Winter Wildlands Alliance Gives Solitude a Voice

Sounds like an anit-snowmobiling organization.  Winter solitude is easy to find on public lands in the West.  Even in areas that might be full of people in the summer.

It SOUNDS like a nonprofit that understands that while US public lands should be free and open to all, there is not, in fact, any clause anywhere which requires the government to provide motorized access to those lands, and furthermore, that "solitude" is a value quite worthy of protecting within their bounds...by the way, we are talking about "solitude" here, right? The deeply-penetrating sense of aloneness? Like "The Monk By the Sea" vulnerable and alone? Praytell, due tell me where all these areas are out west? I'd love to visit a few!!

The reason that snowmobiles are not regulated is the minimal impact they have on the land. Many trails in nh and elsewhere are only open when the snow cover reaches a certain depth, this is to control erosion, if you arent touching the ground, you cant hurt it. I hate them myself, I think two stroke motors should be outlawed. They are loud and smoke like chimneys. Some of the newer snowmobiles are four stroke and they have much lower pollution levels, sound and smog. That doesnt mean I think people who like them should have less rights to enjoy the backwoods.

The problem with sound/noise regulation is enforcing it. In the UK, motorcycles are supposed to have mufflers/exhaust pipes that keep it below a certain threshold; that does not stop people sounding (and looking and acting) like they are on a race track instead of a country road. Fun and meaning to some is having noise precede, surround, announce you.

I honestly think people don't notice it as much, as the average house with music and tv and computer, together with high levels of traffic outside, conditions people to expect it, even in the countryside. Wider tyres make the roads even louder perhaps? It is only when you have experienced the contrast of 'genuine quiet', do you then experience the noise as pollution. Electric cars and insulated houses might change things but somehow I doubt it, as we now have headphones wreaking kids' ears.

And then there's military jets...

Speaking as a longtime tinnitus sufferer, I can only remember what it was like to have 'genuine quiet'. "Hello darkness, my old friend..." I have never actually checked to see what that song is about but I like it.

Unfortunately, winter solitude is becoming harder and harder to find on America's western public lands. I think that, 5 years ago, most of us would have accepted ppine's statement as unquestionably true. As more of us snowshoe, hike, ski, snowmobile and fatbike (wheee!) on the same lands, user conflicts increase and it's harder to get that feeling of absolute solitude. This affects motorized and non-motorized recreationists alike. Most of the snowmobilers I know like to turn off the motor for a while, look around and feel themselves expand into the landscape...

I can find lots of winter solitude by stepping outside the back fence.  I don't even have to get in a vehicle.  Five miles from the nearest road, it would be hard to find another person in this part of the country except for a few popular snow mobile areas.

You're a lucky guy ppine! There are still a few places in Maine like that, but not as many as in your neck of the woods. I really hope that the next generation can get that experience too.

Right‽ Sounds like you've got a nice piece of property abutting some kind of public land? Good on you!

Please sign in to reply