yellowstone national park has been described as a winter wonderland.
“we find that a lot of people from across the united states enjoy going into the park on snowmobiles, because … you’re out in the fresh air,” said bill howell, part owner of a local snowmobile and snowcoach tour company. “you get to see things on a snowmobile. with your guide you can stop and take pictures.”
but conservation groups have been seeking to ban snowmobiles here for more than a decade. even snowmobile enthusiasts now admit the machines became a problem in 1990s.
“the amount of machines and the amount of people going into the park skyrocketed, a lot more than i think anybody had ever predicted or thought would happen,’ howell said. “and as a result it probably did get a little out of hand.”
in this edition of this american land we take a look at efforts to create a balance between the use of snowmobiles in yellowstone and those who aim to limit motorized access to the park.