View Full Version : Tyringham Firemans Pavillion Closed To Hikers
just wanted to let people know that due to some issues with hunting and something to do with the local snowmobile club crossing the trail, the fireman will no longer be letting hikers stay at the pavillion. i was told its nothing against the hikers themselves its just that the a.m.c has flexed its muscles and they are not to happy about it.
Old Hillwalker
02-20-2009, 21:29
a.m.c. or ATC?
Lone Wolf
02-20-2009, 21:30
a.m.c. or ATC?
doesn't neither one has any damn say what goes on in a town
Lone Wolf
02-20-2009, 21:31
doesn't neither one has any damn say what goes on in a town
doesn't matter
just wanted to let people know that due to some issues with hunting and something to do with the local snowmobile club crossing the trail, the fireman will no longer be letting hikers stay at the pavillion. i was told its nothing against the hikers themselves its just that the a.m.c has flexed its muscles and they are not to happy about it.
I don't get it. How has the AMC flexed its muscles? Did they try to force the fireman to allow use of the pavilion to hikers?
I guess if one has to deny use to one group, one must deny use to all groups? :confused:
Old Hillwalker
02-21-2009, 10:37
Here's my guess: The mention of a snowmachine trail crossing the AT Corridor raises the question if that was the problem. Up here in the North East snowmachine trails are sometimes given a pass to cross the AT Corridor if they are on old grandfathered trails or old roads. Unlike other motorized travel including mountain bikes which are generally prohibited from the Corridor. Maybe there was a illegal crossing site new or old that the USPS/ATC closed, and the local reaction was to close the town facility as a knee jerk response. Just a guess. That's why I asked if is was a.m.c. or ATC. The ATC runs the Corridor monitoring program for the NPS, and I work for the Corridor Monitoring Program in NH. Unpaid I must add.
Hunting is also an issue. Although it is permitted in NH on the Corridor, in many states it is not. It's a shame that rules designed to protect the trail also affects the hiker community like this.
Here's my guess: The mention of a snowmachine trail crossing the AT Corridor raises the question if that was the problem. Up here in the North East snowmachine trails are sometimes given a pass to cross the AT Corridor if they are on old grandfathered trails or old roads. Unlike other motorized travel including mountain bikes which are generally prohibited from the Corridor. Maybe there was a illegal crossing site new or old that the USPS/ATC closed, and the local reaction was to close the town facility as a knee jerk response. Just a guess. That's why I asked if is was a.m.c. or ATC. The ATC runs the Corridor monitoring program for the NPS, and I work for the Corridor Monitoring Program in NH. Unpaid I must add.
Thank you for your volunteer time.:)
If there is still a Social Security Administration when I retire (if ever) I plan on doing more for the AT. Folks like you are an inspiration.
Then it looks like you now have to either stay at the B&B in town or camp at the Shaker campsite south of town or Upper Goose Pond Cabin north of town.
It's probably in retaliation for the ATC/AMC enforcing the ban on snowmobiles on the AT. It's a big problem in that area.
Old Hillwalker
02-21-2009, 12:33
It's probably in retaliation for the ATC/AMC enforcing the ban on snowmobiles on the AT. It's a big problem in that area.
Your are correct about the probable source of the ban. However it is the USPS or USFS that enforces the ban. The ATC only reports the violation to them. The ATC is only the steward organization. The USFS or NPS is the owner of the Corridor land. The Appalachian Money Collectors have absolutely nothing to do with the AT Corridor except in the New Hampshire section of the Mahoosucs. There actually is no corridor across USFS land in the White Mountain National Forest or anywhere else, just where the Corridor lands were purchased, (some say stolen) by Department of Interior funds in the early 80s and later.
OK, here's the real story:
This past summer, the local maintaining Club (of which I am an officer) as part of it's responsibilities began to post the National Park Service corridor boundaries with No Hunting and No Motorized Vehicle signs. This was a legal and correct thing to do--unfortunately the Club has not been as diligent as we could have been in prior years about maintaining the boundary and monitoring activity within the Corridor lands.
Some local landowners who have long enjoyed hunting and snowmobiling on NPS lands took exception to our activity. Some of these landowners are also on the Selectboard and are officers in the local Volunteer Fire Department.
After discussion with the town mothers and fathers, we limited our posting of signs to an area where hunting activity (for non-native ring-necked pheasants released annually by Mass Fish and Wildlife--but that's another story) was quite close to the footpath, and could actually pose a risk to hikers. We also decided to let the snow travel routes continue this season and work with the local riders to try and find a route that would have less impact on the Trail.
The landowners/hunters/snowmobile riders who were in the FD decided to express their dissaproval by taking away privileges enjoyed by hikers and even our own maintainers—regretfully one of the unintended consequences of our required management actions. Hopefully as dialogue continues, relations will improve.
That said, the NPS lands have kept the rural character of this valley intact. Land that would have gone to large expensive houses, or farm land that local farmers would have had to sell because of local property tax rates is preserved for all to enjoy. There are three different farmers in the valley who cultivate Corridor lands under a Special Use Permit, keeping the land in its traditional use.
So for now, the Shaker Campsite (about 2 miles north of the FD pavilion) will have to do. I don't feel the town is in any way ill disposed towards hikers, they just want to make a statement to the Club about their disapproval of our actions.
Cosmo
Here's my guess: The mention of a snowmachine trail crossing the AT Corridor raises the question if that was the problem. Up here in the North East snowmachine trails are sometimes given a pass to cross the AT Corridor if they are on old grandfathered trails or old roads. Unlike other motorized travel including mountain bikes which are generally prohibited from the Corridor. Maybe there was a illegal crossing site new or old that the USPS/ATC closed, and the local reaction was to close the town facility as a knee jerk response. Just a guess. That's why I asked if is was a.m.c. or ATC. The ATC runs the Corridor monitoring program for the NPS, and I work for the Corridor Monitoring Program in NH. Unpaid I must add.
Hunting is also an issue. Although it is permitted in NH on the Corridor, in many states it is not. It's a shame that rules designed to protect the trail also affects the hiker community like this.
Thank you very much AMC Berkshire Chapter for your efforts! Some of us are aware there wouldn't be an A.T. to hike in Massachusetts without you.
I have long thought the quality of this website would and will continue to improve as trail club members involved with corridor management and maintenance feel encouraged to post. Hikers need to better understand what volunteers do for them and the communities through which the A.T. passes.
Such posts are a good thing which will serve to inspire more volunteerism and cooperation as understanding of how the A.T. is managed improves.
Sorry, got one thing wrong. Shaker Campsite is around 2 miles SOUTHBOUND from the pavilion (which by compass would actually be west, then north--but that's another story).
Cosmo
canoehead
02-22-2009, 17:31
Good Stuff Cosmo
Thanks
See ya on the trail