Get Involved
HOT TOPIC:
The Tahoe National Forest is currently proposing
the closure of over 2400 miles of existing
forest roads & trails vital for OHV recreation
and as access for many other forms of
recreation. If you 4-wheel or trail-ride, the
negative effects of this scale of closure are
obvious – but if you hike, bike, paddle, fish,
hunt, or otherwise access the forest for
recreation, you’re similarly affected, unless
your whole trip to the forest never crosses a
dirt road.
The Rubicon right-of-way itself is unaffected,
but any campsite more than a vehicle length away
from the trail will involve a hike, and many
spurs off the trail have been eliminated from
the map, regardless of their history and
recreational value – and every native-surface
Forest Service road/trail is currently slated
for 5-month winter closure!
Please ACT NOW. Click below to create a letter.
·
http://www.savethetrails.us/Default.aspx?PetitionID=22
·
http://www.pirate4x4.com/letters/
·
http://www.sharetrails.org/letters/letter.php?id=32
The above links and tools make it simple and
easy to respond substantively to the Tahoe DEIS,
a few minutes and you can meaningfully weigh in
and share how much you value continued access to
the vistas, scenic byways, secluded lakes,
creeks and primitive camping in the Tahoe
National Forest.
Get your comments on or before December 26,
2008.
The Tahoe Forest Route Designation alternatives
are out. Please read the draft EIS and send in
comments. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement
is available for review and download at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/projects_plans/ohv_inv/DEIS_overview.shtml
The Trails won’t save themselves. If you want to
be able to enjoy your local favorite trail or world
renown trails like the Rubicon, Fordyce, Moab,
Hammers, etc. you MUST get involved.
Work crew filling water holes
Organizations:
Not everyone will become leaders in this battle
but we should all become supporters of those
leaders. The leaders are the big organizations: Blue
Ribbon Coalition, United Four Wheel Drive, National
Off-Road Association. Then there are the state
organizations: California Association of Four Wheel
Drive Clubs, California League of Off-Road Voters
Association, Off-Road Business Association, etc. And
then there is your local club.
The one simple thing we can do to support our
recreational activity is join any club and or
organization. Think about how much money you spend
in part, maintenance and fuel for your rig. Why not
spend an extra $150 a year and join a few of the
organization listed above?
Public Image:
We, as a recreational activity, have a public
image problem. We need to change that. Take the time
to talk to your neighbors when you are preparing for
or getting back from a trip. Let them know where you
went, what you did, how much your family enjoyed it,
etc. I’ve often had to correct the idea that I drove
through a meadow just because my rig was dirty. I
make sure they understand that I was on a legally
open OHV trail the whole time. And sometimes go on
to say that when I was done performing maintenance
efforts, the water/mud that got my rig dirty was
drained form the trail, preventing future erosion.
Invite others:
Although OHV use is already growing
exponentially, invite your neighbor or co-worker
along for a drive. Show them what it’s like to get
ten miles away from any paved road. Walk them off
the trail to your favorite overlook.
Politicians:
We all need work with those who hold the power
to manage our trails. The easiest way for each of us
to do that is to write a letter to the local elected
official of the trail you just drove. One trip - One
letter. How hard is it to send off a 20 word e-mail
to your local county board member? The physical and
e-mail addresses of the elected officials that
manage the Rubicon Trail are listed under “Forest
& Governments”.
Training:
This November, the Rubicon Trail Foundation is
hosting the fourth annual Volunteer Leader & Land
Steward (VLLS) training class. It will be at Robb's
Resort from the Wednesday night (8pm) check in on
November 12th through Sunday the 16th, about 3pm.
That is the week after Veteran's Day. This is a
great class that got a lot of people going in trail
maintenance and leadership. It is four days and
covers leadership, management, organization and many
other topics useful to maintaining our trails. RTF
is picking up the cost for you. Meals are included.
All you have to do is get yourself there. Space is
always limited. For information regarding
applications, contact Dennis Mayer:
.
Del Albright offers an online leadership course
aimed at teaching people who want to help our trails
learn how to lead volunteers during work parties. It
is RLTC: Recreational Leadership Training Course.
http://www.delalbright.com/RLTC/rltc.htm |
