There has been a lot of talk about Yellowstone’s winter use plan. The buzz is everywhere, in emails and water cooler chats and on phones and in corners. It seems all of the world is up in arms about the now-adopted 2004 snowmobile plan, allowing up to 720 such vehicles into YELL a day (and something like 78 snowcoaches, which in addition to being more environmentally friendly, are way less fun). The original 720-a-day plan was shot down; YELL superintendent then attempted to call the judge’s bluff, threatening to shut down the entire park for the winter, to which conservation groups said, “go ahead.” So she finally accepted the need and general responsibility (I bet she didn’t think she’s have any of that as superintendent) to develop a new plan, allowing only 318 snowmobiles into the park each day. This was hailed as decent temporary compromise, with the ultimate goal (at least in conservationists’ and Clinton supporters’ minds) as the total elimination of snowmobiles in the park altogether, giving, of course, gateway communities (many of which rely on such winter sports to pay for their rustic log cabins in some of the most expensive real estate around) to adjust to the change in economics. This plan was accepted and was under public comment when, in a surprisingly underhanded move, even for the government, ANOTHER unrelated judge decided to interpret the previous judge’s decision to mean that the temporary plan should be to allow 720 snowmobiles in the park each day until next year or the year after, when we could maybe start to think about thinking about a slow transition. Of course, NPS immediately jumped on this, and BAM. 720 snowmobiles are now allowed in the park each day. Public comment ended approximately 30 seconds after the press release was written, but oh, we’ve been given ample time to make complaints. Score one for YELL superintendent.

However, just as an interesting point of fact. I just checked out the several webcams placed strategically throughout Yellowstone, and guess what? There is no snow! With the Park due to open in December 15, it looks like winter riders will be relegated to the sidelines, waiting for wintery-er skies. Kind of hard to ride snowmobiles on concrete, last time I checked. So with the wonders of global warming, it looks like us conservationists (not saying that I personally supported any of the suggested winter-use plans) won’t have to worry about snowmobiles in the park, after all. Ha! Take that, Wyoming judge!

Talk about irony.