Trail Closure Notice
Trail Closure Notice: Please be aware that the Sandwich Sidehillers have been unsuccessful in securing a reroute in the Dinsmore Pond Road area. This means that there is no way to get from Moultonborough to Sandwich Notch at this time via sled.
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Any chance the trails will be open after these next two storms?
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This is unfortunate, but becoming the new norm. Trails are being closed in the lakes region and central NH at an alarming rate.
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Yes, I would say we will be wide open and grooming after these storms. We are currently "not closed" which means we cannot groom (need 8" base per NH BOT) and we do not recommend riding. Given the early season start, it is important to note that trails through swampy areas are likely not solid. As an indication, last New Year's Eve, I went through the ice on corridor 15 on the Neck near Shaker Jerry Road while grooming!
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For more info
SA link to Sandwich's website with info:
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%...xZvLDPeaEg9OCK |
Jeez - this is horrible. Appreciate all you guys do but this is getting quickly depressing. Last year it was the powerlines to Wolfeboro, this year it's Sandwich, Ossipee/Tamworth, and more.
Combination of lack of respect by what I would consider very few (even though that's all it takes) and glass jaw society we live in now that get offended by everything. |
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Dan |
all this going on just means have to ride north and find a club up there.. its just stupid to fight with these land owner when they are just closed minded......
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Those signs that are posted that say "STAY ON TRAIL" mean exactly that... STAY ON THE DAMN TRAIL! Land owners will typically open just a portion of THEIR land for use by snowmobilers. Not their entire property/fields. This land... say, across the outside border of a hay field, may not be usable to them the following year. It may be so matted down that hay or corn will not grow the way it did the prior years. These land owners made that sacrifice for snowmobilers. So when jerks decide they like the look of that fresh, untouched powder and decide to fly across it for a one time joy ride.... yeah.... stay home jerk! |
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ok people say its land owner rights where is the rights of the people that buy all these products to use. with more and more land being closed and passing the blame to the user is not the anwser.:laugh:
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More and more land is being closed because of idiots who leave their trash buried in the snow, drink excessively and cause problems on the trails, ride off the trails or change their stock exhaust to some kind of "can" that adds absolute ZERO performance gains, too bad if it's loud and annoys landowners, I like it and I want it on my sled! Very selfish and disrespectful way to think if you ask me. We have to police our own or more and more trails will be closed it's that simple! The local clubs have turned into mediators for us constantly putting out fires that we have created and they can't do it all! Dan |
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No, not all ALL of us. I for one am not as misguided as you. Private property is priviledge to use not a right.
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Dan--it's only Dec 28, but I'm ready to vote for your "privilege not a right" post as the best of the year. Not only did you make an important point, but you managed to inspire those on the opposite side to help you make your case. |
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You have proven my point better than I could of ever stated...how unfortunate. Dan |
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Maybe landowners should put up toll booths.;) |
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ok did i piss off the few we have here or should we talk speed limt to piss off the rest....i will let the cat out of the bag soon.
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Well. It is RT TROLL.
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Also, it is people like YOU that have caused me to "give up" on riding locally. I have not even volunteered in a number of years because of idiots like you. It is just a hopeless cause IMHO. |
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Just curious NHcat,... knowing what you know of the situation, do you agree with his/her decision to close the trail or do you think the landowner wasn’t forgiving enough and was being selfish? Honest question. Thanks! Dan |
About 5ish years ago, with the help of my local snowmobile club, I built a decent (not elaborate) bridge across the brook on my property. I supplied most of the material. To be fair, this trail was used more by locals than the general riding population, but it was a secondary feeder trail that was generally used as a shortcut for a smaller loop ride and was open and used by the public. Three weeks after building that bridge, someone had stolen ALL the new materials used to make that bridge. 2x4's, Plywood etc. and left a mess of what little was not stolen.
I had the trail closed and there is no longer a reasonable "loop trail" as far as I know. So, with all due respect, I can not ever see a land owner being "selfish". It is the few that ruin it for the many. Sorry for the rant. |
I went with him one spring to clean up the trash that was left behind. The area of trash was out of sight of his house and the road. We filled his pickup when we cleaned up, and the area was clean before winter. This had happened over several years and the club was warned repeatedly as well as signs were posted. He even supplied trash barrels but they were hardly used and instead beer cans and other assorted trash was buried in the snow. He raises dogs and got sick of the predatory animals that were being attracted to the trash that was left behind. Since closing the trail he has not had a problem with animals. Seeing all of this I agree with his decision, even though it was a select few that ruined it for everyone else.
