From KZone: Guerilla Trailblazers Arrested

[thetrailboss]

Just saw this on KZone. As folks who ski Jay know, there is already too much traffic over at Big Jay. But these guys actually cut a 60 foot wood swath, 3/4 of a mile in length with the intent of skiing it!

The article.

[wa-loaf]

Ha, looks like someone got a little carried away. Low branches and shrubs just weren't enough. 'Cause no one will notice clear cutting on the side of a mountain.

Hopefully there won't be a backlash on the careful back country pruners.

[millerm277]

You've gotta wonder what they were thinking....I'm sure no one will notice a giant ski trail cut through the protected forest below a major mountain peak...

Seriously, that must have taken a LOT of time and effort, that's a lot of trees if it's really 60 feet wide, and moving them off the trail will either require heavy equipment, or a lot of cutting.

However, now that the damage has been done, it would be a shame to let their efforts go to waste....hopefully it wasn't south-facing.

[twinplanx]

yeah seriously 60' is a bit much

[David Metsky]

Originally Posted by millerm277

However, now that the damage has been done, it would be a shame to let their efforts go to waste....hopefully it wasn't south-facing.

Actually I really hope it grows back in. People will certainly ski it, but no additional pruning. The forest will reclaim it soon enough. It's adventures like this and the illegal trail cut to Big Jay from the ski area that is going to result on some serious crackdowns.

[awf170]

I highly doubt that it was clear cut. It was probably a 60 ft. wide glade.

[thetrailboss]

Originally Posted by awf170

I highly doubt that it was clear cut. It was probably a 60 ft. wide glade.

[Scratches head]

Well, it does say this in the article:

In late July, State Game Warden Sgt. Brad Mann and Warden Mark Schichtle, following up on a complaint from members of the Green Mountain Club, located a forest cut approximately 60 feet wide and three-quarter of a mile long near the top of Big Jay Mountain within Jay State Forest in the Town of Westfield.

Doesn't sound like a glade to me....

[riverc0il]

I don't think the article provides an accurate description to draw a conclusion either way regarding if it was clear cut or just gladed out. The article only states the cutting was sixty feet wide. I suspect the number is exaggerated. If it is a clear cut, I find it really hard to believe two people could clear that much acreage. They would almost certainly have needed powder tools and assistance moving fallen trees. If this truly is accurately report as a clear cut sixty foot wide swath that runs 3/4 a mile long, these guys should get the book thrown at them. That is beyond reckless.

[wa-loaf]

Anyone in the neighborhood who can run/hike by and take some pics for us? That should settle what was going on.

Even if they were not clear cutting, they must been a little over enthusiastic with the glading. Don't they look the other way most of the time when folks are doing a little pruning up that way?

[millerm277]

Originally Posted by David Metsky

Actually I really hope it grows back in. People will certainly ski it, but no additional pruning. The forest will reclaim it soon enough. It's adventures like this and the illegal trail cut to Big Jay from the ski area that is going to result on some serious crackdowns.

I agree, especially since it will probably result in areas being less lenient to the off-season pruners, that keep a lot of tree runs skiable.