Sledding Coming to an End...

[Veedy]

I didn't know that, where can I find some research on this? I thought trees consumed CO2...? Just wondering

Trees consume CO2 and expire O2. It's not the trees that create greenhouse gasses, but the rotting foliage they leave behind. Dead trees, leaves, needles, and pine cones ( yes, the dreaded pine cone ) emit methane gas into our atmosphere, which is the leading contributer to " global warming ". So if I was in office, I would pass the clear cutting bill and get those loggers to work. After all, once you clear cut a mountain, it makes for some sweet sledding.

 

[02prox440]

I dont care what anybody says......im never going to quit riding

 

[Hardass]

I agree Work, but every one has there personel limitations. Some do better or more than others, but most just can't wake up a say i think i'll make a bunch of extra money from now on,well except may be for you from the sounds of it. I seen something about Work in Forbes magazine was that about you?If you could just make it to Bill gates status you could help every one out just think how good you would feel

 

[CHABA]

i will never stop even if its breaking the stupid law and i have to chopper my sled in.

 

[dejadoo]

If something other than land closures reduced the number of sleds out there, I am all for it. Places getting way too busy versus 10 to 20 years ago.
They almost quit grooming the trails in Michigan this year due to politics with the funding. I would have been OK with me if it would have cut 50-75% of riders out due to bumps, I would probably ride some there again.

Sorry for being selfish, it is hard to change your ways when you get old.

 

[revpilot]

Trees consume CO2 and expire O2. It's not the trees that create greenhouse gasses, but the rotting foliage they leave behind. Dead trees, leaves, needles, and pine cones ( yes, the dreaded pine cone ) emit methane gas into our atmosphere, which is the leading contributer to " global warming ". So if I was in office, I would pass the clear cutting bill and get those loggers to work. After all, once you clear cut a mountain, it makes for some sweet sledding.

Vote for Veedy! Some university pointed out this Summer that all the wildfires in SoCal were putting out as much pollution in minutes as the whole state did in a year with emmisions. It's time to turn some of that brush into wood pellets so Algore can heat his big house when the cold cycle hits again.

 

[Meatman]

Wow, from reading this thread you would think we live in a country that controls how much money you can make in a year. Fella's, if you think it cost to much money to buy sleds and fuel why not just take advantage of the free enterprise system in this country and make more money instead of calling it quits. Nobody tells you how much money you can make. Those are limitations you put on yourself.

That's easier said than done....I hate to bring up the old age discussion of illegals taking jobs for significantly less pay. Yes you can go to school and further your education. Then you can try for a career change...however, this day an age if you're a white male your screwed. IMO

 

[BackCountryBob]

Go back and read SnowLover's post---you don't need the fastest, lightest, loudest sled to enjoy the sport. When I first started, I had about $800 invested in two sleds and my wife, son and I had the best times together in the high country.

Over 25 years of riding I've only owned one new sled. My current ride is an 04REV I bought "used" in 05 for $5,100 with about $600 of total extras since then. I go everywhere the big guys go and have a great time dooing it.

I though about a new XP but just can't reach for the $6,000 after trade. I'll look around next year for a good used sled.

Now we truck pool and drive the speed limit or less--you'd be amazed how much fuel you can save by exchanging the lead foot for a carbon fiber one.

AS far as trees are concerned, a pine tree forest is a polluted place, mainly due to pine tar ommissions and methane. Select cutting will reduce the methane and the pine tar opening up the forest floor to sunlight and plant growth = more 02 and food for Bambi.

You cannot rely on the Blue Ribbon Coalition or SAWS to haul the freight with the envirofreeks. Joing a snowmobile club, even if you are out of state and only pay the annual dues to support the club's grooming and political efforts. The clubs here in Colorado are very proactive with the local forest service people and do have some influence with the local bureaucrates/politicians.

Unless we control our own actions and prove our environmental stewardship to the community, we will lose. This next election will tell the tale--if she wins, we will be in a bigger fight than we are now.

 

[kyky]

I saw a TV ad with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Utah Gov. Huntsman. The Utah governor actually said we need to cap "greenhouse POLLUTANTS". (I guess we are all exhaling pollutants). Make no mistake, the public perception of man made climate change, true or not, will determine the future of our sport.

 

[Work - Never]

Yes, everybody can wake up one morning and say hey I'm going to make a bunch of money. The problem is they probably won't as long they continue to make it for somebody else. They will just come on this site and complain about how how much sleds cost.

What does the word limitations mean?

 

[tech a]

I'm hoping to get in 10-20 more years.....

I took an inventory of my gas burners (some of which I have bought for
neice's/nephews) and realized that I will have to cut back at some point.
I currently have: snowmobiles - 4, boat - 1, jet-skiis - 3, atv's - 3, dirtbikes
- 10...
Try to imagine my gas bill for a week of camping during the summer!!!

I figure in another 10-20 years, gas will be so scarce/expensive that
you will have to be one of the very rich people to be able to justify
using any for pleasure.

 

[Work - Never]

And because we live in America we can all be some of the very rich people, Right.

