Dear Members, First of all Id like to thank you for the support. In joining the Adirondack Powder Skier Association youve shown that you really care about the protection of these mountains. Through carefully planned, science based, quiet, human powered Ski Trails we can balance both Resource Protection and Recreational Access. Over the past year the Adirondack Powder Skier Association has made incredible progress in moving our Eco Tourism Initiative forward. For far too long Back Country Skiers and Boarders have had no collective voice to represent them in policy making decisions in the Adirondack Park. We as a group support the Protection of Wilderness and Wild Forest Areas and feel strongly that our activity is completely Wilderness Compatible. Our first year of existence beginning in June of 2012 involved lots letter writing, IRS filings, phone calls and mini meetings with State Agencies , Politicians, and Environmental Leaders including the DEC, APA, ADK Wild, Protect The ADKs, ADK Mountain Club, ADK Council, Wilderness Conservation Society, The Common Ground Alliance, ADK Local Review Board, as well as numerous politicians on the State, County, and Town Level. After receiving our official IRS non profit tax status in June of 2013 the APSA opened up membership. In September of 2013 the Adirondack Powder Skier Association was invited to present our proposal to the Forest Preserve Advisory Committee. Our Vice President Dean Schneller and I presented the legal, environmental, and historical aspects of our initiative. At the end of our program the applause was overwhelming and following a great Q&A session we were asked to put together a demonstration site that could be used as a template for a follow up Round Table discussion on how to best implement and manage our proposal. By mid January of 2014 all of the stakeholder guided field trips to our demonstration site as well as presentations to the ADK Mtn Club and Protect the ADKs Conservation Committees were completed and the Round Table Meeting was requested. After 9 months of more emails, phone calls, and lots of patience we finally were able to discuss our initiative with over 20 stakeholders representing all of the political, regulatory, and environmental constituencies at a Round Table Meeting held in Warrensburg on October 1. Based on the discussion at the Warrensburg meeting it has become clear that the only way to move our proposal forward is through Amendments to the New York State Land Master Plan both describing our activity as an acceptable use and our open woods type trails as acceptable facilities on NY State Forest Preserve Land. For the first time in 25 years the APA is opening up the State Land Master Plan for possible changes and is asking for possible Amendments. This is an amazing opportunity for Adirondack Powder Skier Association to show the Adirondack Park Agency the type of widespread support we have for SLMP Amendments to define our user group as well define the Back Country Ski Touring Trails within naturally occurring openings under a mature canopy on pitches that would require a minimal amount of maintenance to create safe and reasonable access. The APSA strongly believes that by utilizing carefully planned out criteria for site selection and route designs which integrate the natural terrain features and contours while avoiding areas of specific environmental concern the ultimate goal of Resource Protection can be achieved in both Wilderness and Wild Forest Areas of the Forest Preserve. Low Impact Ski Touring Trails selectively located throughout the Adirondack Park would help to sustain our Local Communities through Eco-Tourism Opportunities while providing a Healthy Wilderness Activity for all to enjoy. The Adirondack Powder Skier Association has also received international, national and regional media exposure as a great example of how to bring together all the interested stakeholders to increase recreational access while still protecting the natural resource. The APSA has received some financial support from The Mountaineer, The Outdoor Gear Exchange, High Peaks Cyclery, as well as the Banff Film Fest through benefit raffles during events. We continue to gain more media exposure, membership, and sponsors as our initiative moves towards fruition. I wish I could report to you that we have our first trail approved and ready to go but this is the Adirondacks, the most protected place on Earth. Its an amazing Natural Resource and its why we have all chosen to live and recreate here. Any change, even a minor one with minimal impact such as ours, takes time for approval. We want to get this right and have it as a model that can be looked on as the gold standard for combining Resource Protection with Recreational Access. We are also in need of folks willing to help set up membership events in their home areas. Help make our numbers count. Get your friends and family to join our cause. Our collective voices can make a difference! Powder To The People! Ron Konowitz President, Adirondack Powder Skier Association Inc. THE TIME IS NOW! MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! ATTEND AN APA LISTENING SESSION! OR WRITE A LETTER SUPPORTING THE TWO APSA SLMP AMENDMENTS TO THE APA BEFORE DEC 5, 2014 at adkpowderskier
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 22:49:59 +0000
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