It also can be dangerous because "there are a lot of stumps and rocks that normally would be covered," she said.
The ban was announced Thursday and includes the entire Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. It is set to last until Dec. 30 or until snow levels reach at least 12 inches.
"This is no way meant to discourage people from coming up and enjoying the forest. The mild weather means that visitors can still hike the trails and enjoy the beautiful scenery the mountain has to offer," said Stephanie Phillips, deputy forest supervisor for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort is open for business and unaffected by the ban, thanks to its ability to make its own snow.
Suing said there is some precipitation in the forecast for this weekend, but it is not expected to be enough to allow sledding to resume.
When heavy snow does arrive, visitors are encouraged to bring their sleds to the wide and welcoming slopes at the Foxtail Picnic Area.
Sledding close to roads, in heavily wooded areas or in other hazardous areas increases the chances of serious injury or even death, Suing said.
"Unfortunately, we get a lot of enthusiastic people who come up here," she said. "We want people to come and enjoy themselves. They just need to do it in the appropriate places."
Updates on the snow conditions will be posted on electronic signs on the highways leading up Mount Charleston and, for Internet savvy sledders, on the "SpringMountains" Twitter feed.
Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.
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Even when this govt says you can sled they tell you it has to be on their terms!
I say NO MORE! If you are an adult and you want to go sledding near the roads you should be able to! If a car hits you it's your body and your right to have that happen! As for the kids their parents can tell them where to sled.
This govt is our of control. Let's show them we are in control. They say the yellow snow is bad. I then ask WHO WANTS SOME?! If they say the yellow snow is bad then we know it has to be good.
The Yellow Snow Party movement begins TODAY!
having worked in the forest as a "smoke eater" when young I know that the biggest danger to the forest is the "green" movement.....their trendy fire control methods and refusal to allow the dead wood load to be reduced causes HUGE fires that destroy thousands of acres more than needed.....ranchers historically started burns on specific parts of their land to get it to reseed and removed the wood load....in the last 40 years the ignorant college educated BLM and Forest Service geeks have destroyed far more than they have saved.....the forest in Europe thrives and does not have huge tracts of burned area that do not seed for a half a century...they use the same controls we used to use until the "wise greens" took over and started to destroy the forest's long term viability.
Why doe the selfish right-wing AM radio idiots want to destroy the forest?
"Mac wrote on December 17, 2010 07:53 AM: 'We're from the government. We're here to help!'"
We're from BP and Halliburton and we're here to help.
Who cares.
I think the government agency is just giving some sensible advice that if you come up to Mount Charleston to sled, then you might be a little disappointed. If you still try it, you might be leaving the mountain with a gravel bedded in your butt.
They aren't trying to stop fun, just stop more and more people injuring themselves.
What some of you are saying is akin to the government knowing this road could collapse any minute, but let people use it because everyone knows there is a risk driving a car.
Really government can't win. Warn people of a danger you are a nanny state. Say nothing and they should have acted.
So God must be a Lefty too???
"We're from the government. We're here to help!"
No matter if you find some snow down in a dark ravine that would be perfect. IT'S ILLEGAL now.
Ever get the feeling that we're being overly controlled by too many agencies? Ban this, ban that. Don't do this, don't do that. We've become just like the Old Soviet Empire we abhorred for so long many years ago. Now we're being overly policed by the Forest Service. Who next?
Nice headline change on this article. It is sensational!