Trail etiquette

GotWood

GotWood

Sayer of Fact
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Location
Maiden, NC
Spent the day at URE yesterday and I would like to say the trails look nice. Daniel has been paved, but it was for a good purpose. I was dissapointed in the trash that was already on the trail, but did try to pick up some empty beer cans. That brings me to this thread, and maybe a future sticky!!

Now lets talk a little etiquette, and not the simple things like don't throw down beer cans. I came across a couple situations that really disturbed me. Once on Dutch John hill climb, my dog and I were walking back down the hill after helping a friend, my Jeep was parked on the side of the trailso not to block the trail and a 4-wheeler went screaming by throwing rocks, sliding around me and hitting my dog. (just rolled him, no damage) When I got to the top of the hill, he had stopped and blamed my dog for being in the trail and how he wasn't expecting to see a dog in the path, and besides that he was too commited to the trail. My argument is what if it had been a kid, or another 4 wheeler?
My point is to ride with control.

Second story, Karma ending: My group was traveling Dickie Bell and came upon a group playing in the mud. One of the vehicles had broken his dorkel (PVC spray painted snorkel) and instead of moving out of the path, they stopped to remove the dorkel and strap it on another vehicles roof rack. While doing this, they had the clear path completley blocked for almost 10 min. The only shining point is one of the drivers was wearing white shorts and shirt and when he got out of the jeep he steped around the corner and slipped in the slick mud like Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinnie. He had mud from the back of his head to the back of his heels:lol:
My point is to always clear the trail. Stop and bs, take a break or just watch, but get off of the damn trail.


I encourage other overlooked trail etiquite to be posted.




P.S. If you were the guy on the 4 wheeler that hit my dog, please respond with a justified point, you didn't have any at the time.
 
I'm glad you started this thread. We were there yesterday and saw the most "off trail" abuse and alcohol usage since going to URE. One of the bushwhacking was done by a red cherokee coming down the hill from Rocky mtn and then countless atvs that were off trail all over the place. And as you said beer cans every where. With all this going on in the woods, the kicker of the day was our group being pulled on the FS road by the gutless ranger. He wrote one of our guys a delightful $300 ticket. Hope you get a raise off the offroad enthusiasts d**khead. Yea before everyone pounces on me we were technically "breaking the law" as it is written but a built buggy slowly going down a single lane back gravel road in an ORV park is hardly the same thing as operating a motor vehicle with out tags,insurance and registrationon the highway. He could certainly have shown some leinency. Never mind the helmetless atvers riding down the middle of 109 to go the Outpost. It will be a long time before any of us spend our money in that area again. Ya'll have fun
 
Jim, I really thought you were gonna grab the chin guard of that guys helmet & teach him something. I don't think he is from this area judging from his northern accent. (your such a tough guy:flipoff2:)
I agree with Gotwood, there was little courtesy from others on the trail but most of those folks were the young kids just getting into the sport & I don't think they know any better. I have broken down on the trail several times, first thing I do is get off of the trail if possible-then try to fix it. If I can't get it off the trail then the first person that comes along I ask for help to push or pull of the trail. You'll usually get help moving your rig & probably get help fixing it, possibly make a new friend in the process.

Ya, the trash Jules & I picked up a few cans also.

All in all it was a great dusty day on the trail. The kids had lots of fun.
Terry, good to see you again.
 
If a dude on a atv hit my dog there would be problems...period. Sounds like you handled it well. That is very scary thought...could have easly happed like you said...small child..BAM. Theres a story we do not need!
 
Last summer I had a friend who broke his T-case output on the rocky section before Kodak. As you know it's not easy to get out of there even when you rig is working! So anyway it took us a bit to get off the trail and ended up winching him out of the way. We finally got it done and were picking up the winch cable when some impatient prick decides to impress us with his calf strength ability to push the gas pedal and comes flying up the section right at me while I'm cleaning up gear!! WTF!? I just stood right in his way and starred at his idiocy. I wish something would have happened because it is inconsiderate actions like that which cause accidents. Oh we had dogs and kids in the area too.