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Let this be an illustration of "you can't fix stupid", about the only thing these donkeys understand is to have their privileges taken away. Unfortunately this cannot be done selectively when it comes to a snowmobile trail so everyone is affected. Sadly there is no good fix for this, LEOs can't be everywhere to catch people in the act. The clubs can only do so much and their efforts go for the most part unnoticed and under appreciated.
How many trails must close before people start to get it? Seems like for now not enough, but thanks to the RTTOOL mindset the trend continues to accelerate in the wrong direction. |
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and come in to eat. I have never encountered any significant trash in the spring and they have always been respectful around our two leach fields. I would urge landowners to try to be understanding of the occasional kid (or adult)that gets out of line because they do not represent the majority and I'm pretty sure that if a club member or local rider saw them acting up that they would have have some pretty harsh words for them |
Unfortunately....
If we do not police ourselves, the sport as we know it in NH will be killed off. Property owners are not going to be so generous when opening up their land for our use when it becomes a hassle.. be it noise or trash or failure to stay on the trail! If you see someone being a TOOL... say something. Take pic or a vid and send it into F&G.. Woodsy |
IGNORENT RIDERS hurt us more the Trash!
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WHAT ABOUT THE RIDER THE DONOT OBEY THE SINAGE ON OUR TRAILS, SLOW, 10MPH AND SUCH. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE AWAY TO GET UP TO THE TOP OF THE NECK TRAIL FROM THE KONA AREA AND FAR ECHO WITH OUT HAVING TO USE THE LAKE FRO EITHE SIDE OF THE NECK. OH THE "CAPS"? YES I AM SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANYONE TAKE NOTE OF THE NUMBER OF TRAIL CLOUSERS/TOTAL LOSS OF TRAIL SYSTEMS? |
Very frustrating! The trail off 19 mile bay parking lot that heads south to Lang pond road is closed again this year and the trail off Melvin bay that is a left at power line and goes to castle lot is closed again though many are using it (there is no rope across it just a sign which is a mistake) I met a nice guy in the castle lot Sunday afternoon that is working with Wolfboro club. He is trying to give Wolfboro a rerout across his land to help get this trail open again but....he said people have been snowmobiling all over his land the past two weeks and he's thinking of pulling back his offer. I agree with woodsy above, we all need to do more policing ourselves but it may not do much. I think a lot of non local people don't visit club websites and see the closures and they just follow tracks already on the trails. But then and again when I think of the way I see folks driving their boats on the lakes with little to no idea what a buoy is .........:laugh:
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I have said it before and I will say it again, for whatever reason snowmobiling has more than its fair share of irresponsible people involved in the sport, more than any other outdoor sport I have ever been involved in by a long shot! I agree with Woodsy and Sab1 that self policing is the only hope in hell we have to turn things around to save what few trails we have left. Even then I have my doubts... Dan |
Wow, this thread took on a life of its own!! We are fighting an uphill battle with land development and liability concerns. When we throw irresponsible riding into the mix, it becomes near impossible.
It is nice to see the support by many for our clubs and snowmobiling in general! |
Self policing and getting the word out to others is going to be the best way to handle these issues.
I volunteer with the Wolfeboro Snowmobile Club and SAB1 is correct we are close to having a reroute to the castle, if we get this through its in thanks to generous landowners. Anyone that is involved in this sport owes any landowner allowing trail access a world of thanks. Ishoot308 is correct a sign should be sufficient, even if we put fences up they find a way around them. A few just dont give a damn. 19 mile bay there was a no snowmobile sign posted, it sounds like someone took it down. Just another example if the ignorance of a few. We have 3 no riding signs right next to each other near the transfer station and there are tracks going right through them. Again a few dont care. Maybe if we catch the ones abusing the right we can start getting the point across with a picture of there registration sent to fish and game. If you dont want to report them to fish and game notify your local club let them take care of it. Our club has over 200 man hours into trail maintenance this year and this does not include our officers who spend countless hours talking with landowners, making sure permission forms are signed, looking for reroutes and the list goes on. All clubs work endless hours for all riders to enjoy. If we dont make a stand, police these individuals and spread the word our clubs will be gone. Read the NHSA trail reports - many clubs are in the same battle. Moultonborough, Sandwich, Osspiee, Scurb Oaks are just a few in our backyards that have already lost trails. Talk to your fellow riders, bring up the conversation at the coffee shops, local restaurants, happy hours wherever you like to spend time and have conversations. We need everyone to know about these issues. Most importantly we need the landowners to know we care. |
Trail Cams
It might be time for ALL of the clubs to invest in some trail cams for the trouble areas? This helps the property owners and the clubs....
