Jeep-Trails Forums: Jeep-Trails News

A friend from another website invited me to Moab March 15-19! I think I'm going to go! The Jeep is in great condition and I'm dying to get there! Camping is arrainged, days off are approved..... ready to go!

Come on out to the Desert Safari this weekend March 5-7. Over 100k in raffle prizes and 100 or so vendors this year!! We'll be there hanging out with the Poison Spyder crew. Stop by and say hi! http://www.tds4x4.com

SUCCESS! Update From ATVAM - MN Governor Dipping Into Dedicated Funds

Your help does make a difference!

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Just a quick update from the ATV Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) to the news this morning regarding the Minnesota Governor's proposal to take money from the ATV, Snowmobile and Boating account to try and balance the state budget.




ATVAM
March 1, 2010

The 2010 Minnesota Legislative Session is off to a fast and furious start. As the legislature decides how to reconcile their differences with the Governor and close a $1.2 billion deficit most would think that OHV users would be an afterthought, but that has been far from the case.

The Governor released his supplemental budget and as you may have seen in the ATVAM email alert that was sent out it included using $407,000 from the ATV dedicated fund to be transferred to the general fund to fill the budget gap. This would be a precedent that would put our dedicated funds at risk now, and in the future of being used for things that did not advance the sport.

Through the publics actions it was soon discovered by DNR that the money being used from the ATV and Snowmobiles accounts were not meant to be in the final version of the Governors supplemental budget and they were quickly removed. This means that Minnesota OHV funds, for the time being are safe.

...so, dont be afraid to speak up! Here is a real case of public awareness that stopped a Governor from looting funds to fill his bank back up!

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Tonto National Forest

Plans for trails used by off-highway vehicles will be available for review and comment beginning Friday through April 12.

The document being reviewed is the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Tahoe National Forest Travel Management Plan. The statement builds on and updates the previous drafts released for public comment in 2008.

Three open houses will be held next week to explain changes and how they affect the route alternatives.

The Forest Service has been working on this travel management project since 2003. The goal is to protect forest resources while providing a challenging and diverse road and motorized trail system for access to the National Forest and a variety of recreation opportunities.

The impact statement will address the prohibition of cross country travel off designated roads, trails and open areas; the addition of unauthorized motorized routes to the National Forest Transportation System; the establishment of motorized "Open Areas;" changes to the system of roads and trails; changes to the class of vehicle allowed on NFTS roads and/or trails; seasons of use to minimize wet weather erosion and water quality concerns; and the reopening of Maintenance Level 1 roads (those that had been closed) for public use.

These open houses will be drop-in style meetings, with the opportunity to view displays and maps and talk to members of the interdisciplinary team.

Open houses are scheduled from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 2 at the Sierraville Ranger Station, Sierraville, in the conference room; March 4 at the Ridge Golf Club, 2020 Golf Course Road, Auburn; and March 10 at Tahoe National Forest Headquarters, 631 Coyote St, Nevada City — use upper parking lot.

Public comments need to be postmarked by April 12. Comments can be sent to the Tahoe National Forest, Travel Management Team, 631 Coyote St., Nevada City, CA 95959 or via e-mail to: tnf_rte_desig@fs.fed.us. The full DEIS is at www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe.

For more information, call the Forest Headquarters (530) 265-4531.

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Coronado National Forest Plan Revision Meetings Announced

Attention Arizona Recreationists!

The Coronado National Forest, located in southeast Arizona, is revising their Land and Resource Management Plan. The Forest Service (FS) is asking the public to review the initial "working draft" of this Revised Forest Plan at a series of open houses to be held in communities surrounding the Forest during the month of March 2010. Forest staff and resource specialists will be present to discuss the draft, receive your ideas and respond to your questions.

The open house meetings will include an overview of the draft document through a short presentation describing the various plan components. They will also share the timeline for completing the revision process and tell you how to stay involved.

The presentation will be repeated once each hour to allow you to attend at the time most convenient to you. In between presentations, you are invited to interact one-on-one with the various revision team members and other Forest employees.

