Time to wheel! Anyone?

[rblank]

We (or at least I ) look at it this way sometimes. When you're on the street and speeding, it doesn't make it legal just because you didn't get caught, or becasue you were only 10mph over. To the letter of the law it's still illegal.

Are we all super strict about things? I don't think so. But we are protective.

I'm not saying that I totally disagree with your (and our) right to use public land for our enjoyment as well. But we have to do that within the accepted framework. We don't like the framework? Fight to change it. That's what COALT and CT Trail Users is for.

Anology: If you want to play in the NFL, you have to play by their rules. You want to race in NASCAR, you have to follow their rules. However, if you don't like a rule, there are outlets to change them.

 

[Leaping Deer]

When you're on the street and speeding, it doesn't make it legal just because you didn't get caught, or becasue you were only 10mph over. To the letter of the law it's still illegal.

Good analogy Roger. I have to swing by and check out your rig some time.

 

[JohnnyC]

really good points and analogies...

the main thing to remember...even if its a legal trail....

your mistake can ruin it for everybody else...dont wheel stupid

 

[Sporin]

"Don't drive angry"

 

[rhyary]

To all,
I have land in the Adirondack (400 acres) that I am willing to let people wheel on, camp on, and have fun on, on the condition that I am there and it is organized event. if there is an interest, will need to work out the details.

 

[JohnnyC]

To all,
I have land in the Adirondack (400 acres) that I am willing to let people wheel on, camp on, and have fun on, on the condition that I am there and it is organized event. if there is an interest, will need to work out the details.

ohhhh my very cool....

anywere near Grifite, ny ?

or Speculator?

 

[rblank]

Good analogy Roger. I have to swing by and check out your rig some time.

Anytime man. 8 times out of 10, we're home on weekends, 9.5 times out of 10 we're home at night. You actually catch me working on it at some point!!

 

[rblank]

"Don't drive angry"

One of the funniest movies EVER!

 

[rblank]

To all,
I have land in the Adirondack (400 acres) that I am willing to let people wheel on, camp on, and have fun on, on the condition that I am there and it is organized event. if there is an interest, will need to work out the details.

That's AWESOME man, thanks!!

 

[landtank]

I think this thread has turned into the best reason why I need to move.

Next Wednesday me and the boy embark on a 1000 mile drive down to NC where we will be wheeling an expedition run that goes from Friday noon til Sunday noon. We will never leave the mountains and stay on the trail the entire time while camping along the way.

Wheeling bliss for this guy. getting on a large parcel of land and driving in circles doesn't do it for me and that's about all we have up here.

 

[JJS]

I think this thread has turned into the best reason why I need to move.

Next Wednesday me and the boy embark on a 1000 mile drive down to NC where we will be wheeling an expedition run that goes from Friday noon til Sunday noon. We will never leave the mountains and stay on the trail the entire time while camping along the way.

Wheeling bliss for this guy. getting on a large parcel of land and driving in circles doesn't do it for me and that's about all we have up here.

I agree with you. NC isn't bad but there's places out west with tons more wheeling than the Carolinas have ever had.

 

[hydrogeo]

I just joined Yankee Toys and am really physched to see that folks want to make sure we (and hopefully our kids) have somewhere to go to have some fun on the weekends.

As I think Spud mentioned, trail damage is a major issue we face here in the east. Not so much in the dry west. As such the old way of just following existing roads or tracks from the guy before you really don't cut it anymore. I work with regulators quite a bit and there are enough rules on the books in all the New England states to shut down most existing trails (legal or not) if someone really wants to go after them.

That said ,the good news is that trails can be designed and constructed to meet the regulatory requirements, minimize damage to the environment (erosion, water quality, etc.) and still be extremely challenging. I've worked on a few for the ATV crowd and it just takes more thought and effort than the 12-pack and a chainsaw philosophy of old. I know I'm preaching to the quire but this thread is a really great discussion of an important issue.

 

[landtank]

This weekend I traveled to Florida to visit with friends and had a chance to do some wheeling with the local club.

They have an old rock quarry they like to use and it was a lot of fun. One thing I noticed was this place became a trash dumping ground for many people. Along one trail there was a 50" big screen projection TV busted up into pieces. Another area was full trash bags and a few old tires. I was amazed at the effort put forth by these people in avoiding a dumpster.

This thread came to mind and I asked the guy I was with if this was legal wheeling. His response was that it was "gray area" wheeling. While nobody had written permission if you were responsible you were left alone but if the police saw you entering the area they would write down your tag numbers.

Later that day everyone pulled up in an area and broke out the trash bags and picked up all the lose trash and some of the larger items that could be carried out on the trucks.

It then hit me that if it wasn't for the efforts of these "renegade wheelers" the area would decline at a much faster rate and would likely be closed off.

While I understand that illegal wheeling draws attention to some of the negative aspects of the sport it also seems to be the only way to for responsible people to combat the effects of those who have no regard for the environment.

I'm not proposing anything or challenging anyone just a random thought I had while away on a trip.

 

[mtrdrms]

Great post.

 

[green40]

Wouldn't it be better rather than wheeling these "grey areas" people would organize the clean-ups first? It doesn't really do much good if
they don't know that you picked up after others.
Contact the land owners first, do the PR and promote a working relationship. Not every landowner is going to
open up, but you get the word out that these wheelers asked, they worked first, maybe didn't get to use the area in the beginning but kept coming back to show good faith.
My folks always told us "if you want something bad enough, you'll work for it."