WMNF Closure!

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

White Mountain National Forest HAS BEEN CLOSED effective 6PM Saturday August 27, 2011 through midnight Monday August 29, 2011.

http://news.outdoors.org/2011/08/ad...ce=facebook&utm_medium=update&utm_campaign=fb

KDT

 

[roadtripper]

Wow.

When was the last time this happened? anyone know?

 

[adamiata]

Well, this is the top of a long slippery slope, isn't it?

 

[leaf]

now i can finally sleep in my car at trailheads without worrying whether i'll be hassled! i'm going to spend 30 minutes asleep at each one, starting at pinkham! woohoo.

 

[Bob]

Does this mean we don't need parking passes?

 

[adamiata]

The Lincoln Woods bathroom will be out of toilet paper.

In all seriousness, is there a legal basis that gives the Forest Circus authority to do this, or is it the bureaucratic power grab that it looks like?

 

[MichaelJ]

In all seriousness, is there a legal basis that gives the Forest Circus authority to do this, or is it the bureaucratic power grab that it looks like?

Yup. Cooperhill lays it out in this post.

 

[REK]

Just because it's legal doesn't mean that it's right
I'm so thankful that the federal government is here to save me from myself Thanks sir I'd love some Kool Aid!
Flame Away, I couldn't care less.
Bob

 

[TDawg]

Free stays at Guyot!! Any takers?

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Campin'

We camped at Hancock on the Kanc for 56 hours in the rain during Floyd 10 years ago. No biggie. There was little wind, lotsa rain. Pemi was raging. Would have been tough out on the trails with stream crossings. Don't remember much in the way of blowdowns. Hopefully there'll be nothing more this time... space station images are a little scary, though. Irene is one big girl! Maybe there IS something to all the hype?!

http://www.theatlantic.com/video/ar...s-terrifying-scale-as-seen-from-space/244158/

KDT

 

[--M.]

I stayed at Imp Shelter once with a caretaker who claimed to have sat out "Bob" or "Floyd" or some such in the shelter there. He said it was quite a wild ride, but that the (two-tier, Guyot-type) shelter was perfect for the conditions.

I also camped at Wild River during a good November blow that included trees across the road and a fast-rising river. I wouldn't voluntarily put myself on the wrong side of those tracks again; better to ride it out at home!

 

[Stash]

...as was noted in the other thread with this notice if you choose to go and have a problem don't expect a rescue. No need for SAR to take a risk because somoeone chooses to go out in what are advertised as adverse conditions. Makes sense to me.

 

[hikerfast]

ha! fine...ill go canoeing on the upper pemi instead

 

[w7xman]

So...if the forest is closed when it is unsafe, does that mean it is safe when it is open?

 

[Frodo]

I think that they are just overreacting to all of the media hype. I don't remember them closing it during the ice storm of 98 and that was a much more serious situation...

 

[Jason Berard]

Apparently the closure included the entire AT in NH, even outside the WMNF. They coordinate management of the AT in NH for the NPS. Shelters from Hanover to the ME are closed. There is a group of folks putting up hikers in their homes, as well as at the community center in Hanover (the Black center). Whether this is necessary or not, time will tell. But I know the thru-hikers are happy about staying in town instead of in shelters tonight and tomorrow night!

 

[cooperhill]

I think that they are just overreacting to all of the media hype. I don't remember them closing it during the ice storm of 98 and that was a much more serious situation...

I wonder if the recent lawsuits against the USFS and NPS over bear and mountain goat attacks played into this at all. Protecting themselves from lawsuits.

 

[Creag Nan Drochaid]

Proactive

Cooperhill,
I have no doubt you are right as to the motivation of these closures (WMNF & AMC). Granted it does make sense to close the Forest for the short time a hurricane passes through for safety reasons, and granted that few if any have successfully sued either for injuries that result from Acts of God, they'd still have the expense of defending against those suits (my suit will call on your suit). What I hope is that this one closure does not become such a habit that they do as many school principals do these days and call off school for a few inches of snowfall. Otherwise why do we have all these assumed risk laws, and duty of care laws, and liability limited laws, not to mention the cautions on signs at Pinkham and in guidebooks and websites and courses taught etc.? Life is risk, and we won't escape it alive anyway. Risk management should remain a personal choice as much as possible. To be free is to be fully alive.
Creag nan drochaid

 

[Becca M]

Cooperhill,
I have no doubt you are right as to the motivation of these closures (WMNF & AMC). Granted it does make sense to close the Forest for the short time a hurricane passes through for safety reasons, and granted that few if any have successfully sued either for injuries that result from Acts of God, they'd still have the expense of defending against those suits (my suit will call on your suit). What I hope is that this one closure does not become such a habit that they do as many school principals do these days and call off school for a few inches of snowfall. Otherwise why do we have all these assumed risk laws, and duty of care laws, and liability limited laws, not to mention the cautions on signs at Pinkham and in guidebooks and websites and courses taught etc.? Life is risk, and we won't escape it alive anyway. Risk management should remain a personal choice as much as possible. To be free is to be fully alive.
Creag nan drochaid

I agree!!!! It also seems a little dangerous to keep the forests open in winter when the temps are below freezing due to increased risks - where do they draw the line?

 

[cooperhill]

"Nature without the Nanny State". NY times article

Along those lines, some rainy day reading (while you have power).

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/nature-without-the-nanny-state/

wind picking up to 22mph in Nottingham, NH. Periods of heavy rain (with BIG rain drops).