Woodsy |
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Isn't it sad that we've come to this!?
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ishoot...
While I do think them getting destroyed or stolen could happen.... the clubs have the advantage. 1st... the people don't know they are there... so there is the element of surprise. 2nd... clubs can use ladders to get the cam's high enough so that they cannot be reached easily. 3rd... the clubs can move the cameras around. 4th... a couple of well placed signs at junctions indicating trail cams are in use (junctions nowhere near actual trail cams) can go a long way. Trailcams are a relatively inexpensive tool that can be used by the clubs and F&G to help with the issue. Woodsy |
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Sorry; Dan |
We have a couple that we move around ;)
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Its worth a try if some clubs have a little surplus cash. Installing them where trail closures are and getting numbers of those who cross the line is a great place to start. Just be aware, some of the cameras will be considered a donation because they will get stolen of smashed. As an avid hunter I can't tell you how many of ours have been stolen, smashed or tampered with (opening and taking the cards). Hiding them is key but people will see the foot prints in the snow going to them to check the cards. But its worth a shot.
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My local club at home had an issue about 5 years ago with irresponsible riding. We got sneaky putting up the cameras, I pulled my sled up near a tree and another rider brought a ladder over. We then sent a skinny person 20 feet up the ladder to put the camera up. 3 days later we had our culprits and the problem was solved. No footprints were left in the snow which helped, but its a bit awkward to carry a large ladder on a sled and not be noticed. Unfortunately this doesn't always work and the land owners close their land to us.
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How many "central" places are there for snowmobilers? Specifically, are there enough parking/meeting areas that signs could reach most people on the trail?
What other methods of communication are available? It would seem to me that effective communication could help solve/reduce this problem and club representatives could have something to show land owners when requesting opening/reopening trails. I'm not a snowmobiler, but I've followed these threads the last few years, and it *appears* as if it's mostly lamenting a problem rather than attempting to solve it. Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk |
Best way to reach the riders is information given out when you register your sled. When I bought my new sled I had to sign a paper stating I was given a copy of the new laws concerning ohrvs. Maybe something like that?
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It certainly would be much easier to take a ladder with.
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Clubs can communicate with their members through snail mail, email, and social media. But that only goes so far. It is darn near impossible for clubs to reach 100% of their members. And regarding your last comment, read the last several posts in this thread discussing trail cams. That is an attempt to solve the problem. Look, it really is the few that ruin it for all. The people that ride off-trail don't care about signs, they don't care about rules. They know full well that what they are doing is illegal, but are willing to take the chance because the odds are that they won't get caught. |
Just heard about this product. It may help to prevent trail cam theft!
Supposed to be available Spring 2018! https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...16356595041667 |
To address the matter of tree-mounted cameras being stolen or destroyed, one solution might be to use a PV-recharged cam with streaming radio transmission to a remote recorder. By the time the thief/vandal can do his damage to the cam, it's already too late - his mug has been transmitted live and saved for the judge to view. I'm sure restitution would be part of the sentencing.
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Doo Talk
Good article / post on “Doo Talk” regarding this topic....
http://www.dootalk.com/forums/topic/...trail-closing/ Dan |
They're All the Same...
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Here we go again......
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Well before the speed restriction was placed on Winnipesaukee, NH trails already had speed restrictions including a general 45 MPH upper limit on State trails. You’ll need to find another angle.....:rolleye1: |
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On the lake in the summer, there are a minority of boaters with a similar disregard for others. The big difference is that in the winter, the offended landowners have an easy solution. In the summer, it's much tougher for those offended, but ApS's response impulse is the same as the landowners closing their trails. |
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Speed has no bearing.....
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NEVER once was a trail closed due to speeding sleds. The most frequent reason is due to off trail riders. Loud (illegal exhaust) sleds followed closely by littering and property damage are a close second. And following up close behind is trail/property damage done by ATVs and trucks/ mud bloggers any time of the year, but particularly off season. ‘Nough said...... |
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Um...I'm not sure you do disagree. I did not mention speed in my post. I referred to disregard for others. The issue is not the specific offense, but the absence of sensitivity, manners and common sense. Noise, speed, litter, property damage, right of way rules, etc...They're kind of all the same in terms of the reactions they provoke. |
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What gives anyone who isn't a member of a club, the right to operate on any of the trails that are obviously private. I can't imagine just the fact they have a registered sled would give them that right... or has it something to do with registration funds used for maintaining those trails?
