annual Uwharrie Rendezvous Prep thread

snappy

snappy

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Want to start a thread to get ideas to ask about/share at the meeting. What are some of the questions you would ask the Forrest service given the chance?

Here are some of mine...

Can we get more enforcement of drinking and off trail violators?Possible funding through RTP grates, donations

Long term what is the vision of our OHV trail system? Opening new trails/temp closure to rework problem areas are in my suggestion book

The work on the Daniel trail is going to great, can we bring in more work days for projects like the John Deere project and the Tread Lightly?

Lets here them, I will ask!
 
#1
The OHV community has proven over the years that they will donate sufficient funds for major projects. This year alone OHV enthusiasts, clubs and associations have invested almost $10,000 in the Uwharrie OHV system via the non-profit, Friends Of Uwharrie. This is in addition to the user fees we pay to use the trails! I feel that there is still a communication gap running from FS personnel to OHV volunteers. Given the history of the OHV community's involvement through FOU the last 3 years I feel like the FS is not taking advantage of our enthusiasm, manpower and financing to accomplish more of what they want/need done to the system! The FS says they want OHV volunteers to take ownership of the trails but anything we want to do has to have FS approval. It would seem more intuitive to have the FS determine what needs to be done and let us get to it! We have repeatedly asked for a "punch list" of items that need to be done but it has not happened. I know that FS personnel have their hands full with all of the different user groups they have to work with, most of whom do not have to pay any fee to use the forest, but given the record of the OHV community over the last three years I feel like we are definitely not being used effectively! I would like to hear FS personnel response to these thoughts.
 
JC. said:
#1
The OHV community has proven over the years that they will donate sufficient funds for major projects. This year alone OHV enthusiasts, clubs and associations have invested almost $10,000 in the Uwharrie OHV system via the non-profit, Friends Of Uwharrie. This is in addition to the user fees we pay to use the trails! I feel that there is still a communication gap running from FS personnel to OHV volunteers. Given the history of the OHV community's involvement through FOU the last 3 years I feel like the FS is not taking advantage of our enthusiasm, manpower and financing to accomplish more of what they want/need done to the system! The FS says they want OHV volunteers to take ownership of the trails but anything we want to do has to have FS approval. It would seem more intuitive to have the FS determine what needs to be done and let us get to it! We have repeatedly asked for a "punch list" of items that need to be done but it has not happened. I know that FS personnel have their hands full with all of the different user groups they have to work with, most of whom do not have to pay any fee to use the forest, but given the record of the OHV community over the last three years I feel like we are definitely not being used effectively! I would like to hear FS personnel response to these thoughts.
Click to expand...
My understanding they are doing a trail inventory the week the trails close. I am requesting a copy of this for our punch list.
 
There seems to be quite a few problems associated with people being allowed to camp whever they please on the trail system. Both with the amount of trash that is left behind, and with driving off trail to set up these camps. I think they should eliminate camping on the trails. If for some reason, they need to allow camping on the trails, maybe they could set up designated camping sites just at the areas around the trailheads where most people camp anyways. At least by keeping them at the trailheads and/or close to FS roads, their activities can be more closely monitored by officials.
 
Jason. I have brought up that exact thing at the past meetings. I mean i have a good idea of most if not everything that needs to be done out there to standard but i can guarantee i do not by any means know everything for out there that are the standards. You are correct in that we need a few of us that are certified or whatever in the standards so we can go out there and show all the clubs what the standards are.

As for the camping on the trails. That is somewhere where Tread Lightly comes into play and we teach these folks what it is. Once people know what it is they might respect it. I know not all will, but we can only do so much. Then we try to get tag numbers off the folks trashing our forest and let the FS deal with them. With pictures of tags and what they left behind it they can be held responsible. I myself do not see camping on the trails being restricted so in that regards we need to police our own in any way we can. By no means am i trying to say it will not happen and is not a big problem but the FS is low on personnel / funding.
 
n73bronco said:
There seems to be quite a few problems associated with people being allowed to camp whever they please on the trail system. Both with the amount of trash that is left behind, and with driving off trail to set up these camps. I think they should eliminate camping on the trails. If for some reason, they need to allow camping on the trails, maybe they could set up designated camping sites just at the areas around the trailheads where most people camp anyways. At least by keeping them at the trailheads and/or close to FS roads, their activities can be more closely monitored by officials.
Click to expand...

Most of the trash that I pick up at trailside camp sites comes from the ones located closest to the road. The sites at the bottom of RML north of the double parking lot stand out most strongly in my mind.
 
Not to get off track here but. The ones I have found to be the worst are the ones along the main roads like 576 /553.
 
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