Main point, I don't care how much your itchin' to wheel or want to show off the size of your ego, this sport is dangerous use your head and BE SAFE! YA MORONS!

- rant off, thanks I needed that
 
Unfortunately I think a lot of the unetiquetted won't be reading this thread or any others you will find on the web. Through my years of trail riding, I have found that the majority that have no etiquette are those who don't understand the "sport" and don't appreciate their rigs/atv's. I try hard not to generalize. Sometimes they are young, sometimes they are drinking, sometimes they are atver's - but sometimes it's the opposite of all those too.

Trail etiquette:
1) Make sure you have the minimum tools you need or someone in your group takes responsibility of that for you (when I was a newbie I hardly had anything).

2) Keep the person behind you in your rear view - this helps alert the group if a member breaks down and doesn't take forever to figure out what's going on. It also helps with passing on the trails and being more efficient for those waiting on the last rig.

3) Usually the smaller group pulls to the side to let the others pass (not always possible but best rule).

4) Respect each other - do unto them as you want them to do unto you.

5) Pull over to the side if you break (if you can). Sometimes, there is no choice in which case the person works on it as fast as they can. What some folks don't understand is that it is part of the "sport". If you don't like it, don't trail ride. That being said - get your butt over when you can :)

6) Ride responsibly. Many groups are pet friendly, family friendly - we don't need preventable injuries! Which also means wear your safety gear! It kills me to see kids unbuckled or no helmet (for ATV's). Go at a speed in which you can stop suddenly if needed. Make sure a play spot is clear before attempting it. Any steep areas should be one rig at a time (rain or shine). Slate is a slippery rock!

7) Scouts rule is carry out what you carry in! Carry a trash bag with you that you can secure (things don't bounce out). If we can't keep our areas clean (like UNF) we will lose them to OHV.

8) Keep to the trails - again, if you don't we lose our OHV parks!

Okay - I'm brain dead for any more although I know there are plenty. I will politely confront folks about etiquettes or laws. If they argue then I become forceful.
 
I was the guy who slipped in the mud, no biggie to me as honestly mud don't bother me and I was just trying to help the vehicle with the dorkel (My little brother) But yes I understand your point, although when I checked when I pulled off to the side it looked like you had plenty of room to go around, and when you made it known you didn't, we moved out of your way quickly. So I honestly think your overreacting about it, although I didn't get there until probably a few minutes after my brother, I assume he wasn't in the way too long, its not like him. Sucks about your dog and I agree that there were lots of idiots on 4 wheelers and dirtbikes, guy on a 4 wheel trying to cut my off on the trail ( I was cruising all of 5 mph) and he knicked my front tire and chose to smack my hood as if it was my fault he tried to cut around the side. As I said though, I made an effort to stay out of the way and thought you had enough room, when you made it known you didn't we moved out of the way quickly, but we were not stopped more than 3-5 minutes.

Also, I only had mud on my legs and pants and my hands, none on my head fortunately, love the exaggeration though, It was all in good fun for me and since I hadn't been to URE in 4 years it was a completely different place.

bronco slim said:
I'm glad you started this thread. We were there yesterday and saw the most "off trail" abuse and alcohol usage since going to URE. One of the bushwhacking was done by a red cherokee coming down the hill from Rocky mtn and then countless atvs that were off trail all over the place. And as you said beer cans every where. With all this going on in the woods, the kicker of the day was our group being pulled on the FS road by the gutless ranger. He wrote one of our guys a delightful $300 ticket. Hope you get a raise off the offroad enthusiasts d**khead. Yea before everyone pounces on me we were technically "breaking the law" as it is written but a built buggy slowly going down a single lane back gravel road in an ORV park is hardly the same thing as operating a motor vehicle with out tags,insurance and registrationon the highway. He could certainly have shown some leinency. Never mind the helmetless atvers riding down the middle of 109 to go the Outpost. It will be a long time before any of us spend our money in that area again. Ya'll have fun
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Saw you guys pulled over, know the feeling, I wasn't running a tag at all most of the day but after I saw the red yota get ticketed I decided to throw the tag off my old truck on the jeep, I was only on the unpaved road between trailheads and on the short run (where you got pulled) coming from dutch john parking to the trailheads. I hadn't been in years and had no idea you were required to be tagged and all on the forest service roads.
 
