Charles Booth/Slade Clean Up 6/20 & 21
 

On June 27th, Charles Booth will be showing the forestry service around his property and the Slade area. Both sides will be discussing the issues/risks associated with the trails we currently ride.

In an effort to help the cause, Trail Keepers will host an area clean up on June 20th, 2009. Volunteers should meet at the Zoe Volunteer Fire house by 8am. We ask that you bring your own lunch as well as any tools to help in the clean up. Food and drinks will be provided at the fire house at the end of the day.

To reward your efforts there will be a trailride the following day (Sunday, June 21st,). Again riders should meet at the Zoe Volunteer Fire Department at 8am. Both stock and modified vehicles are welcomed to attend and will be split into appropriate groups. Trail guides will make sure you have fun.

If you're interested, let me know and I can get you in touch with the right parties.

so there is no charge for this event, right? gabby

Are they looking to take trail riding out of that area?

Correct. Asking for volunteers to help with the clean up to put our best foot forward.

Unfortunately not a yes/no answer. Alot/Most of the trails in the system we ride there are on Forest Service land. So if they're not classified as a road/trail on their official motor vehicle use map, they're technically not legal to ride. We are working with the FS to properly classify these trails to get them on their official map. Unfortunately some are believed to be impacting the natural resources in the area, so we are examining those areas specificially to determine how to preserve those but allow us a trail system. The ride with the FS people the weekend of the 27th is to specificall review perceived problem areas. Based on that, a plan takes place on trails to keep, change slightly, move, or eliminate. At this time, we don't know what will happen. But the FS is taking their time to meet with us and help us keep trails open. Time will tell.

Yikes! A group of us were heading there on July 4th weekend, looks like we better change our plans.

Is this open to anybody willing to lend a hand?

Been down to Slade last to weekends and last weekend somebody burnt a toyota Taco in Stump cave!! People like this gonna ruin it for us!

Yes anyone is welcome to go and lend a hand. I'm going down there. If I can't get a passenger seat with someone, I'll see what else I can do to help.

They've known we've been using them (and are using them) for a minimum of a couple of years (based on when they mapped the trails). So my opinion is that it depends on the Ranger that does/doesn't decide to stop you for whatever reason. I've heard people go and have no issues; heard of a few that got stopped. It's beautiful country and great trails (which is why I think it's worth fighting for). Would I tell you to change plans because of all this? Well, I'm going down next weekend for a run. :)

The caves down there are a point of angst for a group in total anyway, so anything that happens in them or even around them and traced back to us; isn't good for any part of our sport. Not just in regards to Nat Bridge but lending to the sterotype that wheelers don't care about the land. So instances like that make it more difficult for us to prove that we do.

I'll be looking for a report from ya when you get back, hopefully a good one. Hope you have a good time.

Looks like I'm not gonna be able to attend this.

If anyone is interested in attending, contact rmanns@lexmark.com