[SRM360]

I was told by a friend that is an avid hunter of these trails and the land around them, that they may not be here for much longer. The forest service has changed to a different district, and the man in charge said in a meeting that his only interest in this land is the growth of the timber. They now have the funding to go in and dig up every road that is forest service road and will do so. The only roads that will remain open will be the already gravled roads. If this is true, (and I have seen for my self several roads that have recently been closed) this may be the last chance to ride this part of the country. Looks like we are loosing more goverment land as we plan this ride!

[yanni23]

What SRM says is correct. One week we (me and him) went riding our normal trails, that have been there for 100 years. This was just a couple months ago. The following week we went back and two main FS roads/trails were tanktrapped beyond repair. No grass seed and an erosion nightmare.

I looked in the Asheville Citizen Times on the following Monday and the headline was for all the stimulus money our FS just recieved. They got the money, and are immediately shutting everything down with that said money.

We have already had to change our route for this ride and I'm sure more is shut down since then.

Know your enemy. It doesn't bother me a bit to say that new trails will just have to be made. BS is BS, no matter how you slice it.

[mr_beat]

How are they destroying the trails, what is this tanktrapping?

Also how does shutting down the FS trails save timber?

[bpg]

Come on down BPG! Should be a tad more intense, and definitely more trail.

Good shiz-nizzle - sent ya a PM re: the location:banana:

[yanni23]

Tanktrapping means cutting HUGE ditches (12ft+) in trails and roads so that no vehicles may pass. You can't even walk through these things.

As for your question....it doesn't save timber....that's a fly-by-night, typical FS response to what they really want to do, when they are questioned. There is no reason. The FS wants to shut down our roads so they don't have to patrol 'em anymore.

Let's ride 'em while we can!

[svmango]

I hate the gubment.

What time do you plan to roll each morning? I might just ride over each day.

[yanni23]

There's the Mango! Let's do 9:00 am man.

[bpg]

I hate the gubment.

What time do you plan to roll each morning? I might just ride over each day.

Mango - it'll be good to see ya again! Still reveling in the riot of a ride you led for the Rendezvous :thumbsup:

[svmango]

Mango - it'll be good to see ya again! Still reveling in the riot of a ride you led for the Rendezvous :thumbsup:


You the crazy cat that chucked himself off the cliff?

[bpg]

Naw, I'm only half crazy - I stayed on the trail while the bike flew off the cliff...:p :ride:

Gotta watch for those shoulder-height branches that change yer vector, heh heh!:smirk:

[yanni23]

I hope all the freakin' trails ain't tank-trapped over by now, with all the stimulus money the FS has recently garnered. This seems to be the plan of attack with the new ranger at the helm. Shannon, get on it if ya can. Kelloggss is checkin' on things too. I'll be keeping my eyes open. If anything happens, I have several back-up plans under the seat of my bike. We will ride and you will see the best of WNC.


http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa132/appalachianaction/IMGP0316.jpg

[Metalman62]

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv322/kirkballiette/DSCN2179.jpg

They will slow you down :foul:

[SRM360]

I have not seen it but was told that the high line rd is closed, but they would not get to bear wallows this year. If that is true then we have from there down left. Maybe me and kelloggss can go after work one day and see if it is true.

[yanni23]

This is rediculous. I can't wait for the Land Rover Club to go back in and build their little bridges over the tanktraps. Couple years later and they are flat again. We'll do the best we can but we will have plenty of riding to do. It's time to go riding again, all of us.

[pookiebear]

feel for you guys. That is some of the best trail area to ride in the world. Are there any states left that don't do BS like that? How much more law do we need? It took me weeks to get my last license plate, and I had all the proper forms filled out. Just more BS so some one feels like the did something important.

Are they closing up trails like this in WV or Arizona, colorado?? Vote with your dollars, move to a state where you can still ride?

Would be cool if we could buy up 40000 acres somewhere and build some goat trails. motorcycles only. primitive campsites. A small racetrack for motards and ysr's. Plus a MX/SX track(s). And a pitbike mx track. WIFI the whole area, skype phone boxes for safety/rescue calls. Showerhouse. And a few cabins. and a snack golf cart(think huge UTV here), like the golf courses use. :busted:

[pressley10r]

where theres a will theres a way; theres usually a strip wide enough on one side or the other of the trap to ride a bike through

[yanni23]

There is a will, and there is a way. Trust me, we will be riding on these dates. And I don't mean around tanktraps. There is enough private property owners around here down with what we are doing. I've been riding 3 NF's for 13 years now. The riding we have is still there, you just have to look.

Come on down! :)

[SRM360]

where theres a will theres a way; theres usually a strip wide enough on one side or the other of the trap to ride a bike through
Yes and no, the tank traps are not alone now. They are now in groups of 50, and sometimes they drag logs and rocks from as far as the machine can reach to add to the blockade. Some you can go around, some it is more trouble then it is worth, and some times the ground on both sides of the road is so steep that you can't go above the road and if you go below you can't get back into the road. So not worth the trouble to bother with it. Most of what we planned for this ride is not yet blocked. It just means this is a one time last chance to ride it gathering now. Not a, you may make it next year. It will probably not be here this time next year so don't plan on maybe next year I will come. You will come and see a lot of nothing but tank traps and piled up logs and rocks with no porpose but to make it no fun for you to try and ride past.

[AttakGT]

So these "tank traps" I've seen some new ones in Northern lower Michigan state forest, exactly like the ones Yanni posted. No signs indicating "no vehicles" so what's the law on these? Still legal to ride the forest roads, just gotta get past the traps?

