I normally don’t link to most accident or crime items, but the recent spate of snowmobile incidents in the Adirondacks and vicinity are notable.
Lewis County woman hospitalized following snowmobile crash
Police investigating fatal snowmobile accident
“The faster he could go, the better,” said Waller, adding that Gullis had recently spoken about adding nitrous oxide to his snowmobile to make it go faster. “He couldn’t wait to get out there.”
Morrisonville man killed in Waverly snowmobile crash
Man in critical following snowmobile crash
3 die when snowmobiles go through ice on Vt. lake
Luke noted over the weekend an advertisement he found in a local weekly. It featured a snowmobiler “Gunning it, flying through the air”. Obvious questions about promotional imagery and safety. (Not-so-obvious question about advertising rationale.)
Portrayals of cyclists are frequently criticized if they are shown lacking head protection. Heck, we ban cigarette and liquor ads altogether. When does the harm caused by an activity outweigh its economic benefit? Unfortunately, these days that point is only reached when the economic cost exceeds the benefit.
I’m sort of happy to say that we moderated our video to make it less “snowmobile-aggressive” and to include a variety of other Winter activities. Hope this is the last we hear of accidents this season.
Tags: accident·advertising·snowmobile
December 8th, 2009 · Comments Off · News
General Weather Information
National Weather Service Forecast Office – Northeast
Regional Snow Analyses: Northeast
Current Northeast Snow Depth Map
NOHRSC Interactive Snow Information
Current Interior Conditions in the Adirondack High Peaks Region
Paul Smiths- Adirondack Watershed Institute Weather Station
Winter Travel Advisory – NYS Dept of Transportation
Snowmobile Trail Conditions
Franklin County – Malone, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, Tupper Lake
St Lawrence County – Massena, Brasher Falls, Cranberry Lake, Colton
Old Forge – Big Moose, Eagle Bay, Thendara (Webb-cam)
Inlet, NY & the Moose River Plains
Speculator Region – Lake Pleasant, Arrieta, Piseco, Wells, Morehouse
Long Lake/Raquette Lake
Adirondack, Tug Hill, Lewis County Region
Christy’s Motel, Old Forge
Cross-Country Skiing/Snowshoe Reports
Adirondack Park Visitors Interpretive Centers
(Newcomb and Paul Smiths)
Lake Placid/High Peaks region
Frigid Fridays – Weekend Weather from Newcomb, NY
Gore Mt – Nordic & Snowshoeing Conditions
Olympic Sports Complex (Mt. Van Hoevenberg)
Ski Report – Saranac New Land Trust
Cross Country Skiing at Garnet Hill Lodge
Lapland Lake Winter Ski Report
Downhill Skiing Reports
Whiteface Mountain – Wilmington/Lake Placid
Gore Mountain – North Creek
Mt. Pisgah – Saranac Lake – (518) 891-0970
Titus Mountain – Malone
McCauley Mountain – Old Forge (Snow Cam)
West Mountain – Glens Falls
Resources
Adirondack Cross Country Skiing and Downhill Skiing
The Jackrabbit Trail
Trail Information for the High Peaks
Wanakena Ranger School Webcam
Tupper Lake Cameras
Lake Placid Cameras
Newcomb Cameras
Adirondack Snowmobile Map
Snowmobile Plan for the Adirondack Park
If anyone is dying to see some other information source listed here, send it for consideration!
Tags: camp·ski·snow·snowmobile·snowshoe·weather
Wednesday’s meeting at the Saranac Town Hall was at full-capacity. I think every chair in the building was being used for this informational meeting introducing the NYS DEC’s Interim Recreation Management Plan for the Sable Highlands conservation easement Public Use Areas and Linear Recreation Corridors. Simply put, NYS has purchased conservation easements on privately owned land and is charged with the implementation and management of public recreational use.
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Tags: atv·bike·camp·clinton county·conservation·dec·fish·franklin county·hike·hunt·map·sable highlands·saranac·ski·snowmobile
Public Invited to Offer Input at May 6 Meeting in Saranac
A new draft plan for recreational uses of the Sable Highlands in the northeastern Adirondacks includes proposals to construct camping sites, improve old and create new hiking trails, enhance fishing access and open two new mountain biking routes, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Betsy Lowe announced today.
