The Busy Lens

Friday, February 24, 2012

NH Snowmobile Trail Report 2-24-2012

February 24, 2012 Update

Snow is heading this way. Grooming will commence when storm is over. Predictions are for 2-7” statewide. This should drastically improve trails that are current open. Also be aware that some gates have been closed and posted as such and will not reopen. Use caution in other areas of the state as there is water and ice. Recommended to Stay off Lakes and Ponds where ice depth is unknown.

Pittsburg- 2-4" new snow 6-8" base in higher elevations and 2-3" in lower. Grooming is ongoing, and conditions range from marginal to great. South of town and there could still be some problem areas and some areas are still closed and are posted as such. Please pay attention to all signage! There are still logging operations going on. Perry Stream Rd is closed to snowmobile traffic and stay on the side of Magalloway Rd; some shared roads and are posted 10 mph. Lakes are still considered to be unsafe! Annual Steak Feed and Poker Run Saturday Feb 25th. Poker Run 8am-3pm and Steak Feed is 4:30p-7:30pm. For more details go to www.pittsburgridgerunners.org.

Colebrook- Lower elevations range from poor, bare ground, open water and ice, to fair spring like conditions Higher elevations range from good to great , watch for ice and open water bars Ride with caution For more info go to www.colebrookski-bees.com

Stratford- 3" base, trails are groomed and riding is marginal to good. Some bare spots and open water bars. Caution some trails are getting icy. Potato Hill trail is closed due to logging and also at junction of Corr 3 and 7.

Groveton/Nash Stream- 2-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. 5 South Temporarily Closed. Caution some icy conditions.

Diamond Pond/Coleman State Park- 4" new snow on a 6-8" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good to great. Several logging operations going on. Lake ice is marginal. Warming hut open Saturday and Sunday. Gas pumps open 24/7. For more details go towww.swiftdiamondriders.com

Errol- 1-4" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. Use Caution some trails are getting icy.

Cambridge- 1-3" base trails are not being groomed at this time and riding is marginal to moderate. Grooming will start again when conditions allow.

Milan- 1-3" base. Trails are not being groomed at this time and riding is marginal to moderate.

Twin Mtn- 2-6" base. Grooming is being done in the Base Rd at Jefferson Notch and all other grooming will start again when conditions allow. Riding is moderate.

Dalton- No Report.

Berlin- 1-5" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. For more details, go towww.whitemtridgerunners.com

Berlin/Success- 0-2" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate.

Gorham- 0-4" base. Trails are groomed and riding is marginal to moderate. Use caution some open water bars. And use caution around logging jobs. For more info go towww.presidentialrangeriders.org

Jefferson- 1-3" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate. Corr 5 in town of Jefferson is closed due to lack of snow. For more details go to www.waumbekmethna.com

Franconia Notch- 1" new snow on a 1-3" base. Trails are groomed at this time and riding is moderate. Corr 11 North of Notch is not groomed and riding is marginal.

Campton/Thornton- 0-5" base. Trails are not groomed at this time and riding is marginal to moderate. Corr 11 Rail line not groomed use caution. Some bare spots and ice.

Bear Notch- 1" new snow on a 4-8" base. Trails are groomed. Riding is good. Caution watch for some icy areas and in corners. RR Tracks starting to show in some places. Use Caution and watch for mushers and skiers.

Conway/ Chatham- 50% open 0-4" base. Not groomed at this time. Fields showing bare spots stay off. Corridor 19 and loops are icy and some open water bars. Riding is marginal.

Ossipee- 60% open 1-3" base. Trails are not groomed at this time. RR Tracks exposed. Castle Trails Closed. From white lake out to Wonolancet loops is only riding and is marginal with some rocks and water bars showing.

Pisgah State Park- Closing this week

Pillsbury State Park- Closing this week

Rail Lines:

Northern: Closing
Ashuelot: Closing
Fort Hill: Closing
Sugar River: Closing
Concord to Lincoln: No riding

Additional Resources and Information

Please be safe and ride with caution.
Respect our landowners.
Watch speeds and stay to the right.

For more information contact brenda.drouin@dred.state.nh.us.

2012 NH Snowmobile Corridor Map
(For a printed map contact NHSA or the Bureau of Trails)
Snowmobile Trail Conditions Reports
Snowmobile Club Information
Snowmobile User Information
Snow Depth Map
NH Weather Radar

Unprepared Hikers Rescued from Blue Job Mountain

Unprepared Hikers Rescued from Blue Job Mountain

CONCORD, N.H. – N.H. Fish and Game Conservation Officers and staff from the Strafford and Farmington Police and Fire Departments last night participated in a search for four hikers on Blue Job Mountain. The group was found and escorted back to the parking lot a little after midnight this morning, Friday, February 24.

Three men in their early 20s had set out at about 5:30 p.m. from the Blue Job parking lot. The mountain has multiple popular hiking trails, and it's a little more than a mile to hike to the top, where there's a fire tower. The men, from Rochester and Wakefield, were hiking without lights, backpacks, or any safety gear, and were wearing only sneakers. According to Conservation Officer Ron Arsenault, they got "turned around" at some point, and used a cell phone to call an older friend for help – the same man who had dropped them off at the trailhead.

The friend hiked up and managed to find the trio, at which point all four became lost and called 911.

The hiking party was advised to stay in one place. They managed to start a fire, which helped Strafford Police locate them on a logging road in Farmington, on the far side of the mountain.

