Bad news for the upcoming wheeling season...

I got a nice, thoughtful reply back from Frank Mosbacher today.

Guys, there are 13 of you signed up on the "summer camping trip" thread and 36 of you on the "Hollister Hills" meet thread.

So I know off-road access is important to this community. There is a pitched battle going on to maintaining vs. restricting OHV access. Every voice counts.

Remember, a good letter is

• specific - exactly what issue/decision are we talking about
  
• polite - profane diatribes that are painful to read make an enemy instead of a friend - and by extension make us ALL look bad
  
• informative - tells the reader WHY off road access is important to you AND that you're a good "off road" citizen and steward for the public lands you drive through

And now, while you're thinking about it, is a good time to kick a little money in to the cause by joining a more organized group like cal4wheel.com

This is how the Sierra Club got where they are - one letter and donation at a time.

 

^ +1

 

We need a political action forum (sad to say).

Organizations like Blue Ribbon Coalition and the California Association of 4WD Clubs both have political action groups. BRC and CA4WD are fighting this, and other Forest Service 'travel management plans' as well as more.

If you're not writing letters, I would urge you to start. Figure out who your representatives are. Write them and give them your opinion on the current situation. I would urge you to write both state legislators as well as congressional representatives because they need to be equally aware of your opinions.

Most organizations have automated response letters. While not as good as a personalized letter, they're important too--modify the one you generate (if you can).
That works just as well.

What ever you do, don't sit on your ass or the lands will be gone forever.

 

Letters sent Lets hope they don't get closed forever DV is one of my favorite trails

i guess a summer Hell Hole run in happening this year

 

Article in the Mountain Democrat (Placerville) on it yesterday:

http://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/county-takes-formal-stand-against-usfs-road-closures/

 

I'm new to the off-road club but this sounds exactly what they do to us crazy gun folk. Small organizations, ie calguns, run well can make a difference and in situations like this they tend to have a bit more common sense which can help even though our gov lacks quite a bit of it.I guess it's time to figure out which org is best and donate and write some letters.

 

The problem is they're writing letters, you're writing letters .. both trying to sway political and public opinion their way. When does it stop? The pendulum just keeps swinging back and forth. Sooner or later, we all have to address the root problem. America needs to drink more.

 

I'm making a mental note of this thread. Letters will be sent when I come back from Moab.

 

So long as there are malls, I'll have a place to wheel.