How many people do you (collective you) know who do both (ski/ride/snowmobile)? being from alaska, i would get early and late season tracks at altitude, with highway-like trails groomed by the tracks of many a snowmachine.
I am proficient with both skate and classical xc ski techniques to a level most people only see on television, and is usually only used by people wearing numbers (I used to)...so frankly, I really appreciate a good, solid groomer where I can get a long glide and consistent stability throughout a kick. Snowmobile/track-only access roads are a boon to xc skiers with a strong urge to drop the hammer...it's impossible to skate in powder, and waxing classical skis for powder or active precipitation can be anywhere from useless to a nightmare, and it's still a slogfest--better to use snowshoes, since you'll only be "walking on skis" anyway, not skiing.
In my opinion it comes down to respect for nature and another guy's lifestyle. While a snowmobile will never run as clean and quiet as a pair of skis, they can run clean-er and quiet-er than you might believe from the antics I've seen and heard from the naysayers over the years--snowmobiles are frequently used on xc ski trails for maintenance, emergencies, and race support, and I've never heard anyone at an established xc ski area complain about "those darn snowmobilers". Frankly imho snowmobiles make a lot less noise and pollution than the mouths of some of their detractors over the years!
It's not an "issue" that's limited to winter use...mountain bikes are subject to the same "lifestyle" prejudice. When on a multi-use trail, I know who to watch out for when I'm on the bike, sorry to say but the stereotypes are often correct...and now and then I hear quiet muttered remarks like "bikes aren't supposed to be here" when I'm on an established multi-use corridor. Well, frankly, hikers with a bad attitude shouldn't be there either, or anyone else who fails to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors or intentionally bypasses an opportunity to share a friendly conversation with another human being, or worse yet, abuses their position either by crying "safety foul" at anything with wheels, or careening past hikers, horses, dogs and wildlife with no regard for their surroundings...or even something as simple as walking, sitting, snowshoeing or sledding (seen it many times) on set classical xc tracks, not cleaning up after dogs, standing around in the middle of the trail when others (regardless of "motivation") are trying to get by...share the frickin' trail, regardless your mode of transportation. Frankly what really galls me are people who drive their car to the trail, tell everyone with an engine to keep off, then expect someone with an engine to deliver food, water, supplies, warm bedding, emergency support, or directions when they're out in the middle of nowhere on a pair of skis.
I really think the perceived impact of bicycles and vehicles is more dependent on the amount of respect one person has for another's lifestyle or interests. I wish more people within the overall outdoor sport/adventure/touring community had the same attitude I've seen here at the Portal.
On a completely different but slightly related note, I can't wait for Breck and Devil's Thumb to open their trails...two of my favorite xc ski areas, outside of Lillehammer and Anchorage. Anyone who would like to cruise around on skinny skis, or learn how (not hard to learn!), is welcome to join me
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-Sean