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Off Roading Stuff
Welcome to the Off Roading Section of the Jeep Stuff Website. Here you'll find some tips for treading lightly and also some news updates at to what is going on with the Alberta United Recreationists Society, sensitive environmental issues and proposed trail restrictions for the Eastern Slopes. TREADING LIGHTLY Remember to always recreate responsibly when using the back-country. The use of this land is a privilege not a right!  Take this very seriously, if you do not want to lose what little precious land we all have available. Land closure is closer to reality than you think. If things keep going on as they are, four wheeling will be a thing of the past. For those of you who are new to the sport, those of you that are interested in going 4 wheeling or seasoned wheelers that need a little reminder here are a few tips and tricks to help you be a responsible user....  1. Be courteous to fellow off roaders and recreationists.2. Leave lands and vegetation as they were found. 3. Preserve the environment by keeping to established roads and trails. Do not scar the land. 4. Always respect the rights and property of all other user groups. 5. Conduct all trips and outings in a safe manner respecting fellow users. 6. Accept responsibility for keeping the backcountry beautiful; if you pack it in pack it out; check for the leavings of others less concerned than you. 7. Stop vandalism: restore or repair damaged trails.  8. Camp, hunt, fish, recreate and travel only on open lands and designated trails. If in doubt ask land management agencies or local residents; if still in doubt keep out.9. Get involved with a club or organization of some kind. It's a great way to meet an enormous amount of great people with the same interests as you. It's also a great way to learn new skills, refine the skills you already have and also find new trails out there you never had a clue existed. 10. Wheel on trails that are within your scope of ability, or at least somewhat close to it. If you are going on a trail that is new to you, ask around first. The reason for this is to ensure you do not tear up a trail that is too difficult for you. If you find yourself unable to make an obstacle, winch it or get pulled over it. Whatever you do, DO NOT make yourself a bypass around it. Bypasses can become more over used than the actual trail because following wheelers see the new option to go around, figure "well, the bypass is already there, must be part of the trail" and further erode the terrain. These bypasses are causing additional erosion which may lead to closure of the trail. 11. Bring a buddy. Anything can happen out there and its best to have at least two rigs on trail. Be sure to also bring lots of food as we all get to experience spending a night in the bush. Bring warm dry clothes, first aid kit, and expect the unexpected as eventually it happens to the best of us.  And finally just use common sense. Happy trails everyone, if you would like more information on recreating responsibly visit the AURS website or theTread Lightly website! ADOPT A TRAILS PROPOSAL  *****UPDATE March 21, 2002***** We have been told that we do NOT have the go ahead to head up an Adopt-A-Trails Program. Sustainable Resources advised that until the Management Strategy is in place for the Ghost (estimated January 2003) a program like this will not be started. Some of their concerns were, what happens to a trail that may have been adopted this year and will not be accessible to OHV's after the plan is in place and who will be liable for injuries during maintenance or use. They said that Adopt-A-Trail MAY play a part in the Ghost Access Plan and if so they will consider our suggestions and ideas when the time comes. For now we have some ideas on the table that we will submit to them shortly and they are as follows. Stewardship: Groups using stewardship rather than cash donations to maintain a trail. Eventually this could lead to cash donations once the nitty gritty is worked out for liabiltiy etc. Commitment: Knowing for sure that people are seriously interested in adopting a trail. In order to do this we would request that the group inventory the trail they want to adopt. First they need to advise me of what trail they want in case someone else is interested. Upon approval that no-one else is wanting the trail they would need to submit a map with the trail highlighted on it along with pictures of the trail head, and other obstacles or view points. Then some written details of how long the trail is (kms), what direction it heads, difficultly, river crossings, some topographical info using a GPS, maybe difficulty levels depending on seasons - if a group chooses a trail you can be sure they have traveled it lots as its a favorite so they will know these things. Pretty much anything that can be documented on a trail would be useful. Then idea submission of what they would like to see done to the trail if anything. No comittment: What if people adopt a trail and do nothing. Hopefully we have weeded most of them out with the above leg work. Can you force a commitment? Are we going to police the trails and tell people they aren't doing what is required of them? We will need to have a mandate for people to follow as to what is required of them. We would probably have to have a time frame too, adopt a trail for 1 year and then renew adoption or apply for a different trail for some variety. Maintenance: How should people care for the trails as are there are so many different users and an obstacle for a quad user may be nothing to a larger truck, where do we draw the line on maintenance? How do they go about fixing a section of their trail? Apply for monies if required, permits and permission from LFS and AURS? What can they do day to day besides submitting concerns? Will water diversion, garbage pick up and some hole filling in with shovels be acceptable? Liability: What happens if a trail is adopted a group and someone traveling that trail