[bpg]

FWIW, I know of several folks who were busted for riding past tank traps in this general area area (by a Ranger). It can happen, and the road does not even need to be posted as "closed" to get a ticket. :banghead:

A good plan to combat this is to call & write the FS (local to national levels). Most FS folks are only interested in forestry, and the main groups tugging on their ears are typically environmentalists with an agenda to restrict practically any access. In PA, I've worked with a NFS Trails Coordinator(luckily this guy not only "got it", he rode dirt himself!) - you wouldn't believe the amount of time he spent DEFENDING existing trails and proposed revisions/expansions of the trail system to enviro. groups. Too bad there isn't a person like that in charge of access at all NF's...:worthy:

Unfortunately, most of the time, recreation is simply seen as a PITA by the NFS - they typically feel compelled to make things as easy as possible by just eliminating riding access. By doing so, it makes their jobs easier and appeases the environmental groups that flood their phones and mailboxes...:blah: So call the NFS, congressfolks; join groups that lobby for trail access like the AMA - get active! We know that groups like the Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited (who closed Tellico indefinitely), etc. are extremely organized. As such, they have excellent press people & lawyers, they get their agendas worked into civic group meetings, school curriculums, etc...

All that said, I'm finally going to pony up the $ for AMA:smirk: - anyone aware of any other groups - preferably that specifically work for motorized trail access?

[yanni23]

It's called: Maintenence through Closure (this is their words, not mine).......Definition: Lazy Asses.



I have been an AMA member forever, a member of the BlueRibbon Coalition, and live right next to Heath Shuler; NC Congressman. I have written letters. I've joined groups. Nothing works. I have sent money. Nothing works. I'm fed up and no one cares. They held many meetings about Tellico (closed now) and the AMA wasn't ever there.

I cancelled my AMA membership and I don't talk to Heath anymore. I'm not mad, I just don't give a shiite anymore. They do what they want so that's what I do. They will close all of Caney Fork before it's over, just because they can. I'm communicating with the Land Rover Club of Atlanta to see how they are gonna go about leveling all of the tanktraps. They are all for it.

Rant Over....and I'm sorry for this. These jerks just don't know when to quit.

[Boom Boom]

Our government at its finest:banghead:
What happens to access into the mountain to fight a forest fire or to rescue some greenie that got hurt out in the mountain hiking.

[pressley10r]

Our government at its finest:banghead:
What happens to access into the mountain to fight a forest fire or to rescue some greenie that got hurt out in the mountain hiking.

exactly what I was wondering, what if they need to rescue a hippie or fight a fire? they will have to bring a loader or a backhoe 10 miles into the woods to level the trap! I will continue to ride, I used to feel bad about crossing tank traps or going around gates; not so much anymore:rolleyes:

[SRM360]

Im thinking I should sell my suzuki samurai and bye a trials bike. If I get good on it I won't even need a trail. Might even like it better when there is no trail to follow. Just ride between the tree's. Then they can't block all my trail options unless they put up a fence that can't be cut.:moon: Just ride through the trees on a trials bike.:ride: sounds fun to me, theres always a bright side if you look hard enough.

[pookiebear]

Our government at its finest:banghead:
What happens to access into the mountain to fight a forest fire or to rescue some greenie that got hurt out in the mountain hiking.

Bingo!

And the trials bike with a mini seat would be awesome.
http://www.shercousa.com/ we could all start buying sherco's, gasgas and Beta's

[yanni23]

This ride is coming up hard and fast. This one is more trail than any event I've been to. More than the AA300 as well. From the positive remarks of those who attented the AA300, you're gonna have a ball on this. You need to holler at Kelloggss here on TT for any intricate instructions on the HQ.

We plan to rip stuff up for 2 days straight on hillclimbs, rocks, and through plenty of creeks. Bring a gas can to keep at the HQ. We'll swing back mid-day and refuel.



http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa132/appalachianaction/SDC10610.jpg

[elrontx]

Well, I had more than enough for the KTM. My buddy had just bought one two years

newer than the one I was looking at for 800 less. I just wasn't going to pay it.

The bike hanging from the rafters is a 93 DR350. After purchasing the bike AND

putting on: Mikuni pumper, header, trailtech, DHH headlight, fender, fully reworked shock,

reworked RM 125 forks and triples, bars, cables, sprockets, chain, hand guards,

and re lacing 17s on a second set of rims, I'm still into it for ~1400 less than the KTM.

It will be a woods and motard weapon.

Plus I'm still going to buy a tagged WR450F when I find the right one. :ride:
nice! i got a 93 plated dirt model and i like it alot. their good bikes and you sound like your going to make it into a great one! plus the looks on ktm guys is priceless when you pass them!

[SRM360]

plus the looks on ktm guys is priceless when you pass them! Pass my 530 on a 350?:lol: bring it on. you better get up real early and get a big head start if you plan on beat me back to camp:moon: :p

[elrontx]

Pass my 530 on a 350?:lol: bring it on. you better get up real early and get a big head start if you plan on beat me back to camp:moon: :p
its about the rider. ive seen fast guys on rat bikes and vice versa. im just breaking balls,i guess you're insecure and took it personal. you probably have ktm coffee mugs, pajamas etc because it makes you feel better about yourself.

[BentAero]

I was at the LBL 200 D/S ride last Saturday on my new TE310. Late in the day, I'm zooming along at a pretty good clip, and outta nowhere there's a rider on my tail. I move over and motion him past, and like a bullet he's GONE!

A little way's down the trail he's stopped, waiting for his buddy. I stop to give him prop's on his riding ability and ask him about his bike. He's gracious, says thanks, his buddy pulls up and they leave.

As I wait for the dust to settle a bit, I can't help but marvel on how I just got waxed by a guy riding a DRZ400. :worthy:

It ain't the bike. It's the rider.:thumbsup: