Alaska DNR Proposes Five New Snowmachine Trails Near Wiseman
WISEMAN, Alaska — The Alaska Department of Natural Resources on Oct. 7 proposed five new winter snowmachine trails near Wiseman in the central Brooks Range, aiming to give backcountry riders formal routes while protecting sensitive wildlife habitat, alaskanews.com reported.
The proposal would designate official winter routes for snowmachine users in the remote area north of the Arctic Circle, a vast landscape that draws riders from across Alaska and beyond. State officials said designated trails help concentrate use, reduce conflicts with other winter users and make search-and-rescue operations more predictable.
The Brooks Range is prime habitat for caribou, Dall sheep and other wildlife, and conservation groups have long urged the state to manage motorized recreation carefully in the region. DNR officials said the trail proposal was developed with wildlife considerations in mind, steering routes away from critical winter range.
A public comment period on the proposal is expected, giving residents, guides, tribal representatives and conservation groups a chance to weigh in before any final decision. State land managers said they would review all input before designating the trails.
Wiseman, a tiny former mining community along the Dalton Highway with only a handful of year-round residents, serves as a gateway for winter travelers heading into the central Brooks Range. Local residents said they were watching the proposal closely, hoping it balances access with the quiet character of the area.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：雪地摩托行驶在阿拉斯加雪原小径上。摄影：Bureau of Land Management，CC BY 2.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