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A NH sled registration gives you access to all of the sled trails in NH... just like a car registration gives you access to all public roads.
Most of the sled trails are on private, not public property. This gets ugly when people do not abide by the rules and ride off trail, leave trash, etc etc. The property owners then rescind their permission to cross the property! Moral of the story.... don't be a TOOL! Respect the property owners and stay on the trail... carry in / carry out... keep quiet and don't mod your exhaust! If you go faster than 45... man up and take your speeding ticket if F&G catches you! It is really pretty simple! Woodsy |
Speed Obscured by Noise...
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(As surmised by its #2 position above). . |
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APS (Always Pushing Sh**) bringing up the speed limit where it has no relevance!
Unfortunately for APS, Speed has absolutely nothing to do with trail closures! For the most part loud sleds are thing of the past... especially with the rising popularity of the 4-stroke machines. You can drive a whisper quiet 200+ HP 4 stroke right from the factory! Woodsy |
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What?
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If you listen to radio, have conversations, or use a telephone at the lake, excessive noise is an undeniably anti-social intrusion. Sure, acceleration is a factor, but where there are hills, there is going to be excessive noise. Stand alongside Wolfeboro's North Main Street some time, and try to tell me that a 4-stroke Harley is quiet going uphill. :rolleye2: I've pointed out my family moved to the Airpark—I was only 12, and had no "say". As it turned out, we were insulated from takeoff noise by a long, tall, hillside—and seldom heard landings. Perhaps, however, only on windless days—and only then—a landing consisted of a "chirp" of tires. My poor neighbors near Thomas Point have had the worst noise from floatplane takeoffs, as high-drag "supersonic propeller-tip speed" blasted their ears. Wolfeboro property turnovers near Thomas Point are frequent. (A problem with buying "off-season"). Ironically, the Airpark's designated "lake landing strips" have become useless, as the increase in tubing—along with ever-increasing boat wakes—has turned floatplanes away. My personal dislikes: • Noisy sleds on Winnipesaukee ice. • All floatplanes but Cessna 190 and one 130-HP Luscombe. The Luscombe has the shortest takeoff run I've ever seen, and climbs to an impressive altitude immediately. Because free rides were given to Scouts, what little noise there was, could be overlooked. :look: . |
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From the Laconia Daily Sun today (2-16-2018), regarding closure of trails in the Chocorua area. A recent article stated this would be the last year for the Sled Dog Races as well as snowmobiling. Today's article gives the property owners reasons for closing the trails to snowmobiles. Pretty much the same reasons that have been stated earlier in this thread, and probably caused by a minority of riders. However, for the owners, enough is enough evidently. Here's the article:
http://www.laconiadailysun.com/newsx...hocorua-trails Dave Sent from my SM-T580 using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app |
Wave to me when i drive by . PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES ....:cheers:
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Trail Closure Corridor 15 in Moultonboro
Moultonboro Snowmobile Club Website
CLOSURE – ALONG CORRIDOR 15 The land owner along a portion of corridor 15 called the club on Sunday evening to say the part of the trail that goes through his land will close on Monday, February 19’th. Sleds were traveling all over his land today (Sunday), off the trail and triggered his action. The powder today was amazing, but it cost the club a major linkage in its trail system. Expect the gate just off of Moultonborough Neck Road to be locked and big boulders blocking the trail near Hanson Road. The trail off the lake will dead-end at Hanson Road. |
Thanks for heads up but again terrible news for us that ride responsibly. I guess we all need to do a better job policing ourselves and turning people in though it isn't always easy to get the reg numbers. It should also be punitive when caught. If fish and game catches people off trail their current registration should be forfeited, they should be fined and they should not be able to reregister for the following two seasons. Gotta make people think more....
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Time to sell the sleds......ability to ride locally was really the only reason I got into this. :(
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How much longer?
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I think we are right at his five year benchmark and I believe that within five more years a number of clubs within an hour or two drive of the Lakes Region will be but a fond memory. I believe there will still be plenty of riding in Coos County, but that the crowding up there means that more and more NH folks that stay in the sport will continue to migrate to Maine and Quebec. |
ATVS are a big reason for trail closures. There were multiple Atv tracks along with a single sled track in the area that was recently closed in Moultonborough.
