I gave all my sledding buddies folding brush saws for Christmas. Artic Fire and Safety has them for 15 bucks.
Chuck
Let the riding begin Sept 2004.
Moderator: john
SNOWMACHINES: Park opens additional lands only to "trad
Denali Park rules open to interpretation
SNOWMACHINES: Park opens additional lands only to "traditional activities."
By PETER PORCO
Anchorage Daily News
(Published: January 6, 2005)
If you want snow, go north.
Areas from Willow to Cantwell have been covered by as much as 15 feet of snow this season, a boon for snowmachine riders, skiers and others.
Enough snow has fallen that Denali National Park and Preserve said this week it is opening its 1980 additions -- Denali's Park and Preserve portions north and south of the Alaska Range -- to snowmobiles.
As in past years, however, there's a rub. The National Park Service is allowing snowmachines to be driven on thousands of acres of Denali parkland only for "traditional activities."
From a rider's point of view, those can include almost anything, although park managers define them as hunting, trapping, fishing and travel from village to village or between family allotments, a park spokeswoman said.
The issue of where and for what reasons people may ride snowmachines in Denali has been contentious for years. Neither litigation nor congressional proposals have resolved it to this point.
Park spokeswoman Kris Fister has called it a "can of worms."
There is an "old park" and a "new park," the latter consisting of the additions created by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980.
Both outlaw nontraditional snowmachine use, but only the old park -- the 2 million-acre wilderness known before 1980 as Mount McKinley National Park -- has the benefit of an actual definition, which defines "traditional activities" as hunting, trapping, berry picking and the rest.
Park managers apply that definition to the entire park, but because only the wilderness has the benefit of an actual definition, only the wilderness has the benefit of regulations to enforce the law, according to Fister.
Those who violate the law can be cited and fined in the old park but given no more than an "educational" warning in the new, she said.
Someone traveling just to gawk at the scenery and enjoy the travel would be in clear violation, Fister said. Nowhere in the entire legislative history pertaining to Denali is sightseeing by snowmachine considered "traditional," she said.
The need for a definition and a regulation in the additions "will be addressed in some future planning effort but not in the revised management plan" that's to be unveiled this year, Fister said.
In the meantime, she said, all who ride snowmachines in Denali must obey regulations that prohibit intentional disturbances to wildlife, excessive noise and speeds of 46 mph or higher.
Rangers also enforce Alaska state laws regarding snowmobiles, including the requirement for registration decals, Fister said.
Riders should also avoid areas where wind has reduced snow depth and the vegetation or soil could be damaged.
Nearly a foot of wet new snow fell at Denali headquarters near Healy on Tuesday and another 8-10 inches Wednesday, said Fister.
Mary Leuty, an owner of the Lazy J Cabins in Cantwell, 25 miles south of the park entrance, said three feet of snow fell there Tuesday, and snow was falling again Wednesday at the rate of one inch per hour.
"Friday and Saturday night we were full," Leuty said. "Sunday we had 250 people go through the restaurant. It was just crazy. They're saying the snowmachining is very good."
A few riders head west from Cantwell into Denali park, to an area called the Bowl and to another near Parks Highway Mile 196, and they go to play, not for traditional activities, Leuty said.
There's danger in the snowpack, Fister said. Besides avalanche potential, lakes and creeks were not solidly frozen and should be avoided, she said.
Craig Seibert, proprietor of Gate Creek Cabins on Petersville Road near Trapper Creek, well to the south, also cautioned about thin ice. Many big lakes were frozen, but the ice was not thick.
While Denali National Park is only about 25 air miles away from Gate Creek, very few riders will attempt to ride there, especially with so much snow on the ground, he said.
"We got 28 inches of new snow in the last three days," Seibert said Wednesday. Altogether, the area near the cabins has gotten 15 feet this winter, he said.
Denali State Park, located south and east of the national park, is completely open to snowmachines. Many of the riders who stay at Gate Creek ride there, said Seibert.
Daily News reporter Peter Porco can be reached at pporco
SNOWMACHINES: Park opens additional lands only to "traditional activities."
By PETER PORCO
Anchorage Daily News
(Published: January 6, 2005)
If you want snow, go north.
Areas from Willow to Cantwell have been covered by as much as 15 feet of snow this season, a boon for snowmachine riders, skiers and others.
Enough snow has fallen that Denali National Park and Preserve said this week it is opening its 1980 additions -- Denali's Park and Preserve portions north and south of the Alaska Range -- to snowmobiles.
As in past years, however, there's a rub. The National Park Service is allowing snowmachines to be driven on thousands of acres of Denali parkland only for "traditional activities."
From a rider's point of view, those can include almost anything, although park managers define them as hunting, trapping, fishing and travel from village to village or between family allotments, a park spokeswoman said.
The issue of where and for what reasons people may ride snowmachines in Denali has been contentious for years. Neither litigation nor congressional proposals have resolved it to this point.
