Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Outdoor Recreation
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-06-2015, 06:22 PM   #1
Slickcraft
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Welch Island and West Alton
Posts: 3,211
Thanks: 1,166
Thanked 1,999 Times in 913 Posts
Default Mt Major Conservation

From a Belknap Range Conservation Coailtion (BRCC) news letter:

Quote:
On Saturday, October 10 from 9 am to 12:30 pm, a Celebration of Land Conservation Success in the Belknap Mountains will be held at the Mount Major Parking Lot on NH Route 11 in Alton. Come join the celebration and hear an update on recent conservation projects that have protected nearly 1,000 acres and the trailhead at Mount Major. The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests; the Lakes Region Conservation Trust and the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition will greet hikers and will provide information on what has been accomplished and plans for continuing conservation efforts.
Slickcraft is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
mcdude (10-08-2015)
Old 10-07-2015, 05:32 AM   #2
secondcurve
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,084
Thanks: 1,267
Thanked 557 Times in 286 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slickcraft View Post
From a Belknap Range Conservation Coailtion (BRCC) news letter:
Don't be afraid to ask when they will be opening the area to more snowmobiling as was originally promised.
secondcurve is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to secondcurve For This Useful Post:
wifi (10-07-2015)
Old 10-07-2015, 06:30 AM   #3
tis
Senior Member
 
tis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,386
Thanks: 716
Thanked 1,375 Times in 951 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by secondcurve View Post
Don't be afraid to ask when they will be opening the area to more snowmobiling as was originally promised.
You mean like Castle in the Clouds trails??
tis is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to tis For This Useful Post:
wifi (10-07-2015)
Old 10-07-2015, 05:59 PM   #4
wifi
Senior Member
 
wifi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lakes Region
Posts: 1,321
Thanks: 282
Thanked 287 Times in 169 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tis View Post
You mean like Castle in the Clouds trails??
Exactly
wifi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2015, 02:37 PM   #5
mcdude
Senior Member
 
mcdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME
Posts: 5,359
Thanks: 374
Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts
Default

I'm seeing lots of snowmobile trails on this map. How many do you need?

Castle in the Clouds is a property of the Lakes Region Conservation Trust
The steward of Mt. Major/Belknaps Mts. is the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition
I wasn't aware that the BRCC pulled the same "stunt" as the LRCT at the Castle property regarding snowmobiles. If so, I'd like to hear more about this. Thanks :-)
__________________


Last edited by mcdude; 10-08-2015 at 04:50 PM. Reason: additional query
mcdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 10-08-2015, 05:38 PM   #6
wifi
Senior Member
 
wifi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lakes Region
Posts: 1,321
Thanks: 282
Thanked 287 Times in 169 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcdude View Post
....The steward of Mt. Major/Belknaps Mts. is the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition.....

The board of directors contains both the LRCT and the SPNHF, both of which are overbearing controlling organizations. I have first hand experience with them, but I'm not trying to start an argument.
wifi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2015, 05:13 PM   #7
Slickcraft
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Welch Island and West Alton
Posts: 3,211
Thanks: 1,166
Thanked 1,999 Times in 913 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by secondcurve View Post
Don't be afraid to ask when they will be opening the area to more snowmobiling as was originally promised.
The three parcels in Alton were purchased by the Forest Society using funds raised in the campaign of the past few years. As promised the Forest Society has established a working group of local stakeholders including the Mt Major Snowmobile Association. The purpose of the group is to hammer out agreements as to future management of the lands. So far they have had 3 meeting with an officer of the snowmobile club being a participant. I don’t have info as to the status of the meetings but why not contact a club officer?

Two years ago the Alton Conservation held a public forum on using $240K from the conversation fund to support the purchase by the Forest Society. I spoke about the need to preserve all traditional uses including hiking, hunting and snowmobiling. An officer from the snowmobile club then spoke in favor of supporting the purchase noting that they have had good luck working with the Forest Society and the alternative was the properties being developed.

The $240K from Alton was not a pure donation, the Town bought conservation easements on all 3 properties guaranteeing forever public access for the traditional uses including snowmobiling.

I will disclose that I was a founding member/director of the BRCC. In 2008 speaking at the Alton Town Meeting about putting more $ into the conversation fund to help preserve land in the Belkap Range from development, I was made keenly aware of local snowmobilers resentment of what happened at Castle in the Clouds. Some of those local snowmobilers were my friends and in some cases fellow board members. I can assure you that this awareness was implanted into the BRCC board.

Probably many local snowmobilers will always have a cynical view of land conservation. So be it.
Peace.
Slickcraft is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
ITD (10-11-2015), mcdude (10-11-2015)
Old 10-10-2015, 05:46 PM   #8
wifi
Senior Member
 
wifi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lakes Region
Posts: 1,321
Thanks: 282
Thanked 287 Times in 169 Posts
Default

I would hope that any and all agreements to keeping all the current recreation trails for hiking, snowmobiling, 4wheel access, etc are in writing and enforceable, between all the parties involved.
wifi is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.30861 seconds