Snowlands Network is a California-Nevada nonprofit, tax-exempt organization established to fill the need for representation of the backcountry ski, snowshoe and snowboard community.
The mission of Snowlands Network is to:
- Promote opportunities for quality human-powered winter recreation.
- Protect winter wildlands.
- Educate the public and government agencies about winter recreation and environmental issues.
In short, we represent the interests of skiers, snowshoers and snowboarders who seek backcountry, wilderness-like opportunities.
Become a member of Snowlands Network, read about our membership levels, receive a complimentary copy of our winter conservation newsletter, Snowlands Bulletin, or submit a change of address.
To make a contribution to Snowlands, you may use a credit card using our donations page, or you may send a check for any amount to:
Snowlands Network
P. O. Box 2570
Nevada City, CA 95959
Your contributions to Snowlands are tax-deductible.
Many of the successes within the environmental community are the result of organizations working together on the same issue. The advantages of these alliances include the ability to share knowledge and learn from each other, as well as bringing together the voice of large numbers of concerned citizens on specific issues.
Snowlands Network will soon be contacting the organizations it has been working with to “officially” create these alliances. Soon you will see a list of those organizations here.
The strength of the backcountry ski, snowshoe and snowboard community lies not only in a central organization like Snowlands Network, but also in regional groups that are keeping up-to-date on events in an area on a daily basis. Snowlands supports the efforts of regional groups and will work with individuals who desire to form one in their area.
The emphasis of Snowlands Network is on the environmental side of human-powered winter recreation. But we are well aware that it is sometimes easier to get people motivated by tying activism into actual trips. We urge you to contact us regardless of your approach to starting a new regional group. Snowlands can help you is by alerting people in your area about your plans and in other ways.
The Snowlands Network website contains information about ski clubs, ski patrols and environmental organizations.
The future of backcountry human-powered winter recreation is benefited greatly by business support of Snowlands Network’s educational-advocacy program. Therefore, we have created a business sponsor membership that allows businesses to financially support our work and receive recognition. Snowlands' sponsors are listed here. Please support them.
Individuals active in non-motorized winter recreation are inclined toward self-sufficiency and individualism, often choosing to avoid the regimentation of organized groups. This independence often leads to poor representation with public-land policy makers. Our quest to strike out on our own and experience the solitude of winter in its natural state may, in the end, be our own worst enemy. Protection of the wilderness that we value is often best accomplished when we are recognized as a community with common interests and where there is an organized effort on our behalf. Snowlands fills that role.
Solitude and unspoiled settings are pleasures we seek in our winter adventures. But encroachment of development and increasing numbers of motorized users are making these qualities harder to find and are changing the character of our winter wildlands.
Snowlands Network educates the general public and public agencies about the environmental damage and human conflicts that result from uncontrolled use of snowmobiles on public lands. Such uncontrolled use poses a threat to a healthy environment, threatens the safety of human-powered recreationists, and negates the very reasons we venture into the backcountry.
Unrestrained development continues to jeopardize the public's right to gain access to and enjoy public lands. Snowlands Network works to preserve and increase public access to backcountry winter recreation areas. We recognize that parking is essential for access and work to improve it.
A Board of Directors manages Snowlands Network. The board consists of volunteers with 50 years of cumulative experience in winter related environmental issues and serves without compensation. We are always looking for additional volunteers with a wide range of skills and interests.
Snowlands is YOU. Please help further the cause of winter environmentalism by volunteering.