rolls on it and dies. Who will be liable? Will that group be named in the suit. We are still collecting ideas and suggestions please forward them to us and we will look at including them in our submission. Below is an outline of the Proposed Measures of the Big Horn Access Management Plan discussed at the Rocky Mountain House Bighorn Advisory Group Open House March 14, 2002. PROPOSED MEASURES a. Enforceable regulations controlling recreational access throughout b. User fee (or environmental fee that ALL users pay) c. Adoption approach for trails and campgrounds d. Voluntary permit (specific permit ie. OHV use) e. Multi use of the Prime Protection Zone (unless noted) - the snowmobile groups noted that on the maps there were a lot of "otherwise noted" areas as there was a decrease of 60% of their trails. f. Pilot program to monitor effects in access management. This was explained that if we get to keep some of our trails and abuse them they will have the right to take them away. g. Area closures - temporarily or permanent if damage is unacceptable (here's that damage word and from what was relayed yesterday damage is ruts. The impression given was that people want off-roading to be portrayed a hardened trail for family's to cruise the back country and see the scenery and have a clean back country experience. They said if you want to rip through a mud hole and fling dirt do it at a mud competition or someone's private property as its not acceptable in the back country) h. Protect environment - restrict back country camping i. Season recovery j. Appropriate waste disposal k. Closure for critical wildlife times l. Minimize recreation on sites and trails that are heavily used by ungulates m. restrict random camping to 14 day stays. Overall the meeting was quite good with 90 percent of people in attendance encouraging mutli use for the back country. Sadly there were some trails lost but this open house was held so users can see the maps and fight for the trails they need, hopefully their input impacts the Management plan. *****Update March 21, 2002***** Sustainable Resources has decided to have open house forums for the Ghost area too - these will be coming fast so try and attend to let your voice be heard and unite with fellow off-roaders to not allow trail restrictions or closures. Check the AURS site for details of the when and where of these meetings, online updates and Web forums will be a means to get the word out as well. ACTION ALERT Environmentalists, non-motorized interest and some commercial operators are continuing their pressure to have the Bighorn Recreation Area closed to OHV's. We must not allow this to happen. We as motorized recreationists must continue our letter writing campagne. Get your children to write, get Grandma and Grandpa to write. If you have written already...write again! * Tell them that the Alberta Wilderness Association's reference to support and success is not representative to what actually happened at their open houses. Your name on their sign in sheet does not indicate support for the AWA position. (Click on www.albertawilderness.ca view the results of the AWA open houses) * Tell them ALL trails must be designated multi-use and through a process of inventory and engineering, designate the trail's use and timing. * Tell them, we as motorized recreationists value wilderness and will cooperate with any group that is willing to improve relationships and trail conditions. * Tell them Alberta must remain open for tourism and the closure of this area will have far reaching consequences. Go to www.bighorn.gov.ab.ca to view plans, submissions and public involvement process. Down load the questionnaires and submit them by March 19. Your voice must be heard. This isn't over; it's time to act again! Write to Premier Ralph Klein Premier Ralph Klein 307 Alberta Leg. Building, 10800-97 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B7 Calgary.Elbow@assembly.ab.ca AND C.C. THIS LETTER TO: The Honorable Mike Cardinal, Minister, AB Sustainable Resources & Development Alberta Leg. Building, 420, 10800 97 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 donna.ballard@gov.ab.ca Mrs. Debby Carlson, Liberal MLA #201 Legislature Annex 9718 107 St. Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1E4 Edmonton.Ellerslie@assembly.ab.ca Dr. Lorne Taylor Minister, Alberta Environment Box 878 1870B 6 Ave., SW Medicine Hat, AB T1A 7G8 cypress.medicinehat@assembly.ab.ca Hon. Ty Lund Minister, AB Infrastructure 5115 50 St., SE Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1A9 rocky.mountainhouse@assembly.ab.ca Dr. Raj Pannu, #501 Legislature Annex 9718 107 St. Edmonton, AB T5K 1E4 Edmonton.Strathcona@assembly.ab.ca Hon Gene Zwozdesky, Minister, AB Community Development Room 204, Legislature Building 10800-97 Ave. Edmonton, AB T5K 2B7 edmonton.millcreek@assembly.ab.ca Hon Mark Norris, Minister, AB Economic Development & Tourism Alberta Leg Building, Rm 103 10800-97 Ave Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B7 Edmonton.McClung@assembly.ab.ca More information on The AURS Website  GOVERNMENT/ENVIRONMENT CONTACTS Alberta Government Contacts Alberta United Recreationists Society, a parntership for our future. Multiple users uniting together to preserve our trail systems AURS Shifing Gears. An Alberta Environment program to promote responsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) use and random camping in the Ghost River-Waiparous Creek area northwest of Calgary and elsewhere along the Eastern Slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains and foothills. Alberta Environment, in partnership with the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association, is literally Shifting Gears and stepping up enforcement and educational efforts to ensure that the few irresponsible users do not ruin these areas for the many Shifting Gears Website Alberta Forest Services Website with fire, weather, and wildlife information Forest Services    |
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