 

[Harvey]

I agree with a lot of things on this thread. We have to prove that we do care about the enviroment. That will help keep riding areas open.

Its obvious that prices will continue to rise. That will also be a factor in all of this. Example-gas goes up and use doesnt decline. No wonder the oil companies are making record profits. Good for them if were dumb enough to keep our usage at the same levels or more. Smart business if you ask me.

How ever, wages will go up too. And, if you arnt making enough money, change jobs. There IS enough work for everyone. If you work for someone else and work your tail off and dont get compinsated for it, find a different employer. I changed jobs looking for an employer that compensated me fairly. However, the harder I worked, the more money they made. Now, the harder I work, the more money I make. I work for my self now.

I too belive you can have sooo much fun with out breaking the bank. I have two older sleds and an older truck. I have lots of fun. Having older stuff allows me to do lots of other things. I have a boat for the summer which gets about 150 hours or more put on it.


Austin

 

[Nikolai]

Move to AK

 

[Wade]

Plant Carbon Cycle 101: This aint easy to grasp IMO.

Photosynthesis: Takes Sun Light plus Carbon Dioxide plus water, and generates glucose (sugar, a partial oxidized hydrocarbon) and it generates oxygen. Think of it as method of storing sun light energy away for later usage.

6 (CO2) + 6 (H2O) + SunLight -> C6H12O6 + 6 (O2)

Cellular Respiration: Plants and animals do this. The cells take the stored glucose sugars plus some oxygen. They fully oxidize the glucose, just like burning gas. This generates Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Water. So, the plant expells carbon dioxide during the night, and absorbs during the day, roughly.

C6H12O6 + 6 (O2) -> 6 (CO2) + 6 (H2O)

Wiki

As a sum total, plants absorb more carbon dioxide than they expel. About 1/4 of a trees weight is carbon, 1/2 is water, the rest is all the other stuff plus ash. Most of that carbon is released when a tree burns. Think how heavy a green tree is, then think 1/4 of that weight is the carbon, which is atomic weight 12, plus two oxygen atoms which are atomic weight 16 = atomic weight 44. So believe it or not, 91% of the weight of the tree is released as carbon dioxide. When a tree falls and decays, most of the carbon is released as carbon dioxide.

When a plant breaks down it release Methane (CH4), which is around 20 times more important (more effective) as a greenhouse gas. So, every pound of Methane is worth twenty pounds of carbon dioxide. Methane is produced by the natural decay of organic materials in a oxygen free environment, such as underground. That's were natural gas comes from.

 

[Wade]

Oh, and I believe we can kick the crap out of the evangelical environmentalist. This whole global warming thing is coming to a head. We need a small war to settle this crap.

As for the cost. I ride an 02 sled, and can still afford to go. I may have to go with more people, and run only pump gas, and ride older sleds, but I will still go.

 

[Waxy]

Yes, everybody can wake up one morning and say hey I'm going to make a bunch of money. The problem is they probably won't as long they continue to make it for somebody else. They will just come on this site and complain about how how much sleds cost.

What does the word limitations mean?

Ahhhhh to be young and naive again...

You go get'em Work.

Waxy

 

[Waxy]

I don't think it's the price of sleds so much as all the associated costs that will be the real kicker. Like was said, you can buy a used sled, used truck, and used gear, but you'll have to put fuel in it and maintain it. If gas is $3-4/L and your wage isn't keeping pace, the choice to spend that money on sledding will become a lot tougher, even if you already own all the toys.

Waxy

 

[DallanC]

Nitrogen and Oxygen make up 99% of the total atmosphere, there remaining 1% is composed of a variety of different gases.. with C02 making up only .038% of the total.

The largest concentrations of gas making up the atmosphere:

Nitrogen (N2) 78.08%
Oxygen (O2) 20.95%
Argon (Ar) 0.93%
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 0.038%


-DallanC

 

[jim]

Sadly, I don't think my boy is going to have the same luxuries and freedoms that I've enjoyed.

Too true....and, unfortunately, it's all the "saving" going on with the special interest groups in this country that are taking away all of our freedoms. Sledding will be another one.

And if anyone doesn't think that our next liberal president won't enact a wide-spread wilderness act, they are nuts. It's already on the table. I think the death of our sport will be closed land. Just like Clinton illegally pushed the roadless act, the same will happen to the rest of it in wilderness form. I eventually see our sport as trail riding only. The greenies want the trails open for backcountry access on their sleds...funny how that works eh?
People still have the $ and the sleds to do this sport, but we are running out of land. The number of vehicles I see in McCall from Oregon and Washington pretty much outnumbers the Idaho plates anymore and the number of people up there is getting crazy...just 5 years ago it was almost all Idaho plates and not very crowded. I don't blame them, they've lost their land...they have liberal states. It's just a sad thing to see it getting shut down.
I'll keep writing as will other people, but it's becoming more evident that our letters don't even get read (read McCall issues that the FS didn't know existed from our letters they didn't read). I think the greenies have so much money that the FS gives in...anytime we win anything, the decision gets appealed with greeny $. Cheaper for the FS to give in to them from a financial standpoint.