The working document includes draft management direction in the form of desired conditions, objectives, guidelines, standards, and suitable uses. You will also see reports that assess areas for potential Wilderness designation.


MEETING DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Santa Catalina Ranger District
Udall Regional Center
7200 E. Tanque Verde Road
Tucson, AZ 85715
Focus Areas - Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains

Thursday, March 4, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Nogales Ranger District
Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico, Sonoran South Ballroom
1069 Camino Caralampi
Rio Rico, AZ 85648
Focus Areas - Santa Rita and Tumacacori Mountains

Thursday, March 11, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Sierra Vista Ranger District
Windemere Hotel & Conference Center
2047 South Highway 92
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Focus Areas - Huachuca and Whetstone Mountains

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Douglas Ranger District
Douglas Visitor Center
345 16th Street
Douglas, AZ 85607
Focus Areas - Chiricahua, Peloncillo and Dragoon Mountains

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm**
Rodeo Community Center
Highway 80 and Hickory Street
Rodeo, NM 88056

Thursday, March 18, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Safford Ranger District
Graham County General Services Bldg
921 W. Thatcher Blvd.
Safford, AZ 85546
Focus Areas - Pinaleno, Galiuro, Santa Teresa & Winchester Mts.

** Rodeo, NM time is one hour later than Arizona's MST due to Daylight Savings Time

If you have any questions about the upcoming meetings or the plan revision process, please contact Jennifer Ruyle, Forest Planner, by phone at (520)388-8351 or by e-mail at jruyle@fs.fed.us. You can also check their website for more background information: http://www.fs.fed.us...ion/index.shtml


Thanks in advance for your involvement

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Help Stop the Continued Closure of Clear Creek Management Area


In just Two Minutes you can help stop the continued closure of a California recreational area which is

vital for recreation. Please ACT NOW there only a few days left to get your comments in by the 3/5/10

deadline

The Clear Creek Management Area has been closed by the BLM as a result of an EPA report. This report

does not take into account all of the facts and the end result could mean that Clear Creek Management

Area will be closed for public use forever.

Please ACT NOW comments are due before 3/5/2010 Click below & create your letter to Clear Creek

Management Area using predrafted or your comments in just Two Minutes.

You may have submitted a letter previously requesting an extension, which is different from the

important comment you need to send now.

Please share this email with your lists and post it on blogs


This campaign is supported by Friends of Clear Creek Management Area, AMA District 36, AMA National,

California Off Road Vehicle Association (CORVA), Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club, Stewards of the

Sierra National Forest, Timekeepers Motorcycle Club and Save The Trails


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Fr-42 from Bartlett Lake to Horseshoe Dam may be re-opend soon, and your letters to the USFS could make a difference in their decission. Currently FR42 is being reviewed to be re-opened. The AZOHVC is working to prepare a grant that would allow for trail maintenance for FR42 and everything towards the lake. It is looking really good, but this is where everyone who loves FR42 can make a difference. Contact: Tammy Pike, Tonto National Forest Service @ the following e-mail: mailto:tpike@fs.fed.us

Below is a copy of my letter. Please be sure to take the time to write your own letter, as they tend to round file letters that are all copied from one source!

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I also plan on contacting the AZOHVC to attempt to line them up with a grant to fund maintenance of the area.

I'm sure anyone that frequents the site notices the brand new look! New software became available, so we had to get it! With the way hackers have written their scripts to distribute SPAM I wanted the very best protection from their JUNK!

There will be lots of new content, new areas of discussion, and all new trails posted up soon! Sponsors can now place ads into places in the boards. Groups like the BRC will get links on content pages....not just the home page!



By the way, If anyone here is looking to put up a site of their own.... for any type of group


See the people at Invision Power Board to get the most amaizing service and tech support!

