Trail closure meeting with Billy Goat Off-Road
Posted: February 13th, 2010, 9:08 pmI attended the Stewards of the Sequoia meeting hosted by Billy Goat Off-Road tonight. Basically, Our local trails are under attack big time by both the feds and a local group called the Sequoia ForestKeepers (based out of Kernville).
The Stewards of the Sequoia dumped approximately 80,000 dollars into fighting a total permanent closure of all of our local trails in the Sequoia Natl Forest, and pulled off an amazing last minute win. The Eco-nazi Forestkeepers keep trying to close motorized access through lawsuit after lawsuit against the Government.
Now, the fed wants to close almost all the trails in our area for 4 months every year. Not just Black Gulch Trail; but all 4x4 / motorcycle trails. They are also proposing fines of up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per group and up to 6 months in jail if you are caught on a closed trail. It will be your responsibility to study the closure map and know which trails are closed. Stewards of the Sequoia is currently fighting this, but they need our involvement and resources.
Much of the success of the Stewards of the Sequoia is that they have aligned their organization across the whole spectrum of user groups; 4x4, moto, mountain bikes, hikers, and horseback. We need to treat these land users as allies in the cause.
If you can't help through volunteerism or monetary donation, they ask that you at least spread the news and educate people on how the true keepers of the forest are those that enjoy using it. By correcting people that think 4x4s are destroying trails, when the real culprit is mother nature; and it is the very off-roaders that they demonize that perform erosion control, trail clearing, and trash pick-up. Winter rains and snow are going to damage trails weather people off-road on them or not. If you cant donate, please at least fill out this petition; http://www.savethetrails.us/Default.aspx?PetitionID=43
Ed with Billy Goat reminded everyone that following the tread lightly approach is more important now than ever. When we see people trailblazing off the trail or trashing a campsite, we can't just ignore it anymore. The opposition (even the local group out of Kernville) is out there actively trying to catch careless off-roaders in the act so they can present "proof" in the many lawsuits coming down the pipe. All it will take is one video of some idiot doing donuts out in a meadow or strapping a winch cable around a redwood, and we can kiss our trails goodbye.
Thank you Chris with Stewards of the Sequoia and Billy Goat Off-Road for setting up this meeting and inviting the various groups of off-roaders that have not been given this information.
Here is a video that they did to send to politicians, filmed on our local trails. http://www.trailsintrouble.org/
The Stewards of the Sequoia dumped approximately 80,000 dollars into fighting a total permanent closure of all of our local trails in the Sequoia Natl Forest, and pulled off an amazing last minute win. The Eco-nazi Forestkeepers keep trying to close motorized access through lawsuit after lawsuit against the Government.
Now, the fed wants to close almost all the trails in our area for 4 months every year. Not just Black Gulch Trail; but all 4x4 / motorcycle trails. They are also proposing fines of up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per group and up to 6 months in jail if you are caught on a closed trail. It will be your responsibility to study the closure map and know which trails are closed. Stewards of the Sequoia is currently fighting this, but they need our involvement and resources.
Much of the success of the Stewards of the Sequoia is that they have aligned their organization across the whole spectrum of user groups; 4x4, moto, mountain bikes, hikers, and horseback. We need to treat these land users as allies in the cause.
If you can't help through volunteerism or monetary donation, they ask that you at least spread the news and educate people on how the true keepers of the forest are those that enjoy using it. By correcting people that think 4x4s are destroying trails, when the real culprit is mother nature; and it is the very off-roaders that they demonize that perform erosion control, trail clearing, and trash pick-up. Winter rains and snow are going to damage trails weather people off-road on them or not. If you cant donate, please at least fill out this petition; http://www.savethetrails.us/Default.aspx?PetitionID=43
Ed with Billy Goat reminded everyone that following the tread lightly approach is more important now than ever. When we see people trailblazing off the trail or trashing a campsite, we can't just ignore it anymore. The opposition (even the local group out of Kernville) is out there actively trying to catch careless off-roaders in the act so they can present "proof" in the many lawsuits coming down the pipe. All it will take is one video of some idiot doing donuts out in a meadow or strapping a winch cable around a redwood, and we can kiss our trails goodbye.
Thank you Chris with Stewards of the Sequoia and Billy Goat Off-Road for setting up this meeting and inviting the various groups of off-roaders that have not been given this information.
Here is a video that they did to send to politicians, filmed on our local trails. http://www.trailsintrouble.org/