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Dec182008

DRED closes state parks

Filed under Uncategorized by andrew wolfe at 12:40 am

I confess, the logic eludes me. Someone up in Concord, at the nattily titled Department of Resources and Economic Development, has decided that most state parks, forests and trails in southern New Hampshire should be shut down while they figure out how the ice storm has affected things, and clean up the damage.

It makes sense, to a point. You can’t open a visitors’ center if a tree has come crashing through the roof. Many of these parks don’t have any buildings or facilities, though. I’m not sure, since it’s past 11 p.m. and I just got the press release, but I suspect the closure means they won’t be plowing the lots, and there will be no place to park at trailheads.

Obviously, the ice storm has downed many trees and limbs, and some of them will have landed on the trails. Snowmobile trails will be pretty dicey. Cross country skiers will want to scout out longer descents. It’s hard to imagine, though, that hikers would have much trouble. I would think that most trail users would be happy to help clear them.

A full list of closures is posted on the state parks website, but it includes Monadnock, Miller State Park (Pack Monadnock), Temple Mountain and others.

Here’s the official word:

Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) has closed several state parks, state forests and state trail areas in the southern part of the state to protect the safety of visitors.  Authorized under Administrative Rule Res 7301.07 (b) (3), the closures are necessary to allow time to inspect and clean up the department properties and assess the damage to roads, bridges, dams, and trails following the recent ice storm.In addition, all other trails in southern New Hampshire should be considered hazardous and all trail users should use extreme caution.

The DRED properties will remain closed until further notice as assessments and other work are completed.  Updated information on the status of state lands closures can be found on department websites or by calling the numbers below.

The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation website is www.nhstateparks.org <

http://www.nhstateparks.org/>  or call 603/271-3556.The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands website is www.nhdfl.org or call 603/271-2214.

Viewing 3 Comments

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    Similarly (as we noted in the Telegraph) the private Windblown Ski Area in New Ipswich has closed, perhaps for the season, because so many trees were downed on its trails.
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    The logic eludes me as well. I run at Miller State Park almost every day. Last night I went to run late in the day and saw the closure signs for the first time. Keep in mind that the access road up Pack Monadnock, while closed to public vehicle traffic in the winter, was already cleared of downed tree as there are cell towers, FAA antenna, and other gear at the summit that must be maintained. I suspect the parking lot will remained plowed as well, so maintenance crews can get in.

    So why not just close the hiking trails? Even that is of dubious merit. Falling limbs are an inherent danger when hiking in New England. Exercising personal responsibility and good judgment and not hiking during high winds after an ice storm is the solution, the state deciding what is best for us and invoking blanket closures is not.

    So much for the Live Free or Die spirit.
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    I agree that the winter hiking has it's dangers, That's why some of us do it. I always feel winter hiking has been "hike at your own risk." Every winter trees lose branches or fall down. Yes this area was hit hard but like the NH parks site says the tree will recover. To speed up opening why not use volunteers for trail cleanup. I would also like some explantion of this regulation they quoted. Again don't we live in the live free or die state?

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