Greenhorn Clean up day - DEC 2ND 9AM

[fortysixandtwo]

Greenhorn creek is far from a challenging offroad area (compared to Fordyce and Rubicon) but it is a fun place to explore, wheel and camp, and is rich with Northern California's Gold Rush history. During the winter, it is loaded with several feet of snow offering dozens of miles of snow runs and is home to the Winter Funfest each January. Without letting a whisper get out to anyone, BLM was planning on shutting Greenhorn down. How they would manage to keep people out of an area that hosts dozens of entrances and has been a local recreational spot for decades is unclear. Bebe, from pirate4x4 has been awesome in trying to obtain as much information as possible about the coming closure.


Here is an exerpt from the post on P4x4:

Originally Posted by Bebe

BLM says Greenhorn will be closed

Well, I’m not exactly sure how they will do that, and the cost is sure to be high.

A little background:

On 9/22 if you remember, some of the local PBB members organized a small, albeit effective clean up. At the clean up we discussed whether or not this area was worth saving. It was such a mess. We collectively agreed that was, and that a little education could go a long way.

When I got to the office on Monday morning I called the Folsom BLM office, and spoke with Mr. Jeff Horn, outdoor recreation officer. At first Mr. Horn was very surprised, excited and happy to hear about the clean up, the interest in additional cleanups, and the offer to put up signage at the camping areas. Then as if someone hit him over the head, his tone completely changed, and he then informed me about the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement), that it has been completed, the comment periods were over and that the ROD (Record of Decision) would be signed very soon, and, that Greenhorn was going to be closed.

Alarmed, I contacted a few people and asked if they knew anything about it. Answer: No. I quickly looked up the FEIS on the BLM website, no references there to the closure of Greenhorn.

<i>(Bebe wrote a lengthy letter to BLM, if you would like to read it follow the links below)</i>

Essentially, after I fired off that e-mail, (6 weeks ago) I have heard nothing. I contacted him twice yesterday, and received no return phone call or e-mail.

So now it is time to bring it to the users. We need to organize, and let them know we want to keep this play area. But we have to be willing to work for it.

The majors players/decision makers I know of are, The BLM, Tahoe National Forest (very small area), Nevada County, Private Landowners, and Local users.

Some ideas for what needs to be done:

Signs at all 6 entrances, and the 3-4 major camping areas.

Pack it in* - Pack it out, Leave No Trace – Use Portable Sanitation - Stay on the Trail – No Trespassing etc.

Well-drawn maps of the area from You Bet to Buckeye Flat Rd.* (Aerials w/ road overlays would work best)

Regular clean ups

Community Outreach

Organized Events

We should also have regular meetings with all the above-mentioned authorities, preferably together at one time, preferably on site.

All of those who would like to help, even in the smallest way, let me know on this thread. We can schedule a meeting and get some more thoughts on how to save this great play area.

Thanks

Bebe

I would love to see Greenhorn open for anyone to use. It is great for wheeling, ATV use, camping, hiking, gold panning (Not going to find much but you can try anyway ) mudding and snow runs. I have been going there since I was 14 years old. The biggest problem is a lot of people leave trash, abandon cars and just dont respect the area. For this Hansen Brothers (who owns most all of greenhorn and maintains it) gets pretty pissed because they have to haul off burnt cars and garbage all the time. Our ideas are outlined above and anyone who can spare a few hours on Sunday morning would be very much appreciated in helping us show BLM and others that we can maintain Greenhorn and keep it open for everyone's enjoyment.

Thank you to anyone that can lend a hand. If you have a pickup, or trailers im sure they will see good use. Be aware that a load to the local dump will cost about $15 but it is a small price to pay to fight to keep land open for our sport.

Here are the links to the posts on pirate.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=630557

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=631000

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...=610062&page=3

[fortysixandtwo]

WHAT TO BRING:

Trucks
Trailers
Gloves
Shovels
Rakes
Trash Bags
Eye protection
Weight belts (if you have them)
Bailing wire
Duct Tape
Tarps
Tools
Recovery Equipment
GPS units
CB's /FSR's
Cameras

Please document as much as possible, we will need great photos for a presentation to the BLM, FS and LEO's!!!

DIRECTIONS:

Directions from the Red Dog side (Nevada City):

Take hwy 80 and either get off at hwy 49 in Auburn or go on up to 174 in colfax and take it to hwy 49.

Exit Sacramento St. in Nevada City, Gas up at the Chevron.

Continue down Sacramento St. (downhill) and make a right (away from downtown) at Boulder St.

Boulder becomes Red Dog just out of town.

Just keep following Red Dog till it turns to dirt.

When it intersects another dirt road, make a right turn, follow it until it until the pavement starts. Make the immediate left on Red Dog Crossroad.

Follow that for 3-4 miles and it will eventually become dirt again. Continue to go downhill until you reach the creekbed.