The Sable Highlands Conservation Easement Lands consist of approximately 84,000 acres of land in the towns of Ellenburg and Saranac in Clinton County, and Bellmont and Franklin in Franklin County.
“The plan outlines extensive and varied recreational opportunities, including motorized recreation, on the Sable Highlands Conservation Easement Lands,” said Regional Director Lowe. “DEC is pleased to have worked with Chateaugay Woodlands and the Nature Conservancy in developing public access on these lands, while protecting the natural resources and retaining timber management jobs.”
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Tags: atv·bike·camp·clinton county·conservation·dec·fish·franklin county·hike·hunt·sable highlands·saranac·ski·snowmobile
DEC OPENS GATES ON AREA SNOWMOBILE TRAILS
Gates on snowmobile trails on area forest preserve lands are now open New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Betsy M. Lowe announced today.
“DEC is pleased to work with local snowmobile clubs to allow residents and visitors to participate in this recreational activity,” said Regional Director Lowe. “We ask that snowmobilers take measures to ensure their own safety, respect others using the trail system and to protect the natural resources of the Adirondacks.”
DEC typically waits until there is a foot of snow cover before opening the gates. This is to protect the trail surface, the riders and natural resources adjacent to the trail. Gates are open on the following trail sections:
- C7B between the Village of Saranac Lake and Lake Kushuqua;
- C8 between Meacham Lake and Madwaska Pond; and
- The spur trail between Madwaska Pond and the Blue Mountain Road.
DEC cautions snowmobilers to be aware of obstacles and detours, particularly
- A new temporary trail route in the Meacham Lake Public Campground;
- Logging activity in the area around the Wolf Pond Road section of C8D; and
- Downed limbs and trees, which may be present on any of the trails.
Snowmobilers are reminded to be properly equipped and prepared before going out. Plan your trips, know your route and check weather conditions before going out on the trail. While riding, stay on marked trails, obey the rules for safe snowmobiling, and be respectful of other snowmobilers, skiers or snowshoers you may encounter on trails.
Speed and alcohol are the two main factors in snowmobile accidents. Always travel at speeds that are reasonable or prudent under the surrounding conditions, obey posted speed limits, and don’t exceed the state speed limit of 55 mph. Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
More safety tips and a complete list of rules and regulations can be found in the “New York State Snowmobiler’s Guide” and on the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s web site: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/
Tags: dec·snow·snowmobile
Back when New York State Snowmobile Registration Fees went up, I noted the mafia-like “tax” people had to pay just to get on their sled. Now it seems the Adirondack Council is questioning the New York State Snowmobile Association’s $5/tag-funded PAC.
Is money earmarked for snowmobile registration, finding its way into the pockets of some NYS lawmakers? That assertion is coming from the Adirondack Council, which maintains NYS Snowmobile Association members may unwittingly be sending some of the fee’s collected each year, into a Political Action Committee which is then making donations to the campaign war chests of certain state legislators. The Adirondack Council is questioning this, calling it politics at its worst.
In addition, the Council is questioning a benefit given to Snowmobile Association members, which lowers the cost of registration if they join a NYS Snowmobile Association affiliated snowmobile club.
The Council plans to bring this matter to the attention of the NYS Attorney General for further investigation, since some of the lawmakers who pushed legislation allowing this change in the registration ‘fee structure’, are the same ones who’ve received PAC dollars from the Snowmobile Association.
Link – WTVH
Tags: new york·politics·snowmobile
Local environmental groups are pointing to another study which looks at rising temperature trends.
Not surprisingly, three “industries” are being identified as under threat:
- Downhill Skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Paper and Timber
“There was an analysis of the length of the downhill ski season,” explained Leslie Karasin, program manager for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Adirondack Program. “What was modeled was skiable days.”
The “green” skiing movement has not proven to be that great of a model and has done little to alter the image of ski resorts as “land-gobbling, energy-sucking enemies” and water-hogging enemies. Let’s face it, downhill skiing is an inherently elitist activity. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Incrementally, I wonder what the cost is to try and squeeze a few more days of skiing in? Don’t forget that most people burn gasoline or jet fuel to get to the skiing area.
I won’t even bother to detail the carbon benefits of snowmobiling and logging.
Prediction: More hand-wringing, more ‘greenwashing’, and soon a request for monetary “relief” and/or funding for more studies.
Tags: lumberjack·ski·snowmobile·weather
