THE BATTLEGROUNDS ARE DRAWN…

Each year new Travel Management proposals land on the desks of bureaucrats. These plans may be everything we’ve ever asked for, but in all likelihood will carry plans to shut down trails we are used to. It’s not the fault of the manager, they don’t know how we use the trails. A road may look impassable to them if they don’t share our enthusiasm and taste for adventure. We are fortunate to have volunteers working on our behalf to keep trails open, but can they win alone?

- Rebecca Antle

A larger united group with members (numbers) carries more weight with the planning agencies and has the ability to work with them on local and state issues.

Organized groups give us the power to be a voice in road and trail planning, but also be a stakeholder in meetings with the local, state and federal agencies. These agencies include the BLM, Forest Service, Game & Fish/Fish & Game, State Parks and other municipal and federal agencies. When our clubs and associations are willing to volunteer their services for cleanups, signage, and trail building, it is a huge plus to help us become a good partner as many agencies continually have their budgets cut.

The best way to win is by increasing our numbers and our ability to present a united front. Not everyone wants to volunteer, not everyone has the time to volunteer. And frankly, the few of us who have the passion to continue will do it until it is just too overwhelming to continue. Then what happens?