It was a postcard kind of day atop Laurel Ridge: The cloudless sky’s sun-bright blue almost hurt the eyes and beautifully framed the snow-dusted limbs of the hardwoods.
A couple of inches of fresh powder had fallen the night before onto an already solid base of snow, making the cross-country ski tracks slick and well-defined. Since there wasn’t a breath of breeze in the woods, the upper-20s temperature felt about perfect – any warmer and the snow would start to get sticky.
Having begun to get my “ski legs” back, I’d been feeling good and praising God for the gorgeous day. Because I hadn’t had much opportunity to ski previously that season, the near-perfect conditions just added to my sense of joy.
Suddenly, what had been near-effortless skiing turned into a drudging slog. Footprints had trampled the ski tracks, breaking them up. They continued for the better part of a mile before finally turning off onto another trail.
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Malamutes and Samoyeds and huskies are fun to watch as they pull sleds along Laurel Summit Road. You can see it in their faces: This is what they live for!
But one particular musher seems to draw delight from taking her dogsled where it doesn’t belong – on the main access trail to the network of cross-country trails. Skiers grumble that that’s what she seems to live for.
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Truth be told, I once went where I shouldn’t have as well: snowshoeing along a trail designated for snowmobiles. “How am I hurting them?” I rationalized.
Then after ‘shoeing a ways, I realized that these trails have plenty of curves and dips that keep sight-distances short. Snowmobilers love speed. By being where I didn’t belong, I was putting myself – and them – in danger.
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The Forbes State Forest along Laurel Ridge can be a busy place in the winter, bustling with skiers, showshoers, mushers, snowmobilers, hikers and even mountain bikers. Each of these winter enthusiasts has the right to be there and to enjoy the seasonal splendor of the ridge.
But winter enthusiasts don’t have the right to get in each other’s way or ruin each other’s experience.
There aren’t any traffic cops in the woods. While members of the Nordic Ski Patrol are out there, their job is to provide assistance not enforce common courtesy. It’s up to all winter enthusiasts to police themselves and be considerate of others.
Forbes State Forest personnel are trying to help by distributing a new “Winter Recreation Etiquette and Suggested Trails” brochure. Pick one up and you’ll quickly see that you don’t have to be Emily Post.
Rules of winter recreation etiquette are simple: Don’t go on trails where you don’t belong, don’t walk or ride in groomed ski tracks, and yield to faster users.
The brochure’s biggest value is suggesting which trails are appropriate for specific activities. Since there are dozens of trails, if users follow the suggestions, there should be very little overlap – and users will be on the trails best-suited to their activity.
You also will see some valuable tips for winter comfort and safety, how to identify hypothermia and the signs of frostbite. And there are important phone numbers listed for the Nordic Ski Patrol and the Forbes Forest District Office.
The etiquette guides are available at the District Office on U.S. Route 30 near Laughlintownand at the Laurel Summit Warming Hut. Soon, the guide also should be posted online. The website URL is long, so plug “Forbes State Forest Maps” into your favorite search engine.
We finally are getting seasonal weather and snow. Winter recreationists are eager to get out and enjoy their favorite activity.
Don’t ruin a near-perfect day for yourself or someone else. Be courteous out there.