Proposed Trail Thru Wolfeboro to Town Dock
 

Just saw an article about this in the Granite State News. A 4-1 vote in favor of a proposal to make a temporary trail through town to the Town Dock onto the Lake.

http://www.wolfeboronh.us/Pages/Wolf...4009E-000F8513

Would be good for the restaurants in town. Always thought it was odd to have to drive up through Kingswood and come in thru the back the depot

trail thru town
 

The trail as shown appears to route to the boat ramp which stays wide open in the winter due to the circulators around the town docks. A route through Cate Park via the lake access used last year would seem more logical.

Sno-mobile trail through Wolfeboro
 

The trail through Wolfeboro takes riders to the Lake via the boat ramp, and the Town is planning to turn off the bubblers and let the docks freeze in allowing this access.

As I understand it, the whole purpose of this link through Town is to connect the Bridge-Falls Path to the Lake, thus opening up a much broader area to riders.

There was some opposition by one Selectman, and several citizens of the Town, mostly concerning the loss of handicap parking by the Post Office, and the fact that this trail will be crossing Main Street at a very busy section.

As I understand it, also, this is a one year trial run to see how it works.

The second justification is to bring snowmobilers to downtown for retail purposes, to include both restaurants and shopping.

I think its a great idea to try. As for clogging up town because of a crossing it wouldn't even come close to the issues seen in the summer!:laugh:

I'm all for it, but.........
 

Has anyone taken a look at the ice damage potential to the docks?

From what I read in the Granite State News, the bubbers will be turned off during the winter, and then turned back on when the Ice on the Lake starts to melt and breaks up. I am not, in any way familiar with the characteristic of Ice movement, and the potential of ice damage to docks by ice, but it seems the consensus is that, it's not the ice freeze that damages, but rather the breaking up period of the ice melt. It's what I read.

Dock Ice Damage
 

Ice expansion presses against the dock posts and can cause damage to them. Bubblers, etc. keep the ice away from these posts. Bubblers offer no protection against pack ice as the ice goes out 🐻

I think its a great idea to try it for a year and see how it goes. It certainly will help to bring some business to the local establishments from the many snowmobiler's who ride the area.

Good job Wolfeboro!

Dan

when the wind moves the ice sheets the bubblers are not strong enough to hold it off anyways, also the formation of the ice around the docks will be fine as it will lock it might have an issue when it starts to brake up and a large sheet is attached to the docks and might pull on the pilings, the end of the ice season will be the time something will happen with the floating ice, but the bubblers will not have anything to do with that off or on. Again the cannot hold off ice sheets moving from the wind

I'm in line of thinking with Barney bear. When the ice freezes solid around the pilings the pressures and expansion can lift the pilings right up and the dock can be ruined. Happened in our association at the dock one year. Costly repairs. We had one piling that rose 18 inches

So-- Wolfeboro should abandon this idea because of potential damage to the docks? Potential. I'm thinking this a trial test. If any damage happens, the town will repair, and they won't do the trail access going further. I'm sure the town council discussed this potential, before voting. But I could be wrong. JMO

I don't see how they are going maintain it. Are they going to truck in snow, plow around it when it snows, keep it packed? And if so, who is going to do it ? The snowmobile club? The town? I haven't heard anything about that.

From the article in the Granite State News 11/26/2015 issue. It said the that town will keep & maintain a 8" section of snow along Center St as it shows on the proposal, and Yes- the club will maintain the grooming.

I just hope is snows...

I read the article but I still don't see how they are going to do it. Just seems like a little strip is going to be hard to keep, with the heat from the tar all around it.

This!

I agree also it will be hard to maintain especially if there is a lot time between storms but I am all for it.

I don't think they should abandon the idea because of potential dock damage since it isn't a certainty but I think they maybe be playing roulette with damage.

A Curtain
 

There is some kind of a "curtain" being installed today at the town docks. The "curtain" is supposed to allow the bubblers to stay on but yet allow the ice path from the lake to land stay frozen. This is second hand info so it would be nice if someone up there could check it out and report back.

The sidewalk areas that are going to be snow covered will not be as hard to maintain as one might think. The city of Berlin used to do this every year until corridor 18 was moved across the street. They would plow onto the sidewalk after every storm and the club would groom it. It would last well into spring unless we had a low snow year.

I always try to think out side the box.....here goes....

What if a dock that sleds can access had an extension built farther out into the lake. This would allow sleds to get farther out beyond the bubblers. The bubblers will lessen the chance for the ice damage. The end of the dock could slant down into the ice so sleds transition smoothly on to the ice. In the summer it will offer needed additional boat parking.
Just trying to throw an idea out there.

Edit:And I'm not an engineer so don't ask me how to do it, someone else can figure that one out.lol.

Sound like that would work. Only problem with Wolfeboro's dock is that there is a 30" wall that runs along the shore side of the docks. It might be a little hard for a sled to turn that tight coming off the ice. The only straight shot into the lake that I know of is the ramp, but I could be wrong

I'm unsure where the trail will be so its difficult to comment and be accurate.
To the left end of the docks(looking out over the lake) next to the dock having a handicap location for a boat,( the 1st dock ) isn't there room to come off the lakes there? This would bring you into the park area behind the gazebo.
Or
At the opposite end, the far right looking out over the lake, could a removable staircase/ramp be built that could be used for the snow season. I can't picture how far of a drop it would be where The Mount docks, but having access down that side walk area and down a ramp into the ice is an idea. Install a set of axels to it and tow it away as soon as the ice is unsafe.
I hope this makes sense, it's difficult to try to explain an idea.

The maps shows the trail going right down the boat launch. I think what you suggested makes more sense, by coming off the lake way to the left & behind the gazebo, then into the parking lot.

I agree. I think it would have made more sense to go through the park and up Glendon St. Maybe they don't want the grass in the park to get torn up?

Erroneous Information
 

This turned out to be erroneous information. Sorry about that.