ToBlave
06-07-2006, 04:13 PM
I pulled the pin on the last one and was held away, hopefully this sets things straight on what I posted in the Trail Rides section.
Locals:
Love and hate... When one deems public land a private playground for personal amusement while trying to hide its existence from the general public you are going to get the business end of my ugly stick. 1 rig, 15, rigs, 100 rigs - it is public land and they have a right to be there.
Illegally wheeling on undesignated trails under the cover of darkness... I can't condone that. On the flip side, I applaud the locals for getting out there and taking the time and effort to keep infrequently used trails cleared. I know a blind eye is turned to some of the late night activity because it is more a benefit to the area than a destruction. Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, you get my meaning?
The truth of the matter is that it is the locals that deem the quality of the place. Anyone who has done trail clean-up with OCC knows that the bulk of what is pulled out of those woods is not being left behind by fellow OHVers. The trash problems on Tasker's gap that have been used as cause to close that area for most of the year is a problem with locals dumping trash.
Activism:
There are two ways to get things done: sit on your butt and throw money at it or get out there and invest sweat equity. To those of you out there doing the physical labor I salute you.
It is amazing the see the difference between our public areas here in Virginia. I saw the report that 2 tons of trash were removed from GWNF last weekend. Compare that to the Rapidan WMA tracts where the local hunters, local OHVers and outdoor enthusiasts take an active roll and trash is an infrequent sight.
Combined effort:
Currently there is a Virginia Constitutional Amendment stating a right to hunt. With a right to hunt comes a right to access to public lands. OHVing is not a Constitutional right. Hunters and OHVers have similar goals and combining efforts and legal perspectives is the best way to ensure OHV access to areas.
Locals:
Love and hate... When one deems public land a private playground for personal amusement while trying to hide its existence from the general public you are going to get the business end of my ugly stick. 1 rig, 15, rigs, 100 rigs - it is public land and they have a right to be there.
Illegally wheeling on undesignated trails under the cover of darkness... I can't condone that. On the flip side, I applaud the locals for getting out there and taking the time and effort to keep infrequently used trails cleared. I know a blind eye is turned to some of the late night activity because it is more a benefit to the area than a destruction. Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, you get my meaning?
The truth of the matter is that it is the locals that deem the quality of the place. Anyone who has done trail clean-up with OCC knows that the bulk of what is pulled out of those woods is not being left behind by fellow OHVers. The trash problems on Tasker's gap that have been used as cause to close that area for most of the year is a problem with locals dumping trash.
Activism:
There are two ways to get things done: sit on your butt and throw money at it or get out there and invest sweat equity. To those of you out there doing the physical labor I salute you.
It is amazing the see the difference between our public areas here in Virginia. I saw the report that 2 tons of trash were removed from GWNF last weekend. Compare that to the Rapidan WMA tracts where the local hunters, local OHVers and outdoor enthusiasts take an active roll and trash is an infrequent sight.
Combined effort:
Currently there is a Virginia Constitutional Amendment stating a right to hunt. With a right to hunt comes a right to access to public lands. OHVing is not a Constitutional right. Hunters and OHVers have similar goals and combining efforts and legal perspectives is the best way to ensure OHV access to areas.