Ben, you're speaking common sense. It's been my experience that common sense is no longer used in this day and age. Good comments!

The idea that snowmachines would distrupt the habitat of the Grizzly makes perfect sense to those of us down here in the city. (even for one like me who lived for a bit in PG ) However, all it takes to blow that idea out of the water, or would that be out of the snow in this case, are a few facts from some one who has been there. Thanks Ben. Perhaps the government folk who are as ill informed as I was will take the time to read your column, do a little reasearch to confirm and then put their pride away and correct the error of their ways!

I'll second that opinion.

I see the teachers are at it again.

They claim that they don't have to follows laws if they don't agree with them, like this whole snowmobile business at Kakwa.

I have heard many of these folks say they commonly break the law, in regards to Kakwa, because they don't agree with it.

Such a sad example for kids.

oh good heavens, I have to weigh in a 2nd time? what kind of closed can is Big B living in that out of the blue he is blaming teachers for breaking the laws? As far as I can see the conversation has not even mentioned teachers. Perhaps he has some bad repressed memoryiesthat causes him to blame everything on teachers?

Should we obey foolish laws or should we try to change them? Clearly the answer is we should try to change them but that does not always work. The beauty of democracy is that it tolerates a little anarchy. Were it not for a little anarchy along the way, the US would still be in Vietnam; we would still be logging without regard for enviromental concern; we would still be mining even if the long term damage caused deaths; and we would still be building roads without regard to the safety of the drivers, the wildlife or the fish in the nearby streams. Yes, the anarchy of democracy is a bit tough to deal with at times, but the end result is way better than the alternatives.

As a hardcore sledder myself its interesting to observe the wildlife I see while riding.
Two winters ago, while riding in the pinepass, myself and 6 others were going up our usual trail into the mountains.
We came across 3 moose walking up the trail.
We slowed down expecting them to step off the trail.
Nope, we had to stop.
They turned their heads and looked at us like " go around morons, we aint moving" So all seven of us had to make a new trail around the moose , and continue on.
I looked back to see them still slowly walking up the trail, unaffected as can be.
It was deep snow there, and the easist place to walk was on the nicely packed trail....and NO WAY were they giving that trail up.
Then last year I saw tracks heading up another usual trail.
Many many tracks....must be a heard of caribou I think to myself.
Sure enough some 15 minutes later we come across them.
Up on a windblown slope where they could actually find food.
they scratched the ground with their hooves and were eating.
The group that day must have been more than a dozen of us on sleds...they barely lifted their heads to lok when they heard us...not scared at all.
We gave them room and went around them, likely not getting closer than say a 1/4 mile from them.
But I have never seen a group of animals care less about people.
Its funny that people think sleds scare the animals...they can hear us before we appraoch, and really they just do not care.
I also cross country ski some.
While at forests for the world one day skiing, two of us came around a corner and bam, there was two moose.
They literally charged right at us.
I think we startled them as they had no idea we were there till nearly upon them.
I was sure that day I was going to be stomped to death by a moose.
I actually pushed on the side of the lead moose's head to get out of the way as it charged past.
I am not sure which was more scared, us or them.....but we ( all 4) were shocked I think.
Difference is we snuck up on them as we were too quiet...and that scared them....but on sleds we cannot sneak up on the wildlife, thus we do not spook them.
I prefer sleds thanks.....my two cents.........

my cheekiness did not come shining through as planned.

I just find that the majority of people in here lambasted teachers when they went on strike last year, but yet, they openly claim that they have broken the law or encourage breaking the law.

Marty is so right though about moose. They can be one uppity creature sometimes. Quite scary actually.

I find emailing or contacting your MLA's usually gets the ball rolling when it comes to crazy laws like this.

well perhaps I was not reading very well there Bib_B thanks for the clarification :-)