URGENT!!! Everyone in WNC read.

McCracken

McCracken

Logan Can't See This
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Location
With your mom at a nice seafood dinner
This is second serious post in a month. Something's got to give...

Tomorrow, Friday 3/15 @ 4pm at the Waynesville Public Library the Forest Service is holding a meeting to anyone with interest in the Hurricane Creek trail. They are proposing temporary/seasonal closures. If anyone remembers this is what happened at Tellico. First it was "seasonal" closures then full blown shutdown. I do not know if this means that they're going to tell us what they plan to do or if they're looking for input. Regardless, I plan to give them input and lots of it. Nothing profane or idiotic but well thought out comments to address this. I know this is last minute but I'm asking everyone who likes the area, has driven the trail or plans to in the future to attend and show the Forest Service that we won't go without a fight.

I know lots of you in the past have written letters for Johnson Valley and even Tellico. If they're asking for input we need to give them input. Think of the letters and use the same type language and scenarios. Family time, teaching your kids/grandkids tread lightly and taking care of the forests, areas managed by the Forest Service need to be multi-use, moneyt generated in the local economy, etc. Don't be an ignorant hick and tell them its my "right" to sling mud. Whether you agree or not, it is a privilege they allow not a right.

Please spread the word rapidly on facebook and whatever else. I'll try and post up a link tomorrow for more info.
 
If I could I would be there but I live to far away to make it in time for the comment period. What are you planning on commenting? Post it up and maybe we can add to it to help you out! BTW Thanks for being an advocate for the OHV community!!
 
Man I wish I wasn't working or I would be there.
 
If any of you have pictures of the trail clean-ups that you have done or just good family photos of you being there send them to me. PM me and I'll shoot you an email addy. I'll be working on putting something together to hand to them. Thanks.
 
I have to work. I have never been there but several of my friends go. I would hate for it to close. From recent events it sounds like all the vandalism may be the driving factor here.

Thanks for your effort. Keep is posted. If I can get a few more days notice I can make arrangements to get to the next one.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
Wish I could make this only been to hurricane once but I had a blast. Hopefully we can get a good turn out so the only public place to go wheeling in Wnc can stay open.
 
Who all made it? I didnt read about this til now. Updates?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
Myself and 5 other members from Appalachian 4x4 made it. There were easily over 40+ landowners present. Most had family with them so we were greatly outnumbered. I'm glad we went though. We gained a lot of information about the area and how the landowners felt. Basically, they're fed up with the destruction of their property, which I can understand. The problem is the area has no marks to tell people where the property lines are run. You cannot tell the difference between National Forest, wildlife plots, the trail or private property. The Forest Service gave us some comfort in the beginning when they stated they couldn't close the road off but it's tricky. There was a flood back in the area that changed the direction of the trial. The new trail/road runs right onto private property. Many don't know that because it looks established. The woman stated she had plans to put up gates and block the current route. I personally think they'll get tore down but whatever she feels she needs to do is up to her.

It had turned into a real 4-wheel drive, big tire, mud slinging bash session for the first hour or so. They then asked what the "landowners" see the public do. I piped up and told them I was the public and what I did. I told them we do trail cleanups twice a year and remove truck loads of trash each time. We aren't asked to do it but we feel it's our responsibility because we use the resource provided. This seemed to get things on the right track. I told them the damage they're seeing is a few misinformed, uneducated people. Much like the ones that vandalized Max Patch. I went on to say a few other things about how we aren't there to destroy anything but to help and basically co-exist. After that many landowners said they are not against the public and want the road to stay open. They just don't want their private property destroyed (see a pattern yet?).

It ended at 6pm but there was plenty of conversation to be had. The reason a lot of people from the public didn't know about it was because the US Forest Service only sent letters to landowners. If it wasn't for a guy in our club that knew a landowner no one would have known (thanks Curtis!). We're not entirely sure if this is kosher but the Ranger asked if they just wanted to have a landowners meeting with public input. What the FS is trying to do is get people to sign onto a program that would allow the FS to access their property. Either through a Land Owners Association, easements or something else along those lines. Those people were country but they're not completely dumb. Nobody in their right mind is going to sign on with the FS to allow them access to their property.

One concern was that those assholes (i don't like them. you may think they're great) from RiverLink showed up talking about water quality. She said they would be interested in helping any landowner repair the damage on their property. That's not good people. This is the first step in which they weasel their way in and then start taking samples. Next thing you know, they'll be doing an Environmental Impact Survey and you can kiss Tellico... I mean Hurricane goodbye.

To sum it up, I think it was good we came. it showed we're not a bunch of backwoods hillbillies that all we want to do is destroy. We put out a good message, which is stand behind fully. I spent some time today and put together a submittal which I gave to Tina Tilley the Ranger. It was a 13 pager (double spaced... it looks better) with pictures about trail cleanups, family involvement and responsible usage. She was very appreciative of it and said she looked forward to our help on Max Patch in April. She also said she has full intention on getting the press involved with pictures and the works to get a positive message out there for people. She said she is very pro-access for four wheel drive enthusiasts such as ourselves. After that I met a few landowners that were very friendly and were definitely on our side when it came to access.

I think we have a good thing going. We just need to increase our involvement with the landowners and help them. In return, I'm sure we can get help too. If I hear anything else I'll give everyone a heads up.
 
Jody has some good pics. I hope they help. He has several of me & my lil man on one of the clean up rides we have done.
 
It would be nice if the trail was marked as to what was legal to ride on & what is not because you really can't tell.
 
That's right Nick I forgot you had some good ones of him on our club page on facebook. I do this for him. It's our father/son bonding time & I want him to be able to do it withhis kids one day as well. He loves doing the clean ups because even at his young age he knows our sport gets a bad name from people leaving trash & he wants to make sure everyone knows if you trash it you ruin it for everyone.
 
Back
Top