Upper Tellico OHV area update

[DSLTOY]

The USFS has issued it's latest rule changes:
1. As of 1 Jan. 2007 there will be no camping in the OHV area along trails 1& 5

2.There will be a winter closure of trails lower 2, 7,9 and 10 from 1 Jan.- 1 April. This is intended to be an annual closure.

3. There is one more change waiting for final signature, that will raise the Daily Use Fee's to $10/ day and annual pass to $60.
This is planned to go into effect 1 Jan.

 

[CruisinGA]

I had heard all of this was coming...

No camping along 1 & 5 is not a huge deal... IMO all those spots sucked anyway...

The winter trail closures DO suck. I don't really understand how this helps anything, seems like erosion is less when everything is frozen anyway...

Wasn't the daily use fee already $10 a day in the winter?

Thanks for the update. Was planning on a early January run, if trail 2 is closed not so sure it is worth it...

 

[DSLTOY]

The winter trail closures DO suck. I don't really understand how this helps anything, seems like erosion is less when everything is frozen anyway...

Wasn't the daily use fee already $10 a day in the winter?

..

If they stayed frozen that might be true, but they turn into muck. The trails they decided to close are the ones that dump silt directly into the river. This was a hard fought compermise, they wanted to close the whole area in the winter.

The rate increase is for the entire year, I would not be surprised if they up the winter rate.

 

[HeavyD]

I was there a couple of weeks ago and saw the new bridge being constructed across the Trail 5 river crossing. Pretty soon it will be easily driven by stock vehicles, except for maybe a couple of trails for the heavily modified, with no in- between.

 

[Clutchee]

Thanks for the update Roger!

 

[GXO]

Doh! There goes the slickrock fun next month

 

[lowtideride]

I was there a couple of weeks ago and saw the new bridge being constructed across the Trail 5 river crossing. Pretty soon it will be easily driven by stock vehicles, except for maybe a couple of trails for the heavily modified, with no in- between.

No friggin way....can anything ever be just left the way it is.

 

[SleekFJ62]

Lowtideride,
Being a significant advocate of Cruiser upgrades, you should know the answer to your own question...
I agree with you that there are too many people working to insure NOBODY has fun anymore. There always seems to be a catch somwhere along the line.

 

[ATLRoach]

Trouts Unlimited has been throwing a fit for a few years now about erosion runoff into the streams and rivers. This is a preventable measure to keep impact on the streams low by keeping vechiles out of the water. Also you can kiss Fain's Crossing water crossing good bye as well. They have already in the plan to put a bridge over it as well, they are bringing in the bids to have it completed by the end of next year.

If it keeps Upper Tellico OHV open I'm all for it.

 

[John Smith]

Thanks for the update Roger, see you in May for GSMTR!

 

[lowtideride]

I agree as well, just a moment of weakness.

I too feel badly about pollution and agree that it is a good idea, I just worry that there will be nowhere left to wheel anymore. Most of the places in my state have all been shut down.

I am contradictory of sorts, I very much love cruisers, but I also hate gross polluters. I feel badly about driving my cruiser because it is such a gas hog (15-16mpg)...but I also feel that although I am not helping the cause, I am not a major part of the problem. Other areas need to betaken care of first which have a much larger impact on our world...

In fact a feel bad enough that I am looking into rigging up my rig to run on propane around down town and on the trails to reduce emissions even further. I will also run petrol but only on long trips...

I am glad to see that the park is taking steps to keep the waters clean, but I will just hope that the park remains open for a very very long time.

 

[GXO]

This is why you see so many private runs opening.

 

[DSLTOY]

This is why you see so many private runs opening.

Even the private parks are being told to keep thr vehicles out of the streams, either close trails or put in bridges.

 

[CruisinGA]

Even the private parks are being told to keep thr vehicles out of the streams, either close trails or put in bridges.

They just need better lawyers, if the quarries and other industries can get away with what they do then the privat parks...

My dad is an environmental lawyer so I hear the EPA etc mentioned at the dinner table occasionally.


I really need to get him more into wheeling his '98 UZJ so maybe he will start caring about trail closures and stop making money to do something about it.

 

[DSLTOY]

I really need to get him more into wheeling his '98 UZJ so maybe he will start caring about trail closures and stop making money to do something about it.

That would be great we need some lawers on our side of the table.

 

[80ShtnRstrTails]

How more can we take

I also do not like to see the environment unnecessarily trashed. However have you ever driven along the river after a rain storm in Telico, every single place the river takes a bend, and the soil composition changes from boulders to sandy clay, a definative and massive amount of silt can be seen flowing into the water. More so than any of the water crossings I have ever seen over the years I have been visiting that park. Newbie to the site though it has been a life saver of info for me for years.

 

[DSLTOY]

The USFS has issued it's latest rule changes:
1. As of 1 Jan. 2007 there will be no camping in the OHV area along trails 1& 5

2.There will be a winter closure of trails lower 2, 7,9 and 10 from 1 Jan.- 1 April. This is intended to be an annual closure.

quote]

:whoops: I was partially mislead buy the Forest Service, they said the closures would be in effect 1 Jan. The posts were installed so they colud put up rails to close the trails. However the closure order is still in Atlanta and not yet signed. So trails and camping are still open.

 

[DSLTOY]

The Forest Supervisor has signed the order and the closures will be implemented as soon as they can get the signs and guard rails put up.