Adirondack Powder Skier Member Update

The following update was sent out to Adirondack Powder Skier Association (APSA) members last Friday, 10/16/2015.  Please consider supporting APSA by becoming a member.  You can check out their website here.

Adirondack Powder Skier Member Update

-Winter Season is almost upon us. This year's El Niño promises some epic BackCountry Skiing and Snowboarding.  The Adirondack Powder Skier Association is pleased to update you on the current status and progress made on our initiative for Open Woods Ski Routes as well as Back Country and Nordic Ski Trails in the Adirondacks:

-The APSA has been diligently meeting with The Department of Environmental Conservation, The Adirondack Park Agency, Local and State Political Representatives as well Environmental Leaders over the past 3 1/2 years to gain input from all the stakeholders regarding our Low Impact Human Powered Eco-Tourism Proposal for Open Woods Ski Routes on New York State Forest Preserve Lands in both Wilderness and Wild Forest Classifications.
 
-In  November 2014 the letters and comments supporting a State Land Master Plan (SLMP) Amendment allowing Open Woods Ski Routes on NY State Forest Preserve Lands dominated the APA initiated public hearings and comment period for SLMP Amendments.  Thanks to all who commented!  It definitely got the attention of state officials.

-Beginning in Early December a working group was formed and held numerous Round Table Meetings and Back Country Ski Field Trips over the Winter months.  Discussions focused on developing Open Woods Ski Route Standards and SLMP Amendment Language. In addition the working group put together Guidance Standards for Nordic and Backcountry Ski Trails. Members of the working group included representatives from the APSA, APA, DEC, ADK Mountain Club, ADK Wild, Protect The ADKs, BETA/ADK Ski Touring Council, and the Adirondack Council.

-A Draft Forest Preserve Ski Touring Trail Development Guidelines was prepared and presented by DEC Forester Tate Connor and APA State Lands Planner Kevin Prickett at a January 2015 Round Table Meeting in Warrensburg.

-A Draft SLMP Amendment for Open Woods Ski Routes was prepared by APA Staff and Presented by APA State Lands Planner Kevin Prickett at a RoundTable Meeting in Warrensburg in February of 2015.

-A Draft Management and Guidance Standards for Open Woods Ski Routes document was prepared and Presented by DEC Forester Tate Connor and APA State Lands Planner Kevin Prickett at a Round Table Meeting in Warrensburg in April of 2015.

-Top Level APA, DEC, and Attorney Generals Office Decision Makers  went on a Field Trip Into the Open Woods and then met for 4 hours in Early July 2015 to discuss Open Woods Ski Routes on NY State Forest Preserve Lands. Three months have passed with no decision yet.

-At the APA Meeting on October 8 th APA State Lands Planner Kevin Prickett presented an overview on Nordic Ski Trails and BackCountry Ski Trails to the APA Commissioners. The presentation focused on the Draft Document entitled Forest Preserve Ski Touring Trail Development Guidelines which was developed by our working group last Winter. At the conclusion of Kevin's presentation some APA Commissioners asked why the Open Woods Ski Routes were not included in the document.  Clearly, the APA Commissioners would like to move our Healthy Living  Low Impact Human Powered Eco Tourism Initiative forward .

***-The APA  Staff are currently developing and discussing SLMP Amendments to present at their November meeting on November 12-13  in  Raybrook.

***-At this time the APSA asks the DEC to please give the Green Light to the APA so that our State Land Master Plan Amendment to allow Open Woods Ski Routes on NY State Forest Preserve Lands can be presented to the Public at the APA Meeting on November 12-13.

***-In addition, the APSA  asks the DEC and APA to finalize the Forest Preserve Ski Touring Trail Development Guidelines and request the APA Commissioners to vote in favor of placing those Guidelines out for public comment following the November APA Meeting in Raybrook.

-The APSA thanks the DEC, APA, The New York Attorney General's Office and all the Environmental Groups for the staff time they have devoted to help move our initiative forward.  We also would like to thank all of you who have donated and joined our cause. Together, we can give our communities an economic boost and produce some great backcountry ski opportunities.