Owls Head (Cherry Mountain) Trail Closure

[Stan]

... And yes, I agree with your suggestion that a snowmobile club should consider maintaining an outhouse up there, and while they're at it, maybe they could install a few ashtrays ...

I agree, and would expect them to do it if they could get approval from the land owner. Two issues strike me, however.

First, the acces to an outhouse when there is heavy snow cover might make it impractical unless it is elevated and designed in some way to deal with that.

Second, the suggestion should not be made in jest ... like hikers don't crap in the woods either! ... but should be offered in a constructive way of mutual interest in the outdoors, the preservation of nice areas and access thereto by adhering reasonably to the leave no trace ethic, and volunteering to help.

Too often we hikers look down our noses at people who engage in activites some consider "inferior" to ours. Put those judgements aside and instead do something positive and constructive. There is enough wild country for all to enjoy, sometimes overlapping as evidenced by the many times that I, and others, have skied, snowshoed or hiked on snowmobile trails.

I would suggest that if anyone is familiar with the local snowmobile club, please bring this to their attention, and if and when they organzie a posse to actually do it, see how many of us volunteer to help.

 

[erugs]

Good ideas, Stan. I would add that while hikers have bio break in the woods, too, a group riding trip, such as on a snowmobile, will have those stops at a break-point, such as the turn-around on a dead-end trail. Hikers are more likely to stop as needed, which spreads out the location considerably. I have noticed that when I need to make a pit stop, and am looking for a "good" private spot off the trail, that the location has been used by others before me who do not practice Leave No Trace. So now I try to find a not-so-good spot.

 

[RoySwkr]

I cannot say for sure, but I believe that the trail closure was requested by a land owner further up the trail, not the one at the trailhead.

Looking at the property boundaries on the AMC map, the slide itself along with nearly all of the trail is private. If multiple landowners are involved, either you have to buy the land from them all or keep them all in agreement which might be tough.

The AMC map also shows that most of the W branch of the Cherry Mtn Trail is private, although there may be a right-of-way since a road is involved. It appears possible to build a trail NW from Martha to Rte. 115 on conserved land though.

(Maybe a snowmobile club would consider maintaining an outhouse or two up there?)

Of course there was one for the fire tower, but it was removed. I suppose with snowmobiles you could haul the bins out instead of just moving the pit.

 

[dug]

Good ideas, Stan. I would add that while hikers have bio break in the woods, too, a group riding trip, such as on a snowmobile, will have those stops at a break-point, such as the turn-around on a dead-end trail. Hikers are more likely to stop as needed, which spreads out the location considerably. I have noticed that when I need to make a pit stop, and am looking for a "good" private spot off the trail, that the location has been used by others before me who do not practice Leave No Trace. So now I try to find a not-so-good spot.

Since we are already side-tracked, I will say I disagree with this. Snowmobilers travel many more miles than a hiker, or a skier. So, there are plenty more opportunities to spread it around.

You can pretty much tell you are at a viewpoint, trail intersection, or summit on a hiking trail by the yellow holes. And, in spring, the TP hanging on the branches.