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I had to go to Laconia yesterday, and as I passed the end of the Laconia Bypass near Lily Pond, I looked over at the trail entrance of the side of the entrance to the bypass, and saw the double gates closed, trail closed. Just west of the bypass, there is a single gate that was closed as well.
Just to the right of that closed gate is a space between trees, and a snowmobile(s) circumvented the gate and went through the open space to get on the closed trail. Probably only a few at most entering this closed trail. Doesn't matter how many, just that the actions of a few could result in yet another trail being closed. If memory serves me right, I think there is a maple syrup gathering network on that hill. Last update on Belknap Snowmobilers FB page on 2-22 says all trails closed. I hope this does not end up being a problem for the club. Dave Sent from my SM-T580 using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app |
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What I can say is that Moultonboro is great. John H. does a good job updating folks when gates are opened, closed, reopened, groomed, etc. What I'm trying to say is be optimistic. Everyone is so quick to jump to the negative conclusions all too frequently without all the facts. |
Last thing we need is more closures so hopefully this won’t be issue next year. I saw on the Pittsburg website they put a post out asking people to stay on trail because a landowner is getting fed up with off trail riding. Would be aweful to see closures up there. We need to start policing ourselves better.
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Not to dismiss any other landowners either. They are ALL equally important in any trail system. |
Agreed. Like I said above this problem can be fixed by F&G. Implement a $1,000 fine on any rider caught riding off trail, suspend current year registration and the ability to register the following year. That will reel it in quickly.
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Powder Mill Snowmobile Club 4 hours ago Powder Mill Snowmobile ClubUPDATE: COR 22 FROM JOHNSONS RESTAURANT TO ALTON IS CLOSED DUE TO OFF TRAIL RIDING.
This is the New Durham town pit,off Stockbridge Corner Rd. This section of Cor 22 might be closed indefinitely due to people riding over saplings that were planted in this area. If you know of anyone who might be responsible for this please let us or F&G know, could prevent this trail from being closed permanently. |
From the North Country
ATTENTION SNOWMOBILERS!!
Please be advised that the Balsams Ownership had given their FINAL warning! If the OFF TRAIL RIDING does not stop immediately, the following trails will be closed: Any and all land that is owned by the Balsams, including the Balsams Trail from Diamond Peaks Store Corridor Trail 134 – up to Dixville Peaks Corridor Trail 134 up to Nathan Pond Please pass the word https://www.facebook.com/L.L.CoteSpo...55102878712364 |
I'd say it's unbelievable but it's believable.
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I like the idea that I read on one of the facebook pages.
If you are caught riding off trail, in addition to a fine, add x hours of community service to a local snowmobile club before you can obtain a new snowmobile registration. Those ppl with more money than brains could learn a whole lot if they had to help out a club with trail maintenance (year round). I know it will never happen, but it is fun to think about. |
Riding off trail
We have lost some trails in the last few years for varying reasons, ranging from riding off trail to local politics and subdividing lots by landowners. Installing cameras IS NOT the answer. You will not be able to read the registration numbers. At best you can get a description of the sled...a black and yellow sled whizzing by your camera. We plaster the area with signs but we can't force people to abide by them. Fish and Game officers are few and far between. We can't have a cop at every junction nor would we want one. Frankly there is nothing we can do about it. We discuss this at Board of Directors meetings as well as NHSA meetings. The outcome is always the same; we can't stop it.
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Not snowmobiles.... ATVs !
Sitting on my back porch watching TV and lo and behold, two ATVs came westbound on the Rand Hill Rd snowmobile trail that runs behind my house, between Rand Hill Rd and Lakewood. I was actually able to get their attention and told them to go over the bridge, take a left and get on the road.
I think they may have been kids. And people wonder why landowners shut down trails through their land. (No I'm not! ) Dave |
Like the rest of the world I just think to many people are uneducated to rules. I think this is the major the problem with snowmobiling. People that know no better see a trail and and ride it. Signage is often times not great. If you are not in a club and relatively new to riding you just go for it. In the lakes region I think it is compounded by not always having enuff snow to ride all the time but at times we do so many mariginal riders that do,it just for fun once in a while become a problem because they know no better. I hate to say it but like boating there may come a time for license to ride that requires mandatory training to complete to sit for it.....
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