Do we need a shaky outfit like Blue Ribbon Coalition?

[DennisAJC]

Eagle Ridge Park here in B.C. is being closed off recreation vehicles for the next 5 years to encourage recovery and regrowth and trail repair. It was supported by even the Off-Road community by an astounding vote of 752 yes vs. 119 no with 1500+ no votes. Just got results by e-mail.

Sometimes closures are good. In 5 years it's gonna look spectacular again.

[KenP]

Sort of like the farmer who rotates his fields. That's a good idea.

[timgco]

I agree! It's a good idea to give the trails some time off!

This sport is getting bigger and bigger each year; and it would seem that the trail etiquette of the newbs are becoming more irresponsible every site I go to. There are many newb Jeepers, FJers, H3ers, and others that are fresh into the sport that just don't have a clue as to wth tread lightly is all about. They end up leaving broken U joints, tie rods, front diffs, garbage, and venturing out into off limits trails and private land. Some of them even post the pics of them doing it.

Each of us has the resposibility of educating them... even if it labels you as that "A hole" to correct him/ her from ruining the sport for the rest of us.

[HummBebe]

In some cases that is true, but in others it is not.

The frequent violators of tread lightly standards are the old timers who resist change.

It is not uncommon to hear an oldtimer say "I've been coming here for 20 years and no one is going to tell me I can't do it anymore".

As well, a good deal of the resource damage pics I've logged are caused by motorcycles and ATV's. Mostly because they can go almost anywhere...they do.

The good thing is to recommend a training course that emphasizes Tread Lightly, Hummer Happenings are great for that.

The most important thing like you say is to help educate, donate to organization like Blue Ribbon Coalition and United Four Wheel Drive Assoiation, and to give back, if you spend time wheeling the trail, you should also spend time fixing it.

[timgco]

The most important thing like you say is to help educate, donate to organization like Blue Ribbon Coalition and United Four Wheel Drive Assoiation, and to give back, if you spend time wheeling the trail, you should also spend time fixing it.[/quote]

Don't forget the Timgco HUMMER Support Fund. This is the most important fund at this time! 08's are due out in less than a month now.


EDIT: and if Kira reads this, it must bean AE typing this!!!

[h2co-pilot]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

The most important thing like you say is to help educate, donate to organization like Blue Ribbon Coalition and United Four Wheel Drive Assoiation, and to give back, if you spend time wheeling the trail, you should also spend time fixing it.

I don't think Blue Ribbon needs funding.

They really aren't the off-road enthusiast small timers they purport to be.

In addition to membership fees, funding has historically come from timber, mining, petroleum, and motorized recreation industries. Funders have included the Alaska Forestry Association, American Forest and Paper Association, American Petroleum Institute, Boise Cascade, Battle Mountain Gold, Chevron, Colorado Mining Association, Crown Butte Mines, Exxon, Honda (US), Idaho Mining Association, Louisiana Pacific, Marathon Oil, Polaris, Potlach Corp, Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas, Ski-Doo, Suzuki, and Yamaha. (Blue Ribbon Magazine 5/1997)

http://www.commondreams.org/news2000/0620-06.htm

http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=18

http://lowbagger.org/blueribbon.html

But yea, lots of your favorite trails have dates and weekends dedicated to picking up and maintaining trails. You still get to drive them, you just meet a lot of cool people and pick up ignorant jerks trash, it feels good.

[DennisAJC]

Originally Posted by h2co-pilot

I don't think Blue Ribbon needs funding.

They really aren't the off-road enthusiast small timers they purport to be.



http://www.commondreams.org/news2000/0620-06.htm

http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=18

http://lowbagger.org/blueribbon.html

But yea, lots of your favorite trails have dates and weekends dedicated to picking up and maintaining trails. You still get to drive them, you just meet a lot of cool people and pick up ignorant jerks trash, it feels good.

[DennisAJC]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

we moved 100 cubic yards of rock into a huge mudhole that was starting to swallow rigs whole The purpose of filling this mudhole also helped maintain the water quality issues it was starting.

Why do they have to make you do the work? Can't they just fill it back on their own?

[KenP]

Originally Posted by DennisAJC

Why do they have to make you do the work? Can't they just fill it back on their own?

That's pretty funny, but Blue Ribbon isn't.

They pose as a grass roots organization, when they're really represented by big oil, big coal, and big wood.

Once those trails and lands are deemed unprotected, the companies can move in, close the trails and do their biz.

Yeah, I'll really support Blue Ribbon.... Whatever...

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by DennisAJC

Why do they have to make you do the work? Can't they just fill it back on their own?

Because, the Feds don't have the money to do it, regardless of how much money they get from our tax dollars and from "green sticker " programs. Somehow it manages to get diverted to research so the Sierra Club can force them to count those yellow legged frogs.

Their answer it to close it.

So if we pony up the labor and materials, front loaders and a lot of REALLY BIG GUYS, we maintain the trail and get to keep it open.