backcountry users beware!!

[VTpowder]

the meeting at jay peak this evening , imho, was a complete disaster. the state is taking action with no room for compromise. big jay access is closed until further notice. it was not a disscussion as to what to do about access, merely an "informational" meeting to let backcountry skiers know what was going on. the fences were up before the meeting took place and the gate was guarded today at jay by two gmc volunteers. stay away from that area, is the position from the powers that be, we are being asked to come together and form a formal club of sorts, to speak on our behalf, with the other clubs and organizations in the development of a management plan for big jay and all other backcoutry skiing destinations on state land. which is in the process of being written up now. did anyone get that memo?

watch out stowe and smuggs, you guys are next on their radar, and they what you shut down as well.

A QUOTE FROM THE COMMISH, " ALL CUTTING MOST STOP NOW. IT CAN NO LONGER GO ON."

Stay out of the woods with a saw or else, was the tone of the meeting. all and all, no questions were answered, but many good points were made by the bc community. basically though, we are shit out of luck

VTpowder

[eatskisleep]

Wow that blows... thanks for filling us in.

[KingM]

Really sad that a couple of jerks brought down the hammer on everyone else. I hope the responsible bc skiers can find a way to get their access back at Big Jay.

[billski]

All it takes is two idiots with a chain saw and idle time to ruin it for many, many good, caring folks, for a long, long time. It's going to be a long healing process, not just for the forest, but for the various groups, who are now, unfortunately put into adversarial positions. Sad.
Damage done:

[thetrailboss]

Thanks for the report. Glad you went. No surprises...

[riverc0il]

I was there too. Kind of what I expected but there were surprises. The tone serious was a crack down across the state on cutting. And they were not just talking about swaths like the Big Jay cut, but pruning with loppers and hand saws for gladed terrain is out. The two guys that did the Big Jay cut are going to get the book thrown at them and made an example of (my interpretation). The state sounds like they are taking all cutting very seriously.

My unasked question was if snow mobilers and bikers can organize to make trails, can BC skiers? Didn't feel it was the forum to broaden the inquiry. Doubt it would work. These guys were talking partnership and cooperation and dialog but then they were not answering questions and taking suggestions. They were dictating the new rules. As the JPSP head said, they were treating the BC users like a bunch of babies.... chances are if you treat people like babies they will act in kind.

I have a lot of thoughts about this and will make a more detailed post later. I also have some action ideas. BC community is going to be forced to organize and rally behind this and other related issues. Some people at the meeting tonight were spewing forth some bile and disgust, but most had excellent thoughts and ideas and suggestions that generally were met with a "next question please."

[Mildcat]

It does suck that they have to punish all BC skiers for the actions of two numbnuts. They think that if they don't take action now every BC skier will be out there with tnt and bucket loaders creating their own ski resorts. Throw the book at the two dipshits and maybe the next drunkin idiots might think twice before doing something like that.

[JD]

Those guys should just move.

[wintersyndrome]

to iowa

[Johnskiismore]

Jeez, these guys really screwed it up.

But, I was wondering, what was this meeting? Was it just about BC use, and who/what organized it?