I've got to the point of not liking to go to Uwharrie for the first couple of months after opening. Seems every year there is a new crop of idiots that show up as soon as UNF opens in the spring. After a couple of months, word gets out that it's stupid to do some things, some tickets get written and talked about, or they just move on to something else, but to me, it seems to get better after June or so.
 
When I first got into wheeling we would go to Uwharrie, Been many many years ago, We were dumb, Had I gotten involved with NC4x4 back then I may have understood a little better, I mean we knew better to litter, But things like "trail etiquette" was unknown to us. I was pretty intimated by the guys that had been wheeling for a while. Kinda like I was in the way or causing a problem because I was on the trail and struggling. Remembering how I felt back then helps me when I get behind a couple "new" people that are having issues, Tends to make me lend a hand.
 
burrellsjeep said:
When I first got into wheeling we would go to Uwharrie, Been many many years ago, We were dumb, Had I gotten involved with NC4x4 back then I may have understood a little better, I mean we knew better to litter, But things like "trail etiquette" was unknown to us. I was pretty intimated by the guys that had been wheeling for a while. Kinda like I was in the way or causing a problem because I was on the trail and struggling. Remembering how I felt back then helps me when I get behind a couple "new" people that are having issues, Tends to make me lend a hand.
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yep kinda like going to the gym
 
I still go out of my way to help folks if possible, new or old, I haven't been doing it as long as most everyone on here, but been in or around it for 7 or so years, I don't litter around here nor on the trails, we kept a cooler with us at all times and empties went back into the cooler for later, as advised by members here we left the beer at home for the trip and brought lots of water and gatorade, made a few runs to the outpost for ice and more drinks but all in all a good trip, ended up givin Terry a jumpstart with a couple guys in a TJ, my first time meeting him and the hotdogs lived up to the hype, so did he and his wife, very cool folks and very helpful.
 
wow it amazes me that this stuff happens down here. Up in PA when you have to pay almost 60 bucks a person to ride the private parks people are alot more friendly and nice to each other. They also appreciate what they have alot more.

ehh ymmv
 
Well here's my two cents, If you sit where I do every Sat and Sun you would be amazed at the stuff I get to see! Opening weekend was pretty good entertainment.

Had a couple of new to URE come to me and they had a hole in their tire and asked if I had or knew somebody that might help. I said I'll check......and yelled out to everybody that these guys needed air and three people hollered back at the same time and almost raced to be 1st!

Then later two kids and a grandfather were lost and 1st timers off road and to URE. they got directions and one of DRaider90's new fangled maps and left happy!

Today a horse came at gallup down the road , the rider in a panic that his buddy had been thrown and had landed badly on some rocks! I yelled at a old friend (Tom Knopp and friends) and they responded and followed the rider down trail and got him loaded into a Jeep while I borrowed a cell that worked and called 911. Tom and his crew got the rider back and rescue and ambulance showed up pretty quick and transported him to a waiting hellicopter and flew him to Charlotte Hospital!
Are there any heroes here? I don't know but it all fell together pretty dam good.

There will always be idiots in any sport or hobby. But sometimes we have to realize that there is good also in people. The Rangers are doing their job and what upper management tells them to do! It is not personal that they track somebody down and is picking on a certian person. There's been so much negative stuff on here I thought it is time some of the good stuff should be known!

And to the guys who jumped off my suburban yesterday after the switch was left on with the fan blower on low for 7 hours, thanks again.

At Telico several years ago, the Rangers would set up cooler checks at the bottom of lower 2 and it was unbelievable how much beer the caught! Maybe this needs to be done at URE! Get rid of the Riff-Raff right there! And I know I just stepped on a few toes because I like a drink with a meal when I camp also. But if it gets rid of the problem i'm all for it.

