Recently a letter was submitted to close approximately 1.4 million acres
in Utah's canyonlands. This closure would make area only accessible to
hikers and mountain bikers, closing it to ALL motorized vehicles. The
BLM's new travel plan has already closed a significant percentage of
roads and trails.
Off-road enthusiasts subscribe to the "tread
lightly" mantra. We respect the land and treat it no differently than
the average hiker or mountain biker. Sure, the occasional "rotten egg"
makes his presence known, Unfortunately this is not specific to one
recreation over another. This happens in the "human powered" arena too.
I've had to pick up trash ranging from punctured inner-tubes and energy
bar wrappers to litter filled camp sites. My point is, it happens but the
99% make up for it. We police ourselves because we know it's the
<s1% that can ruin it for all of us. Someone mentions the term
off-roader and often the image the comes to mind for the average person
is Billy Bob in his trucker cap, with a wad of chew filling his lower
lip and driving a lifted full sized Chevy pickup hootin' as he tosses
beer cans out the window. This is not who the average off-roader is.
Sorry if I have offended the Billy Bob's of the world, but that's my
intent.....cut that crap out. But the truth is, the average off-roader
is your neighbor. It's that professional that has been retired for years
but his knee no longer lets him walk for miles and miles to explore,
it's the war wounded vet that lost his leg fighting for your freedom,
it's the father with is son that can't walk due to his Multiple
Sclerosis, it's the family with children that are too young to hike the
same distances as their parents but will when they get old enough.
But I digress. Click on the link below to help keep this beautiful area open to all
outdoor enthusiasts. Write to the companies that have supported this
closure and let them know your thoughts and why this area is important
to you. Please help to keep it open to all the overland travellers, rock
crawlers, motocross and adventure riders, quads, razors, and others.
Sharing
this post isn't enough to get this job done. Share it, then make a few
phone calls, send a few emails and write a couple of letters. Tell your
family and friends about your outback adventures. Get them involved and
active. Help keep our public lands open to more than just the young and
able bodied.
Thank you.
https://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2012/11/14/another-massive-national-monument-pushed-in-utah
