On the Adirondack Almanack today, I saw an article that interested me greatly. The Adirondack Powder Skiers association is pushing for an amendment to the Adirondack State Land Master Plan (SLMP) to allow for the maintenance of ski trails and glades on forever wild land. This could potentially be the first time the SLMP is amended in over 25 years.
First, some background information is necessary to understand the issue. Backcountry skiing has been a huge part of Adirondack culture since the 1930s, when the CCC program resulted in the cutting of many ski trails in the high peaks. Before ski lifts and developed areas became widespread, these trails were very popular. With the advent of ski lifts however, these trails were barely used and often neglected. The hiking trail up Wright Peak was actually relocated onto the bottom half of the ski trail, creating potential for dangerous collisions between hikers and skiers.
In the 1970s, backcountry skiing became popular once more due to the advent of the Ski to Die Club. These intrepid skiers made bold and harrowing descents all over the high peaks; Ron Konowitz, the club's founder, became the first and only skier to ski all 46 high peaks. Lately, backcountry skiing has seen an even larger resurgence due to increasingly lightweight equipment, and a public desire to escape the relative comfort and safety of developed ski areas. Every year the Mountaineer hosts the Adirondack backcountry ski festival, bringing professionals like Glenn Plake to the high peaks, and offering classes to educate the public. The Adirondack Powder Skiers association is looking to build on the recent momentum of backcountry skiing in the Adirondacks.
Anyone who hikes in the high peaks immediately notices all the brilliant, white and gray bedrock scars littering the steep mountainsides. These natural slides provide great natural ski trails; the caveat is that they not only require a high level of ski expertise, but also knowledge of how to safely travel in avalanche terrain, and strong wilderness skills. To those unprepared, a journey onto one of the slides could have perilous consequences. Aside from these slides, there are very few trails or "glades" designated for skiing in the high peaks. Konowitz, the founder of the Adirondack Powder Skier Association, is pushing for the right to maintain ski trails and glades on forever wild land by removing blowdown and trimming underbrush. He believes that this will give skiers a safer option in the Adirondack backcountry and keep them off hiking trails, which will prevent collisions between skiers and hikers on the narrow, winding paths.
On one hand, while Konowitz is pushing for minimal maintenance of ski trails, this could be another "foot-in-the-door" scenario. If the amendment to the SLMP is passed, will we eventually see huge, ugly swaths of clear-cut forests all for the sake of skiing? This occurred (illegally) a couple years ago on Big Jay Mountain in Vermont. Also, could this potential amendment of the SLMP set the stage for other, more drastic changes? On the other hand, Konowitz is a very experienced Adirondack traveller and wilderness advocate. Considering his skiing resumé, it is unlikely that he would ever approve of anything more than minimal maintenance. In addition to this, backcountry skiing is one of the least-impactful recreational activities on the Adirondack land because it is only practiced when the ground is protected by layers of snow. In my opinion, it is kind of ridiculous that minimal maintenance ski trails are prohibited, while hiking trails and even horse trails form a vast web all over the Adirondacks. Just like the rail-trail issues, public forums are being set up to discuss the potential changes.
If anyone is interested in reading about these issues, here are two good articles. (disclaimer: both the articles and my opinion are written from pro-skier stances.)
http://www.powder.com/stories/adirondack-amendment/
http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2014/10/commentary-backcountry-skiers-seek-slmp-amendments.html
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