For information on safe hiking, visit http://www.hikesafe.com.

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Copyright 2012 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.
For usage policy, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Inside_FandG/usage_policy.htm.
Comments or questions concerning this list should be directed to jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov

Hikers Rescued After Getting Lost On Blue Job Mountain - New Hampshire News Story - WMUR New Hampshire

STRAFFORD, N.H. -- Strafford police said four hikers were found safe early Friday morning after they got lost while hiking on Blue Job Mountain.

Police said they received a 911 call at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday reporting that four hikers were lost. Police said earlier in the evening, a man had dropped three people off who wanted to hike to a fire tower on Blue Job Mountain. A short time later, the hikers called the man and told him they were lost. The man went to the mountain and found the lost hikers, but then all four of them got lost, police said.

After receiving the 911 call, officials told the hikers to turn off their cellphone to conserve power and light a fire to to keep warm. A Strafford police officer took a 4-wheeler, equipped with a GPS, to the area to search for the hikers. After spotting smoke from their fire, the officer found the hikers on the backside of the mountain at about 12:30 a.m. Friday.

None of the hikers was injured. Police said they were not dressed properly for the weather and with a storm approaching, there was an added urgency to locate them.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/30533238/detail.html#ixzz1nJ0OnmPZ

Thursday, February 23, 2012

NHF&G News: Teen Attacked by Coyote in Hopkinton, N.H.

From: "N.H. Fish and Game" <jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov>
To:
Sent: February 23, 2012 1:57 PM
Subject: NHF&G News: Teen Attacked by Coyote in Hopkinton, N.H.

News from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
Phone: (603) 271-3211
Email: info@wildlife.nh.gov
For information and online licenses, visit http://www.wildnh.com

* * * * * * *

CONTACT:
Patrick Tate: (603) 868-1095
Liza Poinier: (603) 271-3211
February 23, 2012

Teen Attacked by Coyote in Hopkinton, N.H.

CONCORD, N.H. – Fish and Game Department personnel are alerting residents of Hopkinton, N.H., to the likely presence of a rabid coyote, following an attack on a local teenager yesterday (February 22, 2012).

The young man was walking the family dog in a wooded area near his home when the coyote approached him. The dog ran away, at which point the coyote attacked the teenager. The teen defended himself, reportedly punching the coyote in the nose until the coyote left the scene. During the interaction, the teenager was scratched and possibly bitten by the coyote. The teen sought medical treatment, and is receiving a course of rabies shots as a precaution.

Though there are occasional reports of rabid wild animals attacking humans in New Hampshire, Pat Tate, wildlife biologist with Fish and Game, said that the coyote attack was highly unusual. "It's the first time we know of that a coyote has attacked a person in New Hampshire," he said. Tate noted that earlier in the week, a local dog was also attacked by a coyote, and required veterinary care. "We suspect that it's the same coyote, and that the coyote is rabid, given the uncharacteristic aggressiveness of the attacks. For local residents, that means they should be aware of the presence of coyotes, and they should know the signs of a rabid animal." He added, "This incident, scary as it was, gives us no reason to fear wild animals in general."

Tate points out that it's not that unusual to see a coyote at any time of day or night. "The species is spread out around the state. Seeing a coyote in woodland landscape, one that's acting normal, is fine," he said. Normal behavior, for a coyote, is expressing no interest in humans or pets. "If a coyote displays any interest in a human – whether friendly or aggressive – that's unusual, and that's when you need to be on alert."

Martin Garabedian, chief of Law Enforcement for N.H. Fish and Game, says that Conservation Officers and Hopkinton Police Department personnel are in the area, looking for signs of the rabid coyote. "In the interest of public safety, when the officers find the animal in question, they will dispatch it and send it for rabies testing," he said.

If someone sees a coyote, Tate recommends yelling at it to instill fear. Healthy coyotes will retreat when faced with loud noises or thrown objects. "Obviously, you never want to approach a wild animal. But if you are in a situation where you are outdoors near a coyote, shout at it, make sure it knows you're a threat," Tate advises. "If it comes at you, hit it hard on the head and snout."

If Hopkinton residents see a coyote behaving aggressively, they are asked to notify Fish and Game Law Enforcement dispatch at (603) 271-3361.

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Copyright 2012 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.
For usage policy, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Inside_FandG/usage_policy.htm.
Comments or questions concerning this list should be directed to jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov

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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Help to protect the Grand Canyon's natural quiet today!

Click Here to Contact Your Senators!

Dear Reader,

National parks are thought to be among the quietest places on earth. But their peace and solitude are threatened by unnecessary noise, especially at Grand Canyon National Park. We need your help to protect the Grand Canyon's natural quiet today!

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has filed an amendment to the Senate Transportation Bill (S.1813) that would short-circuit the public process on a plan to restore natural quiet to Grand Canyon National Park. The amendment would allow for additional noise from low-flying, commercial air tours. In recent years, with your help, NPCA and our allies have been able to force the withdrawal of similar amendments. We need your help now to ensure that this dreadful amendment is defeated.

Take Action: Email your senators TODAY and tell them to oppose Senator McCain’s Grand Canyon amendment to the Senate Transportation Bill.

Thanks for standing with us once again to protect natural quiet at the Grand Canyon. As always, we truly appreciate all that you do to protect our national parks for future generations to enjoy!

Sincerely,