NE area wheeling trip plans

Yeah, it was. Lone Taco ftw!

 

Looks like you had a good time. This is where i was trying to go last time we went up where you have to cut theough because they had the gate up! Ut for the life of me I couldnt remeber where it was

 

I remembered when we were out there that the time prior to the "sliding sucking snow pit" we turned north at that spot and traveled up the line and then came to the gate on our left and continued until we came to the pass. We might be well served coming with a couple chainsaws and taking a couple small saplings and such down at that pit to make room to go around the sinking run off. The trail is essentially un-passable and that's actually somewhat the utility's fault by clear cutting across the trail (that's been on maps for at least 100 years) and not providing reinforcement to that ledge or a properly engineered run-off. The effect is that then vehicles need to travel on the line. This area isn't in the DEM GW management area and is just open state land, so it's kind of just left to "whatever".


We were also lucky that several of the gated trails were open yesterday. If we had more time we would have taken a third, but as it was the two we hit were fun and interesting.


The dumping is AWFUL! I'd really like to organize a few heavy commercial trucks to join a crew of 20+ people and clean up the place. But we'd really need to capitalize on the PR of it to let RI DEM/Parks (& the press) know we're doing it and working for preserving a great multi-use place. Somewhat like the RI Mountain Bikers do with Arcadia. We'd have to find a commercial trucking interest who's willing to volunteer some trucks that could handle the ruts of the and some of the hills, but where most of the large dumped trash is I think they could get to. Beyond that, it might be stuff we could get. Finally we'd need to coordinate with the state waste management to take the junk without a fee. (Or charge DEM). It's a thought, but a colossal logistical task. May even be worth forming a "Rhode Island Off-Roading Environmental Protection Association" to have some official PR outlet to show our concern and commitment to responsible use of the land.

 

Thats a great idea. @mach1man001 mentioned something like this a while back. If some one organizes it then ill be in. Im sure if its planned out way in advanced we can get a big turn out and people can request the day off because it absolutley needs a clean up.

 

Any more pics from the run??

 

Did you see this gallery?

https://www.meetup.com/Southern-New-England-Wranglers/photos/27667525/

 

I did not. Totally forgot you invited me to that haha sorry

 

I'm in, and I'm sure I could gather up a truckload of able bodied individuals to help!

 

Good new. I spoke with DEM at GWMA and they actually do an annual clean-up in the spring with their staff and then all warm season clean ups. So most of what we saw will be removed... That isn't years of dumping - that's 4 months of dumping we saw! Next ride (and every one) we should take along contractor bags and grab what little stuff we see anyway. He also said those inner gates that were open are now open for the season. (Though I didn't ask about mud conditions as I didn't want to give him any ideas one way or the other.) It looks like they're quite content allowing respectful use by registered off road vehicles. If we do routine clean-ups we should get in the habit of taking pictures of the trash gathered etc. One day we may need the "proof" should someone in "government" decide off-roading is causing the problem.

In other news, I must make a repair from this weekend's jaunt. Steering stabilizer meets rock in mud puddle. Rock wins. At least I have an excuse to relocate the new one above the rod now.

 

@USMCMike Could you get a date from them and share with us so we can join? I think that would be MAJOR brownie points for us....

Plus its beautiful up there in the summer time with everything grown and birds chirping and then looking to your right and hopefully not seeing a camper toilet and a sink....

 

It's kind of funny. I offered quite a bit of labor, effort to get large commercial trucks, etc. And he seemed to indicate they had it all covered by their staff. My guess is it may be a bit about state work/job security. I reiterated our willingness to help and he didn't bite. Maybe there is an issue, or they want to keep it low profile to not attract more dumping or worse, get politicians to shut it down. I think we plan something in a few weeks before the poison ivy starts to grow in, and go out there and grab little stuff and fill bags. Take pics, etc.

Also the sand pit area is off the GW management area so we can clean that up perhaps. Perhaps we should also look at rehabilitating the right-of-way across the gas line where we were slipping in the snow. The run off from the deforested line combined with the ledge has made it pretty impassible. Maybe we can cut a path just up from it to rejoin the trail.

 

It's fine when it's not covered in snow. Doesn't really need rehab IMO

 

Maybe another way to put it is.....need a closer go-around

 

Assuming you're talking about the "ledge" at the green pipe gate just to the east of the sand pit in the gas line row,: it can be bypassed if on the road to the sand pit uphill to a trail that goes from the gas line ROW to the top of the pit. It can be bypassed from below that gate on the trail to the left of looking uphill

 

I think I saw that trail when went up. How are those trails back there above the pit? Some looked pretty rocky, others just "made of rocks".

 

The trails from the pit heading uphill are very rocky, with the one to the right being slightly harder. The trail that attaches to the gas line is fine , a few rocks here and there. If coming from the gas line it goes last the top of those 2 rock climbs and hits the road to the West of the pit , so you could just loop around that way

 

I used to go over that spot without a second thought. Last summer I was afraid of bashing my steps on the rocks in that spot.

 

It's pretty eroded now. It gets worse every major rain event.

 

OK guys and gals, I made some decisions about the New Hampshire Fall Yota Run. Its not until September, but I just wanted you guys to be aware so you can plan ahead. I will bug you guys again in July with a reminder, and I will post an official “go to ENH, become a forum member and sign-up for the run” post in August. I want to make this run an annual big get together thing with multiple runs. Here are the changes for this coming September.

1.) There will be 2 runs, one that will be easy (i.e. stock) to mild moderate difficulty and one that will be moderate to hard difficulty. The easy/mod run will be essentially a stocker run, but there will be ledges, rocks and spotting will probably be necessary. Drive carefully and you should get out without damage. The mod/hard run will be no joke – skids, sliders, possible lockers and patience will be necessary. This will give us a total of 20 trucks excluding trail leaders.

2.) All runs will be longer this year. Expect 8 hours minimum; although there will plenty of opportunities to get off the trails if you want to bail early.

3.) CBs will be mandatory.

4.) Lunch...I plan on doing an extended stop (in the woods) for lunch this year so we can hang out, talk trucks more and have ample time to make fun of Ben.

Hope to see you all there!

Sean

 

Yes! For the hard run similar trails to the Fall Crawl moderate group? I'd love to hit those again, especially since I'll have skids this time, would make VW hill a little less nerve wracking...