Just got back from riding snow machines into the Chena Recreation area. Met some folks in there skiing on the trails. They were the kind of folks that don't like having snow machines sharing the same trails they ski on. We pulled completely off the trail to let them pass. They still gave us dirty looks as they passed. They were coming out as we were going in.
We had a nice ride, saw some wildlife, Moose, fox, and some Wolves across the valley. We rode out and had lunch up on the side of a mountain sitting in the sun, enjoying the warm sunshine. Took the folks to an old homestead site. Beavers have damned up the creek near by, flooding the entire site. The cabin and barn have four feet of water standing in them. During the winter it freezes solid and it is real errie to get down and crawl through the doors and then stand up and walk around four feet above the floor with crystal clear ice under you. The ice is so clear it makes it look like you are walking on air. No snow on top of the ice, and no bubbles. Table, chairs, beds, all down below the ice.
When we got back to the trail head, the skiers were just arriving there as well. The skiers had parked their cars in front of the loading ramp, blocking people from using it to load and unload snow machines. My trailer has ramps front and rear so that was not a problem for me. But I did go over and politely inform the skiers what they had done, just in case they were new and did not know what the ramps were for. One of the men made the statement, "We blocked the ramps, hoping you people would take the hint you were not welcome here. We don't like being disturbed by your loud smelly machines. Looks like we are going to have to go to the Borough and get motorized vehicles banned from here too like we did up at Granite Tores". I asked, "Why don't you go up to Granite Tores, we are not allowed up there anymore". His reply was, "Since we got you guys banned DNR quite maintaining the trail, now we can not ski there since there is no trail". My reply,"DNR never maintained the trail up there, it was snow machiners that put that trail in every year. We kept it in good shape by using it and keeping the snow packed down firm. You guys shot yourself in the foot on that one. By getting us banned, there is now no one to maintain the trail for you to ski on. Get us banned from here and it will be the same thing, no one will maintain this trail for winter use. No one uses it during the summer due to it being too wet and marshy. If it was not for us driving on this trail it would be growing up and impossible to hike on after freezup". Still don't think the guy understand what I tried to tell him, as he left he mumbled something about DNR would keep this trail maintained for skiers without the snowmachiners.
Every year the Greenies try and block motorized vehicles from more and more areas. They keep trying to get power boats banned from the upper Chena river. It's something every year, and more employees at DNR are beginning to agree with them. It's like we are having to fight on two fronts just to keep what we have now.
There is a bill under consideration right now by the State Legislature to lift the restriction on snow machines along the Dalton Highway, (The Haul Road from Fairbanks to Prudoe Bay). The restriction would be lifted during the winter when the ground is frozen, and has sufficient snow cover to prevent damage to the ground and vegetation. The Greenies keep saying lifting the restriction will cause the decimation of the Caribou Herds along the road system. They claim it will lead to a mass slaughter of Caribou and any other wildlife along the road system. No State Law restricts the use of motorized vehicles to hunt within five miles of the highway, or the transporting of hunters, game, or hunting equipment across the five mile restricted area. So there will be no hunting by people using the snow machines along the road. Between the environmental groups, and the Feds, hunting in Alaska is quickly becoming a challenge. As well as getting out and enjoying the scenery.