Thank you, I'm off my soap box now! Your Hot Dog Guy!
 
well the alcohol could be left at camp, and not on the trails, also if they could get people for duis becuse they are still intoxicated while driving and still put people in danger, that would stop some of it. sorry if i offend anyone on here but you still put people in danger
 
central09er said:
well the alcohol could be left at camp, and not on the trails, also if they could get people for duis becuse they are still intoxicated while driving and still put people in danger, that would stop some of it. sorry if i offend anyone on here but you still put people in danger
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I agree with both of you - I teach DWI classes and do assessments for them - one is too many! I just left the obviously illegal of my list :)
 
Do the Rangers monitor any CB channels? I think it would be nice to at least have a channel to report any illegal activity. The rangers probably wont be able to respond to them all, but it would be good to have even if the perpetrators listened to the channel and know people where reporting them and they were being watched and noted.
 
Saw a guy with a girl on the back of his ATV today (they were mid-late 20's probably), neither had a helmet. I told them they better not get caught. His response was "Yea, right" (as in he knew he was supposed to have a helmet and only one person on the atv, but didn't seem to care).

I hate it when the ATV/dirtbike guys go flying past you if you are parked and then go full throttle to try and bust your eardrums with the exhaust noise, AND throw rocks everywhere...
 
Don't know about the cb monitor but it's not a bad idea. Don't know how many radios they're already listening to now. But we all agree, something needs to be done.
 
I'll nark right now.

Last year opening season I hollared to the ragers on the CB - can't rmbr what channel maybe 9 - that the same damn thing was happening.
dude and a kid on an atv no helmets.
he replied back "they're as good as got".

EOS
 
I would assume the rangers run 9 or 19... I haven't got my cb hooked up right now but it will be in by the time I go back to URE, forgot how impossibly bad cell service is up there.
 
Terry(hot dog guy) I agree this thread is a negative rant but and I too have helped an injured guy by providing splinting and riding his atv out while we carried him out. In our case of the tickets you can not compare driving down that dirt road in a buggy SLOWLY to get to another trailhead to riding down I-40 with no tag or insurance. There has to be some common sense and leneincy to how the violations are dealt with. My group has yet to bring alcohol to the park, even though it would be refreshing, out of respect for the park rules and safety of others. While we were stopped, how many drunks with coolers went by? Set up the road blocks if you think that is what is needed but give consideration to the guys who have built big time rigs to be able to drive sensibly from trailhead to trailhead without tags WITHIN the park only. If they hit 109 to go to the outpost in them, then its fair game for POPO. By the way, BEST DOGS I EVER HAD! Thanks
 
XJfreakHO said:
I was the guy who slipped in the mud...
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No problems, I was already pissed and late getting off of the trail. Hope to see you again on the trail and maybe we can pull off the trail completley and have a good laugh. If I had got you falling on camera, I would have even split the $10k I would have gotten from americas funniest videos!!
 
got one more thing to say...


The most important thing here is to pay attention.

Some jerkoff biker went right through us when we had a truck on a strap on the ledge at RML the other day. He finally stopped and surprisingly got lip with us and said " I couldn't get through - you guys stop all the time"
well Fucker that aint the point of goin through the woods.
Our lovely little hobby will kill you or someone else if you aint payin attention. I fought hard to open my mouth but JoeD and a few others gave him hell in a nice way.
If you see a traffic jam on the trail and you're on a bike or quad or truck or friggin Mt Bike (yes I saw one the other day on RML) you need to stop and figure out whats goin on before you zoom through.
Dude seriously went right over the strap before my buddy started pullin.
 
GotWood said:
No problems, I was already pissed and late getting off of the trail. Hope to see you again on the trail and maybe we can pull off the trail completley and have a good laugh. If I had got you falling on camera, I would have even split the $10k I would have gotten from americas funniest videos!!
Click to expand...
Shit, if my group had been paying attention like they were supposed to they would have got it, my camera was supposed to be rolling the whole day, never left the glovebox.
 
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