Cutting new runs in the side country?

Dan-Man

Dan-Man

Active member
Thoughts, opinions? am I mad? I mostly only ski side country now, considering how good my local has it here in Colorado. This summer I'm planning on really going through and cutting out the under growth on some main thorofairs to really clean up the riding between the trees.

Seems like the forrest service would appreciate this considering the area is being managed and will have a much lower risk of wild fire, and the accessibility will be easier for future use.

Has anyone ever attempted this?
 
I suggested something like this back in the woods at troll and they all said I was insane when we got there and realized I was serious
 
topic:Dan-Man said:
Thoughts, opinions? am I mad? I mostly only ski side country now, considering how good my local has it here in Colorado. This summer I'm planning on really going through and cutting out the under growth on some main thorofairs to really clean up the riding between the trees.

Seems like the forrest service would appreciate this considering the area is being managed and will have a much lower risk of wild fire, and the accessibility will be easier for future use.

Has anyone ever attempted this?
Click to expand...

So what’s it being managed for?

For lynx and fisher habitat you want dense mature old growth for rabbit and mouse populations to go up and provide food for predators.

If it’s for Elk caving grounds you want lots of Aspen groves with willows and other edible plants and closures during caving season.

Maybe the forest service wants/planted shrubby on your sidecountry dream line because it’s preventing historical silt runoff in the stream below helping bull trout recover and keep silt out of a creek.

I would contact your local forest service office and ask what’s the management plan in that spot and if there is a local group that has similar goals or objectives that you contribute to.

As a person has done some significant thinning in the woods, I would tell you be prepared to spends lots of your summer if looking at more than 10 acres on side-county runs (assuming your at over 10,000ft).
 
So like you're just going to go make your own ski trail wherever you want? I feel pike that's poor outdoor ethics
 
Idk if there’s an equivalent in the states but in canada you can get a salvage license thing that allows you to cut anything dead standing or fallen for free. I have mine with me whenever i’m building mountain bike trails, easy to do shit semi legally in the woods
 
Its pretty cool how NS users are quite in tune with environment. Some of these replies are pretty good.

By law, its tresspassing vandalism. The side country could be owned by the resort. Cutting their brush would be like cutting a trail in someones yard.

A park is a definite no go. Its a protected area.

Public access area are the grey zone of the law. In BC, its Crown Land. As long as the work is very isolated or invisible, its ok.

I had a buddy that did that in Quebec. He needed an after work area to ski, found a pocket of unowned land and fleshed out the lower branches to make a small line. Served him well for years before moving to BC
 
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