Park spokeswoman Kris Fister has called it a "can of worms."
There is an "old park" and a "new park," the latter consisting of the additions created by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980.
Both outlaw nontraditional snowmachine use, but only the old park -- the 2 million-acre wilderness known before 1980 as Mount McKinley National Park -- has the benefit of an actual definition, which defines "traditional activities" as hunting, trapping, berry picking and the rest.
Park managers apply that definition to the entire park, but because only the wilderness has the benefit of an actual definition, only the wilderness has the benefit of regulations to enforce the law, according to Fister.
Those who violate the law can be cited and fined in the old park but given no more than an "educational" warning in the new, she said.
Someone traveling just to gawk at the scenery and enjoy the travel would be in clear violation, Fister said. Nowhere in the entire legislative history pertaining to Denali is sightseeing by snowmachine considered "traditional," she said.
The need for a definition and a regulation in the additions "will be addressed in some future planning effort but not in the revised management plan" that's to be unveiled this year, Fister said.
In the meantime, she said, all who ride snowmachines in Denali must obey regulations that prohibit intentional disturbances to wildlife, excessive noise and speeds of 46 mph or higher.
Rangers also enforce Alaska state laws regarding snowmobiles, including the requirement for registration decals, Fister said.
Riders should also avoid areas where wind has reduced snow depth and the vegetation or soil could be damaged.
Nearly a foot of wet new snow fell at Denali headquarters near Healy on Tuesday and another 8-10 inches Wednesday, said Fister.
Mary Leuty, an owner of the Lazy J Cabins in Cantwell, 25 miles south of the park entrance, said three feet of snow fell there Tuesday, and snow was falling again Wednesday at the rate of one inch per hour.
"Friday and Saturday night we were full," Leuty said. "Sunday we had 250 people go through the restaurant. It was just crazy. They're saying the snowmachining is very good."
A few riders head west from Cantwell into Denali park, to an area called the Bowl and to another near Parks Highway Mile 196, and they go to play, not for traditional activities, Leuty said.
There's danger in the snowpack, Fister said. Besides avalanche potential, lakes and creeks were not solidly frozen and should be avoided, she said.
Craig Seibert, proprietor of Gate Creek Cabins on Petersville Road near Trapper Creek, well to the south, also cautioned about thin ice. Many big lakes were frozen, but the ice was not thick.
While Denali National Park is only about 25 air miles away from Gate Creek, very few riders will attempt to ride there, especially with so much snow on the ground, he said.
"We got 28 inches of new snow in the last three days," Seibert said Wednesday. Altogether, the area near the cabins has gotten 15 feet this winter, he said.
Denali State Park, located south and east of the national park, is completely open to snowmachines. Many of the riders who stay at Gate Creek ride there, said Seibert.
Daily News reporter Peter Porco can be reached at pporco
Fairbanks Creek Road
Note if your going to Chatanika this weekend for the out house races and are going to snowmachine from Cleary summit, Fairbanks creek road is one lane only, miners have started to open the road. Thanks to To Mr Thurman of Earth Movers for not clearing all of the road and Chuck Johnson for looking after snowmachine trails in the Cleary area.
Share your last trips this winter
4/4 run to Blair Lake and back to Farewell Street, 100 mile trip, 4.5 hours good trail. Didn't see anyone, crossed Tanana over Ice bridge South Cushman. Few tracks on North Blair lake. Where you been?
-
john
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Exploratory Trip to Chatanika
4/2 Four us headed to Chatanika, the intent was to start at 10 Mile Merchatile, go about 2 miles down the FST normal trail to Chatanika and then turn off on a "new" way to Goldstream and up to Chatanika Lodge..... hahahahahahahaha
After a 15 mile loop, we ended up back at 10 Mile Merchantile. Gassed up (again) and headed out again. This time we went up Small Tracks (or something) trail (i.e. dirt road) to the end and hit Goldstream trail and from there to Chatanika. Took the old Alpha A trail over Fish Creek way back.
Did about 85 miles RT, the ridges had lots of wind blown drifts, anywhere from 2 to 4 feet high. Nice slope to these on the oncoming side, straight drop on the other end, good air if you weren't ready for them. I know I didn't get as much air as Chuck did at McLaren and his submarine snowmobile feat...
But it was a good day, almost to hot.
After a 15 mile loop, we ended up back at 10 Mile Merchantile. Gassed up (again) and headed out again. This time we went up Small Tracks (or something) trail (i.e. dirt road) to the end and hit Goldstream trail and from there to Chatanika. Took the old Alpha A trail over Fish Creek way back.
Did about 85 miles RT, the ridges had lots of wind blown drifts, anywhere from 2 to 4 feet high. Nice slope to these on the oncoming side, straight drop on the other end, good air if you weren't ready for them. I know I didn't get as much air as Chuck did at McLaren and his submarine snowmobile feat...
But it was a good day, almost to hot.
Don't forget to check http://akweathercams.faa.gov/sitelist.php?quad=se