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#1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Meredith & Chadds Ford, PA
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I've been up to the LRCT property at Castle in the Clouds several times this week. It seems like more snowmobile trails are now available. I'm not sure if the snowmobilers are aware that the LRCT also "closed" 6 to 8 miles of hiking trails after they purchased the property. However, some of these trails have been re-blazed, upgraded, and re-opened - there's even a new trail of about 1/2 mile length off the main trail that runs from the parking area on Rt 171 to Shannon Pond.
In my view, hikers and snowmobilers are natural allies. We seem to be the only ones that ever take responsibility for the maintainance or creation of trails. I've never seen any of the equestrians, ATVers, or mountain bikers that use our trails volunteer for maintenance. |
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#2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonborough
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We often come accross Xcountry skiers that are using the snowmobile trails,as most of you do,also.Most are very nice and give a wave while others give you a glare,like we don't belong there and are interupting their enjoyment.And I'm thinking....where were you when it was time to clear these trails.....this IS a snowmobile trail.
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#3 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dover, NH
Posts: 1,615
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According to my sources, as of as late as this past Friday there has been no re-opening of any of the closed trails within the area we are discussing. Can anyone from the LRCT out there correct me if I am wrong, and verify which trails will be re-opened to snowmobilers this winter? Only 47 more days till the season opens! ![]() |
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#4 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Nice to see a few folks posting some information on the Castle Area.
My view is that having the primary trail (15) is great, though having some of the lookouts back in the mix would be wonderful. If you have been up there where the other trails intersect like Black Snout, Faraway, Roberts you'll see that it is a very long hike to get to those trailheads. Two winters ago...No Riding up there last year, there were no tracks on those trails from hikers, snowshoes or X-Country. Believe me I understand! I'm a looooooonnnnnnggggg time hiker. That switchback trail to get to those trailheads is a real stinker. I wouldn't want to do it in winter. Even in summer I'd call it a moderate difficulty trail. Just seems a shame that an area that was so popular a draw for the surrounding communities winter business and an awesome recreational outlet for snowmobiling families has been lost. Again being an active snowmobile club member from the area I have to promote the idea that the trail building and maintenance during a 12 month stretch for MAYBE 8-10 weeks of snowmobiling is a really nice trade off. Just want all of you to know why I care about this issue. It is beautiful up there. The views in the winter are something to really see. The local Snowmobile Clubs and the State did such a great job up there over the years. I just wish that working relationship could be re-established. |
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#5 |
Deceased Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Moultonboro
Posts: 849
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There has been some talk of a re-route around the switch backs to get traffic off the vertical climbs. The objective would be to create a less aggressive vertical climb and establish a one way up and one down section to eliminate the tearing up of the trail and make it safer for snowmobiles going in either direction. This would be similar to how the Trails are routed on RED HILL.
As for RED HILL and The Castle it is status quo. Every things seams to be going well with the Trust this season. You may want to contact the Bureau of Trails, your local Bureau of Trails County Director or NHSA (they are still busy unpacking for their August move to Tilton). I would say check the NHSA website, but that’s been down since June or The SnowTravler, but seams to arrive after most of the EVENTS have happened. WINNOCTURN Last edited by WINNOCTURN; 10-31-2006 at 04:35 PM. |
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#6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Meredith, NH
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Here's the URL: http://www.nhsa.com/
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#7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dover, NH
Posts: 1,615
Thanks: 256
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Unfortunatley, while the home page displays correctly, none of the organization's links work.
The links to outside agencies still perform correctly. The organization's links have been intermittent for several years now and have been completely down since last spring. And yes, they are aware of this situation as many members have been alerting them for months now! ![]() |
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#8 |
Deceased Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Moultonboro
Posts: 849
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Skip,
I do not know if "alerting" is a strong enough word. The correspondence I have had with NHSA both by e-mail and face to face probably boarders on harassment. I do not know what their replies to you have been, but I really am not buying what I have been told. WINNOCTURN |
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#9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dover, NH
Posts: 1,615
Thanks: 256
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Checked again last night with several local club officers and officials, according to them there has been no communications from the folks at the LRCT regarding trail status this upcoming snowmobiling season.
Official trail openings (weather & state/local officials permitting) is little over a month away and many families are deep into their planning stages for winter vacation activities. I know some of the great folks that post & peruse here are members of the LRCT. Does anyone out there have any insight into the trail system issue for this upcoming season, or maybe have the ability to poke a hole in the apparent log jamb regarding communications here? I know a lot of folks out there would apreciate any help or additional information on the issue! ![]() Thanks, Skip |
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#10 |
Deceased Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Moultonboro
Posts: 849
Thanks: 350
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Skip,
Try these two addresses, New Hampshire Bureau of Trails: nhtrails@dred.state.nh.us and The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation, : nhparks@dred.state.nh.us , (603) 271-3556. They are the ones who would be negotiating with the Trust as to the Insurance issues and would there for know what trails would be open at the Castle? The Trust has a full time “Land use Coordinator” that we deal with directly here in Moultonboro and have had a very good working relationship this season. WINNOCTURN Last edited by WINNOCTURN; 11-06-2006 at 01:45 PM. |
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#11 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3
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It would be great to see a few of the old trails opened up again.
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#12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dover, NH
Posts: 1,615
Thanks: 256
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#13 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
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#14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Moultonboro, NH
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Have you seen that parts of the Sandwich Range were voted by congress to be designated as wilderness. From the press release, The land would remain as White Mountain National Forest land under the protection of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Wilderness areas consist of federal lands that are permanently closed to such activities as mining, logging, road construction, vehicular traffic, and building construction. There are some great snowmobile trails that currently go up through Sandwich notch, and branch east and west. The eastern branch ends up near the junction of Route 16 and 25 in Ossipee. I believe the western branch ends up in Meredith. I haven't seen a map that shows the boundaries to be closed to vehicular traffic. Winter access via snowmobile to NH lands is getting squeezed on one side by the short seasons brought on by the climate change and by legislation on the other.
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#15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Weirs Beach, NH
Posts: 1,067
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#16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Gilford
Posts: 148
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
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#17 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dover, NH
Posts: 1,615
Thanks: 256
Thanked 514 Times in 182 Posts
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#18 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Gilford
Posts: 148
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
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