About Brandon Loomis

Brandon Loomis is editor of the Adirondack Explorer.

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Comments

  1. Rick Tweeks says

    The mountains of money snowmobiles bring is such a tired argument. Their money benefits only a few businesses and is totally weather dependent. And I think we all know most riders are just getting drunk all day, elephant in the room.

    • Matt Williams says

      Shame on you Mr. Tweeks!
      Stating that most riders are getting drunk all day is inaccurate. I see multi generational families on the trails every time I ride. From grandmas and grandpas to sons sisters and grandkids. Snowmobiling allows people to access the wilderness who may otherwise not have the opportunity or the physical ability. To lump all snowmobiled into a group of drunks and nature haters is ignorant, short-sighted and inaccurate. You need to focus your environmental efforts on corporations and companies that cause more harm to the environment in a week than snowmobeliers do in a lifetime

  2. Mark says

    Rick Tweeks take away snowmobiling from a local economy and you will see just how tired the argument is. If the snowmobilers did not show up who would support these business in the winter season? Hikers? Snowshoers? Cross country skiiers? It’s a fact that people who ride snowmobiles drop BIG money in our towns….undisputable.

  3. Jim McCulley says

    Rick Twitts the tired argument is snowmobiling is bad for the environment and hikers bring in economic growth. Snowmobiles have far less impact on the forest preserve than hikers and they leave behind much less of a trace. The pig sties I see at trail heads are unreal. Besides the fact most of the hikers gear and food are bought long before they arrive in the Adirondacks.

  4. Gary Broderick says

    “But they also trail noise and fumes that Adirondack wilderness seekers shun, and their efforts to push more trails into wild forests have landed New York State in court.”

    I’m tired of listening to Bauer’s repeated distortions and Chicken Little like exclamations. There are 848 miles of trail in the Park. let’s say on an average of 8 feet wide, through twisting and turning mountainous forested terrain. Of a 6 million plus acre (9375 Square mile) Park. There are no superhighways. Snowmobiles exceeded the exhaust requirements set by the federal government years ahead of the required compliance date, and are regulated in noise levels. You would think by Bauer’s statement, there is no way to avoid these monstrous nightmarish vehicles, when in fact, just the opposite is true.

    The people who live and work in the Adirondacks deserve to be given the chance to enjoy some prosperity. That includes the prosperity that snowmobile tourism brings (something that hikers, cross country skiers and people like Bauer do not) during the winter to these citizens.

    The Park is large enough (and continues to expand) to accommodate all of us, regardless of the continued screeds of ‘Protect the Adirondacks’ and other similar organizations that exist to only allow the uses of the Park that they approve of. The Park belongs to all of us, not just those that would prefer to build a fence around it to keep all of us ‘unwashed’ out of it, like Bauer.

    And yes, I am a landowner in the Adirondack Park.

  5. Matt says

    Snowmobiling isn’t primarily bar to bar. With newer more reliable machines it has become more of a touring sport. Many riders are looking for loops to ride. The Cedar River will create another beautiful loop to ride.

  6. Gary Broderick says

    Rick Tweeks,

    You might want to talk to actual citizens in the Park before speaking for them. Not only do businesses benefit form snowmobile tourism, but the employees working for them retain their jobs, the suppliers who provide them with supplies benefits. Their employees benefit. An entire chain of people benefit, during a time of year where no one else provides a source of revenue.

  7. Matt says

    Bauer is wrong in stating that most snowmobiles are only looking to ride bar to bar. A majority of riders are looking to ride their snowmobiles on 100+ mile loops. The reason that traffic is lower in Newcomb is because it is currently a dead end trail. When the proposed Cedar River loop is finished it will create another beautiful riding opportunity for snowmobilers to continue on through Newcomb and back to Indian lake. The trail will be of great benefit to both of those communities.

  8. Dave says

    I have visited and lived in the high peaks for many years and I can tell from experience that snowmobiles leave less trace then most hikers.

  9. david potts says

    878 miles of trails at 10 feet wide would make up 0.0017% of the total park…I that should be big enough for all.

  10. George D. says

    I’ve been snowmobiling in the Adirondacks since the late 60s and will continue to as long as I am able. The snowmobile has taken thousands if not millions of people to deep areas of the forest that they never would be able to see otherwise. When I take new riders out for a wilderness ride they usually come back with a newfound appreciation for our beautiful park.
    Most snowmobilers do travel from tavern to tavern mainly because it’s the only place that’s warm just like skiers at the ski lodge. Who doesn’t like hamburgers?
    I’m also a prolific hiker. By far the the most destructive activity in the forest is hiking. Anybody who has ever hiked in the Adirondacks can attest to the major damage caused by foot path erosion, it’s unavoidable I’m guilty as charged.
    Snowmobiles travel well above the ground and when they do touch it, it’s frozen and not susceptible to much damage unlike hiking up a muddy trail.
    Snowmobiles make noise and emit exhaust. So don’t the thousands of cars bringing the hikers including me to the trail head. I love to hike to distant lakes and ponds like everyone else but I’m also aware of the greater impact to the land while traveling the forest in snowless weather.
    When I’m a snowmobiler I pay through club membership and high registration fees for trail maintenance and bridge work.
    When I’m a hiker I pay nothing but I do enjoy using some of the bridges I helped pay for when I’m a snowmobiler.
    It is a fact that many animals use snowmobile trails for travel during the winter, deer especially. Is this a good thing? I don’t know. They use them to escape very deep snow while looking for food, I’ve witnessed this many times.
    Snowmobiles emit greenhouse gasses. Yup no getting around that one.
    ATVs suck

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