Snowmobile-advocacy groups, concessionaires and regional outfitters have already won the battle over the next Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone National Park, as the National Park Service has distilled the many public comments into six proposed usage scenarios that would not really change much at all and continue the current ban on cars in the Park during winter months.

Really, any further discussion is meaningless; none of the scenarios involve allowing people to directly drive into the Park from West Yellowstone or Mammoth, past the current access through the Lamar Valley. It’s clear the only thing under debate is how many snowmobiles to allow in the Park daily, not whether to limit access at all in favor of autos.

That’s a shame: NPS officials have a chance to provide a bold new plan for winter access that would make it affordable for the average American to see the wonders of the Park in wintertime. But given the high price of renting a sled or taking a snowcoach trip (visiting the Old Faithful area for a single night will run you over $400 at a bare minimum), not giving an option for day visits via car is downright criminal. The Park Service is supposed to be dedicated to access for all; a winter visit to Old Faithful or Canyon in winter is access for those with a hefty bank account.

Here’s a look at the six proposals; our comments are in italic.

ALTERNATIVE 1: No Action—No Snowmobile/Snowcoach Use. The current interim rule for winter use would expire after the 2010/2011 winter season. After that, no public use of over-snow vehicles (OSV) would be permitted in Yellowstone. Only non-motorized winter access into the park (on foot, ski, and snowshoe) would continue. No one in the known universe takes this proposal seriously. Ain’t gonna happen.

ALTERNATIVE 2: Continue Snowmobile/Snowcoach Use at 2008 Plan Limits. Winter access to the park via snowmobiles and snowcoaches would continue under present limits: up to 318 snowmobiles and 78 snowcoaches per day. All current OSV requirements would continue, including entry only with OSV guides, restrictions on hours of operation, and only snowmobiles that meet “Best Available Technology” (BAT) requirements. BAT also would be developed and implemented for snowcoaches by the 2014/2015 season. This is the plan most likely to succeed. Snowmobile groups may squawk, but since the daily limit has been very rarely reached in recent years, their objections are symbolic until the snowmobile industry rebounds.

ALTERNATIVE 3: Return Snowmobile/Snowcoach Use to 2004 Plan Limits. Snowmobile and snowcoach use levels would be allowed to increase to the levels set in the 2004 plan – up to 720 snowmobiles and 78 snowcoaches per day. All current OSV requirements would continue, the same as under alternative 2, above, including development and implementation of BAT for snowcoaches by the 2014/2015 season. This plan could also pass, but the differences between it and #3 in real-world terms is meaningless. Fewer people are snowmobiling, and snowmobile usage in the Park has been seriously declining in recent years.

ALTERNATIVE 4: Mixed-Use: Snowcoaches, Snowmobiles, and Wheeled Vehicles (Road Plowing). Visitors could enter Yellowstone in the winter by multiple motorized methods. The roads from West Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful would be plowed for park access in wheeled, commercial, multi-passenger vehicles (buses and vans). The south entrance road would be groomed for use by up to 30 snowcoaches and 100 snowmobiles per day, all required to be BAT. The east entrance road over Sylvan Pass would be closed to OSV use. Nonmotorized winter access would continue. Many have called for full plowing to allow cars to drive in to Old Faithful. Notice that this plan would not allow autos in and would limit usage to buses and vans. For the average person, what’s the difference between paying Xanterra $60 for transport via Bombadier or bus? None: it’s still $60. This is a meaningless proposal that purports to change more than it does.

Photo courtesy of National Park Service.