- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- Location
- Greensboro, NC
Uwharrie may not have the Trout that Tellico has, but it has something that might be just as deadly to the OHV trails there: Archaeological Sites!
The Uwharrie Mountains are one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America! The Uwharries also contain rock types found only a few places in the world! These facts along with the fact that this rock type is the perfect rock for making prehistoric stone tools and that men have been using this area since prehistoric times to quarry and produce stone tools mean that the entire Uwharrie National Forest is filled with archaeological sites.
As mentioned in a few other threads about the Kodak Rock closure, there are literally hundreds of laws, acts, preservation groups, archaeological studies, state and federal regulations, etc that protect these Native American resources.
The reason for the Kodak Rock area closure is its proximity to archaeological sites. The truth is, there are known archaeological sites close to every OHV trail in the Uwharrie OHV trail system and several trails have been closed or re-routed in past years for this very reason! In my opinion, the Kodak Rock closure is the first shot to be fired in what will become a war that will either destroy or preserve the entire Uwharrie OHV trail system!
It is a known and demonstrated fact that the current federal government administration, the United States Department of Agriculture, under which the United States Forest Service operates, the USFS Region 8, Southern Region management, and the North Carolina Forest Supervisor have not only been against providing new OHV opportunities but are active proponents of OHV trail closures in our area!
We HAVE to come together as one voice, one group, one force. There is no other way! The head of the USDA or the Region 8 supervisor are not going to be phased by a letter or email from Rick Hall from Thomasville, NC. The only thing that will get their attention is a force that comes from the power of MANY voices! You have seen recently how a force such as this, the NRA, can exert power and influence in the gun control battle even at an time when the majority of U.S. citizens say they favor gun control. OHV enthusiasts MUST come together like this and provide a voice that WILL be heard!
What can you do?
Join a club! Making club rides is optional. What club membership is about is being an integral part of a group that is working for the betterment of our sport as a whole. We have a larger voice and can accomplish more when we are one! Being a member of a dues paying, USFS, SFWDA, UFWDA, BRC, Tread Lightly supporting, club is about a lot more than just the club! Come to as many or as few rides, meetings, workdays, events as you can, but be a part of a group that supports 4wd! As an example, the Carolina Trail Blazers 4wd Club Inc. dues are $50 annually. $20 of that fee goes to the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, $10 goes to the United Four Wheel Drive Association. Many of our CTB members also are members of Blue Ribbon Coalition, Tread Lightly as well as being members of other 4wd clubs.
Support 4wd Specific Associations: As mentioned above, there are several national organizations that advocate for 4wd use in our area. SFWDA, UFWDA, BRC, Tread Lightly, I4WDTA, NC4x4.com and Friends Of Uwharrie are just some of the groups that need your support. Your support and membership dollars are important both to the health and longevity of our OHV trail systems! If you are already a club member and your club does not financially support the groups that fight for 4wd access, please reconsider this decision!
Come to workdays: There is a Uwharrie Forest Service workday the third Saturday of each month. Information on what, where and when is always posted on NC4x4.com in the Uwharrie News section. The Forest Service relies on us for man hours which go toward grants and matching fund requirements that allow the OHV trail to continue to exist and for their maintenance.
Tread Lightly: When you are out on the Uwharrie OHV trails, do your part! Act responsibly in operating your rig. Don’t litter and make an effort to pack out more than you take in. Let others know how they can help in our fight to save the Uwharrie OHV trails from closing! Each one of us has a responsibility to help preserve what we enjoy for our children and grand-children. Do your part and add one other person and we will be able to enjoy the Uwharrie OHV trail system for years to come!
The Uwharrie Mountains are one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America! The Uwharries also contain rock types found only a few places in the world! These facts along with the fact that this rock type is the perfect rock for making prehistoric stone tools and that men have been using this area since prehistoric times to quarry and produce stone tools mean that the entire Uwharrie National Forest is filled with archaeological sites.
As mentioned in a few other threads about the Kodak Rock closure, there are literally hundreds of laws, acts, preservation groups, archaeological studies, state and federal regulations, etc that protect these Native American resources.
The reason for the Kodak Rock area closure is its proximity to archaeological sites. The truth is, there are known archaeological sites close to every OHV trail in the Uwharrie OHV trail system and several trails have been closed or re-routed in past years for this very reason! In my opinion, the Kodak Rock closure is the first shot to be fired in what will become a war that will either destroy or preserve the entire Uwharrie OHV trail system!
It is a known and demonstrated fact that the current federal government administration, the United States Department of Agriculture, under which the United States Forest Service operates, the USFS Region 8, Southern Region management, and the North Carolina Forest Supervisor have not only been against providing new OHV opportunities but are active proponents of OHV trail closures in our area!
We HAVE to come together as one voice, one group, one force. There is no other way! The head of the USDA or the Region 8 supervisor are not going to be phased by a letter or email from Rick Hall from Thomasville, NC. The only thing that will get their attention is a force that comes from the power of MANY voices! You have seen recently how a force such as this, the NRA, can exert power and influence in the gun control battle even at an time when the majority of U.S. citizens say they favor gun control. OHV enthusiasts MUST come together like this and provide a voice that WILL be heard!
What can you do?
Join a club! Making club rides is optional. What club membership is about is being an integral part of a group that is working for the betterment of our sport as a whole. We have a larger voice and can accomplish more when we are one! Being a member of a dues paying, USFS, SFWDA, UFWDA, BRC, Tread Lightly supporting, club is about a lot more than just the club! Come to as many or as few rides, meetings, workdays, events as you can, but be a part of a group that supports 4wd! As an example, the Carolina Trail Blazers 4wd Club Inc. dues are $50 annually. $20 of that fee goes to the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, $10 goes to the United Four Wheel Drive Association. Many of our CTB members also are members of Blue Ribbon Coalition, Tread Lightly as well as being members of other 4wd clubs.
Support 4wd Specific Associations: As mentioned above, there are several national organizations that advocate for 4wd use in our area. SFWDA, UFWDA, BRC, Tread Lightly, I4WDTA, NC4x4.com and Friends Of Uwharrie are just some of the groups that need your support. Your support and membership dollars are important both to the health and longevity of our OHV trail systems! If you are already a club member and your club does not financially support the groups that fight for 4wd access, please reconsider this decision!
Come to workdays: There is a Uwharrie Forest Service workday the third Saturday of each month. Information on what, where and when is always posted on NC4x4.com in the Uwharrie News section. The Forest Service relies on us for man hours which go toward grants and matching fund requirements that allow the OHV trail to continue to exist and for their maintenance.
Tread Lightly: When you are out on the Uwharrie OHV trails, do your part! Act responsibly in operating your rig. Don’t litter and make an effort to pack out more than you take in. Let others know how they can help in our fight to save the Uwharrie OHV trails from closing! Each one of us has a responsibility to help preserve what we enjoy for our children and grand-children. Do your part and add one other person and we will be able to enjoy the Uwharrie OHV trail system for years to come!
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