Petition aims to allow winter recreation at McKenzie Pass after weather closure

PORTLAND, Ore. () – A petition is aiming to open Highway 242, also known as McKenzie Pass, for winter recreation after the Oregon Department of Transportation announced the highway's seasonal closure due to dangerous winter weather.

Christian Sammons, the organizer and grooming chairman of the Mt. Jefferson Snowmobile Club , told KOIN 6 News the McKenzie Pass closure isn't anything new, it's been undergoing winter weather closures since the 1960s, however, the announced closure for winter recreation came as a "complete shock."

Sammons said he discovered the winter rec closure after recent reporting from the Salem Statesman Journal .

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The grooming chairman said since the 1970s, winter recreation has been a part of his life in the area and the snowmobile club has been grooming the road during winter weather for the last 20 years.

But after learning of the winter rec closure this year, he started the petition with the goal of collecting 4,000 signatures. As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had nearly 2,400 signatures since it started on Oct. 27.

"What we're trying to do is garner as much public support as possible to get ODOT and the U.S. Forest Service, both Willamette and Deschutes [national forests], to come to the table as partners, like we've always been, and sit down and work this out and basically be able to utilize the public lands as partners and for winter recreation," Sammons said.

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ODOT announced 2024's closure on Oct. 29 — stating their crews were closing the east side of the pass on Nov. 1 because of incoming winter weather after closing the west side on Oct. 25.

The transportation agency told KOIN 6 News there have been no updates to closure policy and for the last five years, they have announced the road is closed for all travelers, including for winter recreation.

"There has been no change to the closure. For at least the past five years, our messaging has consistently stated that when McKenzie Pass is closed, it is closed to all travelers," said ODOT Public Information Officer Mindy McCartt. "Our language makes it clear that closed areas are off-limits to everyone for safety reasons."

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McCartt told KOIN 6 News that it's not practical for the agency to maintain the road in the winter explaining, "When you're dealing with 20 or 30 feet of deep snow, there's not a lot you can do to get it down to the roadway, so the costs would be excessive with the amount of equipment, additional equipment, additional staff, and potentially overtime hours needed."

ODOT's press release announcing the closure explained when the highway is closed, it's closed for all users and is not maintained, noting anyone who travels past the locked gates is doing so at their own risk, and there's no cell phone service in the area.

"There's just no way, feasibly, to keep that pass open year-round. With more than 8,000 highway miles across Oregon, our resources and our staffing really need to focus on those arterial highways and keeping commerce moving throughout the state," McCartt said.

Additionally, ODOT is already facing budget issues , and doesn't have the resources to maintain the road in the winter, McCartt said.

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"Our maintenance and operation budget that funds winter maintenance, specifically and among other work like paving and potholes and landslide repair, striping, and signage [has seen] little growth over the years despite rising costs, which means we really need to prioritize areas with the highest impact to public safety and commerce. So, McKenzie Pass, while beautiful and popular, it just simply doesn't meet the criteria for year-round access given our current resources," McCartt said.

Sammons said he supports ODOT's closure of McKenzie Pass, but wants to see winter recreation allowed, especially as the snowmobile club has helped groom roads in the area up to Dee Wright Observatory.

"The road is closed. It's always been closed in the winter, that's not the issue. The issue is that winter recreation should be able to take place, and the people should be able to use the land like we always have been," Sammons explained.

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"We should have an open dialog and open communication. What's happened is that ODOT has said the road is closed and the U.S. Forest Service is using that as basically a springboard to not allow the Mt. Jefferson Snowmobile Club to groom that road, and the problem is, is that decreases public safety because there are avalanche areas along that road and skiers use that road, snowmobilers use that road, snowshoers, families, that's really a heritage area," Sammons said.

He added, "When ODOT came out and said the road is closed, the U.S. Forest Service took that as a way to say, 'Well, Mt. Jefferson Snowmobile Club, you can no longer groom that area,' and what that does is it creates a public safety issue that's just plain wrong. We want to keep the area safe for families, safe for users and the Forest Service is doing something that's completely unsafe and I have no idea why they're doing that. It makes absolutely no sense to me."

According to Sammons the community response to the petition has been "overwhelming," noting community members want dialog with the Forest Service and ODOT. Sammons said he has tried to contact ODOT and members of the Forest Service with his concerns but has not received a response after sending messages over 10 days ago, calling the silence "disheartening."

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KOIN Morning Digest "I would expect that our public servants would be more responsive, especially with such overwhelming support from the public. I mean, after thousands and thousands of signatures and to have complete silence, it's really disheartening, especially going into the winter rec season, you would think there would be at least something from these agencies," Sammons said.

While Sammons waits for a response from the agencies, the petition is calling on ODOT and the National Forests to open a dialogue with the community, including offering a public comment period for the closure.

However, McCartt explained, "It's not up for public comment because we have to manage every road that is in the system with what we have available to keep and maintain those road systems, with the equipment and funding that we have."

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McCartt emphasized that the closure for all visitors is for public safety, explaining, "When we close the gates, we are hoping that the public takes that as a 'do not pass.' It's not just closed for vehicle traffic, it's closed for everyone, and it's really paramount to their safety to not go past those gates. There's very limited cell coverage, if any at all. We do not maintain any roads past the gate closures when they're closed, and so there's no rescue."

"We do understand public interest in accessing the pass all year round, but safety must come first, right? Given the hazardous winter conditions on the pass and limited resources, extending seasonal access just is not an option at this time, and again, our decision is solely based on ensuring safety for everyone who might travel that route," McCartt said.

Representatives for the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests declined to comment.