By Jason Oliver (Digipix) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Good news to those looking to get into the woods who may be hindered by disabilities. The NYS has approved 65 miles of roads/trails in the Adirondack park and 35 more miles outside the park area for 'disabled access' which includes motor assisted vehicles and specifically states ATV's. The approved areas are largely logging or fire access roads, with a few trails between them, but in the Adirondacks, it's all good. The area is open to the general public without motor assist and to the disabled with motor assist. This keeps the majority of the park motor free, and thus ATV damage/noise free, while allowing disabled people to also get back into the forest and enjoy it as well. From what I've read, the environmentalists are happy with it, as are the disabled who have been looking for this.

I myself used to hike there often, but with my arthritis I can no longer do that. I can't even walk without a limp now, so a 12 mile hike everyday with a 50 pound pack is out of the question. I haven't had the joy of hiking and camping there for years now... maybe now I can return. It's not as nice as setting aside an area legal to ride, but it's a step in the right direction. I talked to one person on the phone about it and he said that if it's used responsibly and managed well, it might be extended to a wider group. We'll have to wait and see what happens. I think this is great news!!! Anyone who goes there, please be responsible and respectful of the environment and rules. Cheers, just passing on this good news. Now I can probably even take my mother back, we last hiked there together when I was 12, she's in a wheelchair now and can't hike at all. She would love to go back again, as would I.