Banning snowmobiles and jet skis because they offend our sensibilities seems to be reaching a correct result, but for the wrong reason. In the process it continues to perpetuate the attitude the environmentalists are elitist snobs. Would it be more logical, and less inflammatory to define within what limits we should all operate? If these vehicles can be made less noisy and polluting should their access still be limited? On the other hand, if we are the source of a problem should not our conduct be restricted. Eg, for many years, before snowmobiles became just too numerous in Yellowstone, cross country skiers did more damage than snowmobilers. The reason is skiers could leave the trail, but snowmobilers could not. This had two adverse consequences, it packed the snow on the vegetation, and, worse, skiers could get close to the animals. This stirred the animals into moving, causing them to use precious body fat. Maybe paddle boaters are more dangerous to wildlife because we can catch them unawares. (Just think of all that fuss we had about getting near the whales.) I have paddled up on, and startled all manner of waterfowl, beaver, otters, moose, bear and eagles. I have no idea if that has caused an injury, but know it is quite possible with the ducklings and the moose. On the other hand, you know no jet skier is taking an animal by surprise. Safety wise, maybe we should be restricted to different areas, non-polluting jet skiers in one bay and paddlers in another. Personally, that is not something I favor. After 10 miles of IV a tow from a jet skier across a reservoir, to the take out is really appreciated. When cross country skiing, the packed trail of a snowmobile is sometimes preferable to breaking trail. Safety and health standards (instead of machine and people) also have the benefit of not automatically favoring one group over another. That, in turns is a little more conducive to good relationships. JKL *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Looze, John & Donna wrote: Banning snowmobiles and jet skis because they offend our sensibilities seems to be reaching a correct result, but for the wrong reason. In the process it continues to perpetuate the attitude the environmentalists are elitist snobs. snip Safety and health standards (instead of machine and people) also have the benefit of not automatically favoring one group over another. That, in turns is a little more conducive to good relationships. JKL I have to agree here. If we advocate banning Jet Ski's because they offend us we are opening ourselves to the same kind of ban from those who don't like kayakers. If a valid reason for the ban can be proved, environmental or safety, then I would agree with the ban. But to single out Jet Ski's is wrong. Any time you start singling out equipment rather than educating the operator you set the wrong standard, and a poor precedent. It is the operators that need to be controlled. If there is a sensitive area that needs to be protected then ban all motors, not just Jet Ski's. If the area is noise sensitive then set a maximum noise limit (New Hampshire has on several lakes). If it is a pollution problem then set a standard across the board. On a side note, I do ride snowmobiles. The modern two stroke motor is far less polluting than the press would have you believe. My machine burns about one pint of oil per hundred miles of travel, and gets 18 MPG. Also, the vast majority of the people I see riding stay on the marked trails. Again, it is a matter of educating the operator. Find the violators and fine them accordingly, but don't punish all for the actions of a few. Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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