From Park Ranger Keith:
... it's not OK to get to Red Shirt by snowmachine thru the Recreation Area? I know alot of people are frustrated with the lack of snow (I am too), but Parks has the duty to protect natural resources including winter trails -- not enough snow, too much impact by machines.
Snowmachines on the lake itself -- while the whole Recreation Area is technically closed to motorized use, that use is at least not a resource protection issue and not our main concern.
Accessing Red Shirt by Cow Lake from the south; or from "Steve's Trail" off of the Willow Big Swamp Trail from the west is...ok.
Using the main winter trail thru South Rolly or the trail from Lynx Lake Rd through to Skeetna and Butterfly Lakes is definitely not OK (and expensive).
Thanks for any help,
Regards, Keith
... it's not OK to get to Red Shirt by snowmachine thru the Recreation Area? I know alot of people are frustrated with the lack of snow (I am too), but Parks has the duty to protect natural resources including winter trails -- not enough snow, too much impact by machines.
Snowmachines on the lake itself -- while the whole Recreation Area is technically closed to motorized use, that use is at least not a resource protection issue and not our main concern.
Accessing Red Shirt by Cow Lake from the south; or from "Steve's Trail" off of the Willow Big Swamp Trail from the west is...ok.
Using the main winter trail thru South Rolly or the trail from Lynx Lake Rd through to Skeetna and Butterfly Lakes is definitely not OK (and expensive).
Thanks for any help,
Regards, Keith
posted by Redshirt Smiths | Thursday, January 03, 2008
1 Comments:
Recreation conditions for Nancy Lake State Recreation Area and Willow
Creek State Recreation Area as of Thursday January 24th, 2008:
5 to 6” of heavy wet snow fell in Willow early this week, compressing the existing snowpack and leaving the depth little changed (about 22”). This snow has created a dense crust and area trails are hard-packed. A number of trees have come down with the heavy snow and not all trails are completely cleared yet. Several inches of additional snow are forecast for the area and temperatures are predicted to range from -5 to +20 for the coming weekend.
Significant overflow was observed on area lakes earlier in the week but has improved somewhat since. Ice thickness on tested lakes well exceeds 7 inches in most places, though visitors are cautioned thickness is inconsistent, especially near inlets, outlets, and springs. Flowing water has much thinner ice or remains open in places.
Parking is available at the winter trailhead parking lot at mile 2.2 on the Nancy Lake Parkway, or the Public Use Cabin trailhead lot near mile 1.8.
Day use fees are $5/calendar day.
A reminder that snowmachines are not permitted on the maintained road and must be registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles to legally operate on public land.
Nancy Lake Parkway, the Winter Trailhead lot, and Public Use Cabin lot have been plowed; Willow Creek Parkway is maintained to the junction of Crystal Lake Road.
Please bring your trash out, use facilities responsibly, and recreate safely.
Keith Wilson
Park Ranger I
Alaska State Parks
Willow
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