I’m no lover of snowmobiles – they’re a useful tool and have an important role to play in northern life, but like ATVs and pickup trucks they have been bulked up and oversold. They’ve become a plague of too-powerful, dangerous, smelly, noisy toys that ruin things for everybody around them. Go to a Route 2 gas station near a snowmobile trail on a winter Saturday afternoon – the fumes from those pollution machines will make you think you’re breathing in New Delhi.
Having said that, New Hampshire’s network of snowmobile trails is amazing. Roughly 7,000 miles of them run all over the state, a majority maintained by local volunteer clubs. It’s an impressive bit of community planning, development and action in a time when community action is disappearing.
New Hampshire Bulletin has a good story about the work needed to maintain them. Here it is.
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Thanks. I totally agree about the air and noise pollution factor! I allow a local snowmobile club to use and maintain a trail through our property, and they are very grateful and respectful. But why can’t we move to 100% 4-stroke engines!? That would help a lot with the stench and noise.
Echo the noise pollution comment for those who fire off rounds of target practice every weekend!!! If I broadcasted my hobbies at that decibel level from my house, I am sure I would hear from my neighbors!
I have told my local gun club that I am forming the Sunrise Outdoor Bagpipe Practice Club as part of my something-amendment rights as an American. They were not amused.
I’m in. Just get me the bagpipes. Our woods sound like Beirut every weekend. There is no good backdrop so I await someone being killed in the crossfire.
Well the trails in NH are for sure some of the best in New England.Sometime from southern to centers NH winter enthusiast are thinned out with little snow but the snowmobile trails are maintained all year long by volunteers.So for the short use by snowmobiles we all can enjoy all seasons Spring,Summer and fall thanks to over hundred Snowmobiler clubs in NH.Enjoy the trails all year long.