New BC closures for off-road use including snowmobiling.

[arff]

The closures are intended to help aid in wildlife recovery and will remain in place for an undetermined amount of time.

Undetermined amount of time is the killer. Can drag on forever.

 

[tko sled ed]

Time for a meet up say around dec 15 everyone show and just ride up there to push back

 

[ferniesnow]

I looked at the maps again today and they added some green lines to them. The green lines represent FSR's that will remain open. I noticed that the Owls FSR isn't green through the burn though.

 

[bobsledder]

This is the clubs response to me about Owlhead.
"We are working also to mitigate access to Owlhead, despite notice late last week on closure due to the Two Mile fire, but we're optimistic we will be able to make headway"
In my opinion things doesn't look good and they just have no answers at this time.
Both Blue Lake and Quest access will be impacted by logging. There are plenty of other ways to get up there or other places to ride.

 

[revbyu]

So if the fire area is about 2km up the trail and sledders stay on the trail to access owls and blue lake area - -not sure how this will affect the burnt out area - if the closures happen and access to the areas isnt easily accessible the area will become less traveled - will defiantly affect the business community in sicamous

 

[bobsledder]

So if the fire area is about 2km up the trail and sledders stay on the trail to access owls and blue lake area - -not sure how this will affect the burnt out area - if the closures happen and access to the areas isnt easily accessible the area will become less traveled - will defiantly affect the business community in sicamous

At 2k you don't see anything. You have to turn right at 2k and go a ways to see burnt area There is an area at about 14k up that the fire jumped the Owl FSR. That is the problem from what I saw when I was up to around 20 K a few weeks ago. If they close that it is really stupid. Can't say I really give a ch!t anyways. After the continual price increases the last few years, dropping the secondary pass and access issues every year for logging I can join Hunters for way less for the days we want groomed trail with my wife. Rest of the time plenty of back country to play.

The GM says he is working on it and the Blue Lake/Quest issues as well but understandably he has no answers yet. Beware Sicamous staging is potentially a ch!t show again.

 

[freeflorider]

Perhaps if we wait long enough the dinosaurs will return too. Just keep riding, I find the 12 gauge fits on both sled and utv. It’s about time people …it’s about time.

 

[revbyu]

At 2k you don't see anything. You have to turn right at 2k and go a ways to see burnt area There is an area at about 14k up that the fire jumped the Owl FSR. That is the problem from what I saw when I was up to around 20 K a few weeks ago. If they close that it is really stupid. Can't say I really give a ch!t anyways. After the continual price increases the last few years, dropping the secondary pass and access issues every year for logging I can join Hunters for way less for the days we want groomed trail with my wife. Rest of the time plenty of back country to play.

The GM says he is working on it and the Blue Lake/Quest issues as well but understandably he has no answers yet. Beware Sicamous staging is potentially a ch!t show

I C - guess i didnt know where it crossed - but still at 14 k - thats really not a riding area - yes it can be Blue parking lot needs to be alot bigger - parking on road and interfering with the grouchy farmer doesnt help

 

[bobsledder]

I C - guess i didnt know where it crossed - but still at 14 k - thats really not a riding area - yes it can be Blue parking lot needs to be alot bigger - parking on road and interfering with the grouchy farmer doesnt help

Agree it isn't a place I have ever seen anyone go off the logging road on purpose The issue at Blue is they will be logging again all winter or a good portion of it and at Quest. There is talk of grooming up to Quest from downtown Malakwa.

 

[freeflorider]

More emails sent. My ongoing fight with our local office is giving me nothing more then lip service. I fired back this morning stating in my last email they promised me the silvercup ridge will still stay open for recreation all though the Rady cr road will be deactivated. Soooo I said can you explain this one?

 

[OOC ZigZag]

New backcountry road closures in Okanagan, Kootenays aim to aid wildlife recovery

15 new motor-vehicle closures have been put in place by the province of B.C.

www.vernonmorningstar.com

It appears the BC greenies are at it again; no sledding in the fire zones so the wildlife can adapt (just a quick summary using my wording). it appears that the trail to Owls (that goes through the Two Mile fire area) will be closed this winter and possibly longer. Never in my 20+ years of riding in BC have I seen restrictions after the forest fire season that affect snowmobilers. No indication from the EVSC as to the solution or whether or not we will be able to use the Owls trail up to the unburnt areas.

Fawkn detatded bunch of fawks.

 

[OOC ZigZag]

This is crazy, and sad to see this happening. Doug, has the club released any comment on

New backcountry road closures in Okanagan, Kootenays aim to aid wildlife recovery

15 new motor-vehicle closures have been put in place by the province of B.C.

www.vernonmorningstar.com

It appears the BC greenies are at it again; no sledding in the fire zones so the wildlife can adapt (just a quick summary using my wording). it appears that the trail to Owls (that goes through the Two Mile fire area) will be closed this winter and possibly longer. Never in my 20+ years of riding in BC have I seen restrictions after the forest fire season that affect snowmobilers. No indication from the EVSC as to the solution or whether or not we will be able to use the Owls trail up to the unburnt areas.

I told ya they were gonna turn us all into Outlaws lol.

 

[ferniesnow]

Jay, I know nothing more than what bobsledder has reported above.

 

[bobsledder]

I asked them if they will inform us before there early bird pricing deadline. They likely wont know that quickly and said they will extend deadline if by two weeks needed.

 

[OOC ZigZag]

Jay, I know nothing more than what bobsledder has reported above.

Boulder gonna be busy

 

[pommie_git]

You have to be kidding. This is comically stupid

 

[papajake]

I might be able to pick up a nice low miles RMK next spring if this keeps up bring cash province is going to be hurting this winter no place to ride and high gas prices

 

[OOC ZigZag]

229 mill only a drop in the BC bucket? WTFU.

 

[Modman]

229 mill only a drop in the BC bucket? WTFU.

While the frustration is understandable for all parties, just know that winter logging is going to be a thing for many many years. With forest fire season getting so big now, one of the least hazardous times now is to log in the winter (to avoid starting a fire) and run your equipment for the govt during forest fire season. Other than increased snow plowing, winter logging has several benefits (less soil compaction and erosion, less damage to understory etc etc). From 1 study I read - "Winter-logged sites supported significantly higher numbers and percent cover of ecologically vulnerable native plant species as defined by independently established coefficients of conservatism. These differences between winter-logged and summer-logged sites suggest that winter logging may have fewer negative impacts than summer logging on vulnerable plant species and, in the long run, may help maintain plant biodiversity in managed forests of this region. "

The green movement has affected sledding, but its also pushed logging into a winter occupation, which means we need to co-exist with loggers. Everyone needs to understand this. Apart from the occasional wet summer, we will continue to see winter logging increase IMO. Companies don't want to carry huge liability insurance for logging in the summer, or be shut down at critical times due to a dry spell.

 

[Stompin Tom]

229 mill only a drop in the BC bucket? WTFU.

Yeah, that is a drop in the bucket. It includes the entire province, local money spent as well as out of town money. Locals continue to find their recreational areas's, dont see to many heading to Alberta to sled.