That A$$hole was driving over the trees that I PLANTED?!?!!!?? RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good thing I wasn't there or they're have been shots a flyin!! This absolutely floors me. Shoulda taken his keys out and thrown them in the river!!!!
Kurt, you did the right thing!!!! Take pics, and lots of em. Post em all over the internet!!!! Sooner or later these jackasses are going to see themselves!! Take pics of their OHV tag and or license plate number. Send em to the FS.
We really need some signs at both the rock garden and the lake. The FS can screw off with their sign protocol; I say we take matters into our own hands (because we know the FS is sitting on theirs). We need something at the 'garden that says something like:
In Aug 2002 (or whenever it was) a group of 4x4 enthusiasts closed this illegally created bypass around the rock garden area by planting trees and dragging logs across it. Please let the trees grow and stay on the main trail! Do not go off the main trail; when you do you accelerate the possibility of closing the entire area to all of us. If the trail is too difficult for you without creating "go arounds" then go somewhere else!
Ok that is way too wordy but you get the picture.
I had an experience in the San Rafael Swell a couple years ago; I flew of the handle and started yelling at guys on bikes and ATV's that were doing donuts any-damn-where they pleased. It doesn't really work.
EZ's guide to trail confrontation:
1) take pics first; catch them in the act.
2) tell em what they are doing is wrong and they are jeopardizing the entire area to all of us.
3) tell em they have two choices: join US-ALL, UTMA, or U4WDA (carry new member packet with you) OR you will turn the photos in to the FS, and they WILL get a ticket.
EDit:
Let's make some magnetic "Trail Patrol USFS" signs and screen some "trail Patrol" T shirts.
EZ
Good thing I wasn't there or they're have been shots a flyin!! This absolutely floors me. Shoulda taken his keys out and thrown them in the river!!!!
Kurt, you did the right thing!!!! Take pics, and lots of em. Post em all over the internet!!!! Sooner or later these jackasses are going to see themselves!! Take pics of their OHV tag and or license plate number. Send em to the FS.
We really need some signs at both the rock garden and the lake. The FS can screw off with their sign protocol; I say we take matters into our own hands (because we know the FS is sitting on theirs). We need something at the 'garden that says something like:
In Aug 2002 (or whenever it was) a group of 4x4 enthusiasts closed this illegally created bypass around the rock garden area by planting trees and dragging logs across it. Please let the trees grow and stay on the main trail! Do not go off the main trail; when you do you accelerate the possibility of closing the entire area to all of us. If the trail is too difficult for you without creating "go arounds" then go somewhere else!
Ok that is way too wordy but you get the picture.
I had an experience in the San Rafael Swell a couple years ago; I flew of the handle and started yelling at guys on bikes and ATV's that were doing donuts any-damn-where they pleased. It doesn't really work.
EZ's guide to trail confrontation:
1) take pics first; catch them in the act.
2) tell em what they are doing is wrong and they are jeopardizing the entire area to all of us.
3) tell em they have two choices: join US-ALL, UTMA, or U4WDA (carry new member packet with you) OR you will turn the photos in to the FS, and they WILL get a ticket.
EDit:
Let's make some magnetic "Trail Patrol USFS" signs and screen some "trail Patrol" T shirts.
EZ
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Seriously though..many people arent going to change their behavior unless they are scared that they will have to personally suffer financial and or property loss concequences. Many people have the 'as long as your not caught, its legal' attitude up in AF canyon, we need to find a way to put the 'fear of eco-nazi's' into these people. I like the idea of taking pictures and scaring them into thinking that they could have their 4x4/atv confinscated/impounded if the pictures are presented to the FS. In reality from what I understand (my buddy is an officer of the law) they really cant do crap with photos as far as prosecution goes because they cant verify the driver most of the time. All they can really do is try to increase patrols of the area. BUT! your average person may not know this and may serioulsy feel like they could get into trouble by a picture....Keep a digital camera or a poloroid with you so you can confront these guys on the trail and show them that you caught them and will turn them in. I personally know the person that was(up until this past year) the head lobbiest for SUWA..you wouldnt belive how full of hatred these eco-nazi's are towards us. We need to do something now, on the trail, to stop them from gaining any more evidence against us that they can use in court...its nice to joind the u4wd assoc or other offroad groups, but that doesnt do any good if you have some eco-nazi up there taking pictures of these idiots violating the law. We need to have somethign like an RME educational run. Go up to AF canyon and other popular places to violate and do a group run/bbq whatever, and leave people at the commonly violated areas(rock garden, forest lake) to educate those in violation..maybe give out some printed material...Point is, we need to be up there in numbers. its one thing when you are by yourself trying to talk to a group of people and they are looking at you like they are gonig to kick your ass if you say another word, and quite another if you have a group of 4x4 enthusiast with you to back you up and help enforce the rules...sorry for the long rambling post, but after this weekend, i'm REALLY starting to get pissed off at the abuse of our trails (I never knew it was so bad until this weekend) and am quite honestly scared of the possible consiquences if it continues.