Friends of the Rubicon

Contact: Jacquelyne "Bebe" Theisen
Telephone: 530-888-8302
E-mail: bebehumr@gmail.com
Auburn, CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RUBICON TRAIL USERS OPPOSE PLAN

Friends of the Rubicon fighting for Little Sluice and trail bypasses

January 20, 2010; Placerville, CA. Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) asks for user support to change the future of the Rubicon Trail in El Dorado County. El Dorado County Department of Transportation (DOT) will present staff recommendations at a public meeting, January 26th, at 2pm in the County Board of Supervisors Board room. DOT Staff has published a recommended Route Recognition plan so that the Rubicon Trail in El Dorado County is defined as ordered by the California Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board's Clean up and Abatement Order issued to El Dorado County and the Eldorado National Forest Service last spring.

Friends of the Rubicon is appreciative of the involvement of the Department of Transportation in working with all interested stakeholders to come up with a framework for the future maintenance of the trail - which FOTR looks forward to assisting the County in its implementation. However County staff recommendations do not reflect our user-groups priorities, consensus or recommendations.

FOTR will present a 10 minute counter-presentation to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on behalf of motorized Rubicon Trail users and the volunteers that work tirelessly to maintain the health of the Rubicon Trail. The presentation will focus on keeping the trail open, alive and well for all users.

Del Albright, Ambassador, Blue Ribbon Coalition and founding Trail Boss of Friends of the Rubicon said, “El Dorado County staff have been essential in developing a long-term plan for the health of the Rubicon Trail, but this current recommendation flies side-ways in a couple key issues critical to responsible users of the trail. FOTR has the right recommendations and we will be advocating to the Board of Supervisors to support FOTR’s approach.”

Of the three alternatives presented to the Board of Supervisors by the Department of Transportation, Friends of the Rubicon supports a modified Option 3 that includes all of the Recommended Variants and a maintenance corridor at Little Sluice and Buck Island. This should preserve all existing variant routes within the corridors currently on the Not Recommended list.

“After years of work and several public meetings, we still find ourselves in partial, yet significant disagreement with County staff,” says Jacquelyne Theisen, Trail Boss, FOTR. “At this meeting we plan to show, once again, how the responsible users of the Rubicon Trail know what’s best for an overall trail management plan, and are willing to make it happen on the ground,” she adds.

Friends of the Rubicon will ask the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors to add the following Variants Not Recommended to Option 3 so that they are included in the Long Term Management plan currently being developed:

Map location © the USFS portion(s) (14N34B). This area is a historical ingress and egress to the Rubicon Trail, and highly valuable for the following reasons; It provides easy access for the extrication of broken or damaged vehicles, or those bringing in parts to repair a vehicle, or for expedited egress for an injured recreationist, or in the event of a wildfire, expedient access to two lakes for human safety. It does have very minor erosion issues that are very easily remedied.

Map location (D) a short section of trail east of Ellis Creek. This area is being requested for the following reasons; It is a section of the original trail, and provides a optional route of increased difficulty, which is a integral part of the Rubicon experience.

Map location (E) the obstacle known as Soup Bowl is a newer area of the trail, that provides a play area. The impression that the trail is constantly blocked and creates a safety hazard is an exaggeration. We are asking that it remains open and that some type of natural barrier be installed to prevent further vegetation loss and that regular maintenance plan be developed to prevent sediment loss.

Friends of the Rubicon is dedicated to working with El Dorado County DOT and the Eldorado National Forest Service to continue to provide the many hours of volunteer labor needed to maintain the health of the Rubicon Trail and to provide a unified voice to motorized users of the world’s most famous trail, the Rubicon.

If you would like to assist FOTR, participate at a FOTR work party or educational outreach efforts at one of our Kiosk information centers, please sign up here at: http://www.rubiconfriends.com .

The meeting on January 26th is located at:
El Dorado County
330 Fair Lane, bldg A

Placerville, CA 96667

Plans started today for a trip to the Rubicon Trail in June. I put in for the time off work and made plans to meet up with someone who has run it several times. We've set the dates of June 22nd to June 30th. Plans to camp in Georgetown the night before we start. The 12 hour drive is going to be the hard part!