One for One, use a trail - write a letter

[Simple Man]

Del Albright of FOTR has a new idea. Every time you use a trail in the national forest system or BLM or wherever, write a letter to somebody about it.

Tell El Do NF you don't like the lack of management at Spader Lake. E-mail El Do County about the lack of law enforcement on the trail. E-mail your local government representative about the shortage of funds going to OHV use.

Write somebody each time you use a trail. We need to be heard. To be heard, we need to speak out!

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=380410

 

[CRASH]

Excellent idea! I owe a lot of letters, seeing as I'm on National Forest land almost every weekend!

Also, I've said it a hundred times, please don't neglect your state and federal reps. Generally, if you are in a Republican district, you can write a letter thanking them for supporting OHV use (go to your reps web page and check their position, 99% of Republicans support multiple use access, including OHV's).

If you are in a Democratic district, especially Sac, Davis or the Bay Area, please ask them to change their minds about multiple use and OHV access. Again, check their positions on the matter before writing.

Doesn't matter about your feelings on other political subjects, at least show them your support for OHV access.......

CRASH

 

[karstic]

I'm gonna have a lot of letters to write in a couple of weeks. Heading off to the eastern Sierras for 10 days of camping, fishing, exploring, etc.

 

[Jes]

Very good idea!
I've already written more letters in the past year than all other years combined but I'll try and do my part.

 

[CRASH]

Very good idea!
I've already written more letters in the past year than all other years combined but I'll try and do my part.

You've never written me a letter.......

 

[Foto4x4]

Remember to mail it after you write it...
Good idea, I'll try to live up to it.

 

[Boatwrench]

Here's the link for Senators Feinstein and Boxer
http://www.senate.gov/

Here's the link for the the House of Reprensentatives website
http://www.house.gov/

Here's the link for the BLM
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm

and for the Forest Service
http://www.fs.fed.us/


and for CA state parks
http://www.parks.ca.gov/

Hope I did that correctly
Tom

 

[WesternXJ]

Another thing to do is get a hold of the "land use forms" that Cal4Wheel provides. The forms record driving mileage to the trail head, trail use, number of vehicles, number of people per vehicle and return mileage for each vehicle. The information is given to the local governing bodies (Forest Service, National Forest) to show land use. And the information is also used by the Cal state congress and senate when deciding land use issues.
The forms are free and you don't need to be a member of Cal4Wheel to use them.

 

[JTBOSCO]

I didn't know you knew how to write Jes. I figured you had someone typing for you.

 

[lloyd]

I use Dragon Naturally Speaking myself. This way I don't have to get someone to type for me

 

[CRASH]

Here's my letter for last weekends fun. Feel free to pilfer ideas, but try and come up with most of your own language. As someone who receives lots of form letters at work, I can tell you I give them about "zero" weight in terms of affecting decision-making.

Steven T. Eubanks
Supervisor
Tahoe National Forest
631 Coyote St.
Nevada City CA 95959

8/15/05

Dear Forest Supervisor,

I am writing today to thank the management of Tahoe National Forest for their support for multiple use of forest lands. My family utilizes the forest in many different ways, from fishing in the spring, to OHV use in the summer, to hunting in the fall to cross country skiing in the winter. In an era of continued pressure to develop more restricted-access wilderness areas, my family and I would like to express our strong support for forest access to users of all ages, abilities and modes of transportation.

On another note, I would also like to express my appreciation for unmanaged, primitive camping throughout the forest. On a recent expedition, my family was able to use our Jeep to access very un-crowded and un-managed portions of the forest for a camping/fishing trip. Our campsites were primitive and undeveloped, which suited our desire for a quiet weekend away from the trappings of civilization. We believe it is very important to reserve substantial areas of the forest for primitive, dispersed camping for people who do not desire the facilities associated with formal, designated campgrounds.

As a frequent visitor of the forest who lives in close proximity to Tahoe National Forest lands, I again express my thanks for your continued support of the multiple use concept.

Sincerely,

Andrew Fecko
Foresthill, CA

 

[CRASH]

My latest letter:

Steven T. Eubanks
Supervisor
Tahoe National Forest
631 Coyote St.
Nevada City CA 95959

10/3/05

Dear Mr. Eubanks,

I write today to thank US Forest Service employees for the experiences I have enjoyed this summer in the Tahoe National Forest (TNF). My family and I used our Jeeps this particular summer to access remote areas of the forest that would not otherwise have been accessible to my pregnant wife. In years past, we have hiked extensively in the TNF in roadless areas, to our great enjoyment. This summer, we utilized old trails and logging roads to have the same sort of primitive camping experiences, without having to hike to these areas.

My appreciation for the forest management comes because of the efforts of your employees who have helped to keep roads like the Fordyce Jeep Trail open and accessible. TNF employees have been very active in working with trail user groups to improve access to Fordyce, as well as enhance the surrounding forest by maintaining the trail’s route. I hope the TNF can continue to support the public-private partnership that keeps existing trails open, and perhaps even expand the trail network to accommodate the growing number of responsible off-road enthusiasts.

I look forward to many more summers of enjoyment in the TNF, on foot and on four wheels.

Sincerely,




Andrew Fecko
Foresthill, CA

 

[basalt51]

sticky?

 

[Jes]

Done!

 

[Ed A. Stevens]

If desired (and highly recommended) add into your letters a request to be placed on the mailing list for notifications regarding any "Off Highway Vehicle" or "Transportation Management" issues. This will place you on the local Agency list for related press releases (releases like this ).

If you desire releases regarding hiking, hunting, mining, or other targeted concerns add those in as well, or call the local office (USFS Supervisors Office or BLM District Office) and ask to talk to the Public Relations Manager (they should help you isolate the issues of concern). Being on the direct mail list is important for timely information.

 

[Bryan C.]

OK, I need help finding the correct address to send a letter to regarding our recent trip to the Rubicon Trail. :dunce:

 

[CRASH]

Yo:

Eldorado National Forest
Supervisor's Office
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667

 

[Bryan C.]

Thanks Andy, here is my letter. I also would like to urge those who attended this run to send in letters too.


Eldorado National Forest
Supervisor's Office
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667

Dear Forest Supervisor,


I am writing you this letter today in regard to a recent trip to The Rubicon Trail. A few weeks ago, I helped lead a group of 9 Jeeps onto the trail, most of which were on The Rubicon trail for the very first time. When we reached the Gatekeeper section of the trail, and witnessed firsthand the effects of the blasting done late last fall, I was extremely disappointed. It appeared to me that the drainage and illegal bypass problems in the area had been left unresolved for so long that the only action left was to blast the offending rocks away.

However, I am pleased by the stepped up presence of trail patrol officers along the trail. With a sustained effort at managing the area, in a hands-on way, hopefully such drastic methods will not have to be used in the future. I support continued enforcement of existing rules to help protect the area and maintain the trail in its current state, with unrestricted access to those who are responsible enough to use and protect the land.


Cordially,

Bryan Cloward
Member .org
Sierra Chapter President
San Ramon, CA

 

[CRASH]

"Cordially", I love it!

 

[Jes]

TTT


Probably more important than ever to remember to keep doing this.