Jubilation to Major Disappointment

[bandana4me]

This is not intended as a rant or trolling, I am just stating a disappointment in the behavior of a few (which ruin it for everybody).

Last weekend we (well I was anyways) were on cloud 9 as Marley and I (notice not Marley and me!) celebrated his completion of the W48 (I finished quite some time ago). It was a great felling and we celebrated accordingly.

That was then.

This weekend as I am trying to slow down this monster who loves to hike and hike and hike (did I mention he likes to hike!). We went for a birthday (he will be 2 on 3/24) celebration hike. I was fortunate enough to get a car spot so I would not have to back track. Anyways we went in on the Rocky Branch trail from the Jericho Road which is not plowed all the way to the trail head. We walked the road which was nicely packed by snowmobiles. Upon entering the trail at the gate I noticed that the snowmobile tracks went around the gate and across the bridge. I was not concerned as there are other side trails for the snowmobiles beyond the bridge. As I continued my walk into the woods the tracks (snowmobile) continued as well. To make long story short who ever was on that snowmobile went all the way to Rocky Branch shelter #1! The tracks were right in front of the shelter. It was quite disappointing that someone would purposely abuse their off road capabilities this way! Who ever it was did this with one intent in mind because some of the small stream crossings were quite difficult for this snowmobile because I saw some tracks where they experienced difficulty.

Needless to say it did not damper our journey. How can you ruin a weekend in the woods with your trusted and beloved dog?

 

[Pucknuts61]

I totally understand the disappointment....we saw some snowmobile tracks near Zealand recently.

However, the one consolation we had was the possibility that the snowmobile was used to rescue someone and not for recreation.
Any chance this might be the case? any recent RB area rescues?

Again I don't know if SAR is allowed to do this with snowmobiles but it's a thought.

 

[kltilton]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if hiking trails are "off-limits" to snowmobiles? I know some trails are posted that are near existing snowmobile trails, but I'm not sure if there is a blanket rule that prohibits snowmobiles from other parts of the national forest, other than wilderness areas.

 

[psmart]

Snowmobiles are allowed in the WMNF only on designated snowmobile trails. They are allowed elsewhere only for emergency purposes.

Please note that portions of some hiking trails are also designated snowmobile trails, such as the Bolles and Liberty Trails.

 

[woodsxc]

However, the one consolation we had was the possibility that the snowmobile was used to rescue someone and not for recreation.

Probably the only time people are hoping that someone else needed to be rescued.

I think snowmobiles are permitted everywhere that is not explicitly forbidden to them. Sure is a shame that someone went up a hiking trail though.

 

[peakbagger]

Snowmobile off trail abuse has dropped a lot in recent years, as the sleds have been optimized for speed and handling, they have gotten a lot heavier with less flotation, the net result is that they need to run on groomed trails for most of the winter until a firm crust forms.

I noticed a few years ago that when I went sking around in the fairly open woods near my house that sleds would follow my ski tracks in powder as the skis compacted the snow just enough for them to stay up. As the land was posted for no snowmachines off the trail. I would usually turn into the woods in a tight spot where the trees were too dense to follow. More than once when I came through the next weekend, I would see where someone had to do a lot of digging to get their sled turned around where I turned in.

I was on a short hike to the Sugarloafs this winter on the Zealand Road and a state fish and game ranger was parked just around the corner from where a snowmachine trail crosses the road and he was writing tickets for folks who ignored the no snowmachines signs on the road.

Having heard of past exploits, like running a sled down Icy Gulch and into Gentian Pond or having met sleds on top of Moosilaukee, over the years, I think its gone down a lot, but it only takes a couple of morons to ruin it for all.

 

[walker]

Straight from the horses mouth (sort of)

Taken from the White Mountain National Forest web site http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/recreation/winter_activities/snowmobile_trails/index.php

Snowmobiling on the White Mountain National Forest is permitted ONLY ON DESIGNATED TRAILS. Travel should occur only when there is an accumulation of six inches of snow or more on a continuing basis.

Roads and trails, which are gated, signed to prohibit use by motorized vehicles, or are covered by a Forest Supervisor's order are closed to snowmobiling. By staying on groomed trails you can help deer survive the harsh winter by avoiding disturbance to valuable deer wintering habitat. End Quote

If you happen to come across a snowmobile on the trail while hiking...smile, wave, (swear under your breath) and move on...You know who's wrong...They know who's wrong...Why make a bad thing worse?

See you on the trail.....Walker

 

[RoySwkr]

Snowmobiles are allowed in the WMNF only on designated snowmobile trails. They are allowed elsewhere only for emergency purposes.

Please note that portions of some hiking trails are also designated snowmobile trails, such as the Bolles and Liberty Trails.

At one time they were allowed on many hiking trails and in certain designated off-trail zones, you could get a map from the WMNF. The first edition of this map showed Hancock Loop Trail as allowed, apparently some turkey at HQ without a contour map decided it would be a nice snowmobile loop Never heard that anybody actually did it, and it was removed from the 2nd edition.

If you see a snowmachine in a bad place, sneak a photo.

 

[Sheomet]

Probably the only time people are hoping that someone else needed to be rescued.

I think snowmobiles are permitted everywhere that is not explicitly forbidden to them. Sure is a shame that someone went up a hiking trail though.

Snowmobiles are only permitted on trails that are signed / marked as open for snowmobiles, this is for the whole state except parts of Pittsburg where off trail riding is allowed in areas of the Connecticut Lakes Forest.

Snowmobile off trail abuse has dropped a lot in recent years, as the sleds have been optimized for speed and handling, they have gotten a lot heavier with less flotation, the net result is that they need to run on groomed trails for most of the winter until a firm crust forms.

This is not true as most snowmobiles have been getting lighter the past few years especially the new skidoo and polaris models. Also longer tracks with deeper lugs allow for better flotation in off trail powder riding (boondocking). Good riders can go most anywhere with the right snowmobile, it always sucks when a few bad apples exploit that and give other snowmobilers a bad rep (I'm a snowmobiler myself).

 

[woodsxc]

Snowmobiles are only permitted on trails that are signed / marked as open for snowmobiles, this is for the whole state except parts of Pittsburg where off trail riding is allowed in areas of the Connecticut Lakes Forest.

I stand corrected. You know better than I. Here in Maine it seems like there are lots of snowmobile trails and plenty of snowmobilers. And as far as I can tell, the snowmobilers stick to their trails and leave hiking trails alone.