This Makes Me Sad :( A Trail Report -- Broncos Fix a Trail

[popo_patty]

Not too long ago, I went out to explore a section of my local forest that I hadn't been to during the summer months. I checked out a small trail winding through the woods and ran into 3 trees across the road. Unfortunately, previous travelers to the area had simply created new tracks around each tree vs cutting them or winching them off the trail. While one or two bypasses aren't the end of wheeling. It is important to remember as wheeling gets more and more popular, that it becomes simple math. With each storm, each winter, and each year, hundreds to thousands of trees fall across trails. Each year, hundreds of people go out without the tools to make it through the trail so instead they selfishly create their own routes. This compounds into a big issue for wheelers nationwide as the Forest Service figures out how to deal with increasing, uneducated, or just plain lazy crowds. Usually, for the government, it just means closing any problem trails with a gate.

I'm sure everyone here agrees that we don't like that solution. That means it's up to us to educate new wheelers. Remember, cool your ash, pack your trash, and treat everyone on the trail with respect!

Anyway, here is the video on the issue I found and how we dealt with it this time around. I encourage any Bronco groups here to adopt a local trail system through the Forest Service and dedicate time each year to cleaning up trash, clearing the trails and preventing bypasses from being created.

Sponsored

 

[Oldhippie]

Thanks for putting together a crew to clean the trail up and allowing me to come along!

 

[stampede1]

Not too long ago, I went out to explore a section of my local forest that I hadn't been to during the summer months. I checked out a small trail winding through the woods and ran into 3 trees across the road. Unfortunately, previous travelers to the area had simply created new tracks around each tree vs cutting them or winching them off the trail. While one or two bypasses aren't the end of wheeling. It is important to remember as wheeling gets more and more popular, that it becomes simple math. With each storm, each winter, and each year, hundreds to thousands of trees fall across trails. Each year, hundreds of people go out without the tools to make it through the trail so instead they selfishly create their own routes. This compounds into a big issue for wheelers nationwide as the Forest Service figures out how to deal with increasing, uneducated, or just plain lazy crowds. Usually, for the government, it just means closing any problem trails with a gate.

I'm sure everyone here agrees that we don't like that solution. That means it's up to us to educate new wheelers. Remember, cool your ash, pack your trash, and treat everyone on the trail with respect!

Anyway, here is the video on the issue I found and how we dealt with it this time around. I encourage any Bronco groups here to adopt a local trail system through the Forest Service and dedicate time each year to cleaning up trash, clearing the trails and preventing bypasses from being created.

Good points all! If more people practiced what you preach, Bronco Safari's permit for Moab would not have been disapproved for 2024.

 

[MileHighCitizen]

I agree with you when it comes to accepting responsibility…the motto that National Parks (and all public areas) belong to us all should go both ways. They are open and free places for us to enjoy AND take care of. Not just abuse then leave worse for the wear.

Education and, I hate to say, licensing would go a long way to making sure these beloved areas don’t get closed to public use. Some places already require “OHV” registration for use with certain vehicles, I see off-road licenses as the next step if more care isn’t taken by the general public.

The fees could provide jobs and funds for professionals to clear trails, the same way potholes are filled, streetlights are changed and lakes get restocked with fish.

 

[dgorsett]

I was turned around three times by deadfall this spring. I carry a little bow saw, but just don't have it in me anymore. My son just got me a Dewalt for my birthday Saturday! I'm in business!

 

[3People1Body]

DeWalt chainsaws make me sad too...
Good post/reminder, Popo.

 

[userdude]

DeWalt chainsaws make me sad too...
Good post/reminder, Popo.

Back when I did tree service work in Seattle in '97, we had Stihl and Husqvarna (and one early 70's Sears brand that rattled your hands off). The little Stihl I used was awesome, and my cousin's Stihl fell 40'+ with him when we fell off a pole (it continued to work, he just had to JB weld the gas tank periodically). That Husqvarna was a beast, too.

 

[Midnight_Blue]

Sorry but the video reeks of finger-wagging Bronco Karen. You can talk about this important issue without taking a know-it-all, holier-than-thou approach.

 

[flip]

If you take a saw, take the chaps (and 48" Logrite cant hook) You DON'T want to be the subject of a link some rando on a bronco forum posts with the headline, "Bronco driver found dead on trail after nicking leg with saw, trying to remove fallen tree." Not a good way to bookend your time on this side of the grass.

 

[dgorsett]

Back when I did tree service work in Seattle in '97, we had Stihl and Husqvarna (and one early 70's Sears brand that rattled your hands off). The little Stihl I used was awesome, and my cousin's Stihl fell 40'+ with him when we fell off a pole (it continued to work, he just had to JB weld the gas tank periodically). That Husqvarna was a beast, too.

Sure, I have a Stihl also for real work. But to carry in the Bronco or utv when trail riding the Dewalt will do all I need to do.

My son runs saws for a living.

 

[userdude]

Sure, I have a Stihl also for real work. But to carry in the Bronco or utv when trail riding the Dewalt will do all I need to do.

My son runs saws for a living.

You beat me, I have a folding hand saw (but at least I have one). That old Sears McCulloch special would probably work fine in a pinch, if it weren't 80lbs... But that little Stihl I had would've worked well in my 2dr.

 

[AXMRDR]

What you did was admirable. However I started riding offroad on ATVs. I never carried a chainsaw with me and TBH probably would have gotten in loads of trouble running a chainsaw in the national forest.

If the forest service was doing their job they would have moved them. I think they may have better things to do on a day to day schedule but honestly the name is 'forest service' for a reason.

I'd drive around them too. Seems to me driving in a forest full of dead trees sounds like you'll be removing trees for years to come. Careful, they call them widow makers for a reason.

Organizing trail cleanups is a great idea. Cudos for that.

If I'm out joy riding I don't plan to clear every obstacle I come across. If I can't drag it clear I'm either going around it or turning around. Just being honest.

I gotta ask, how did you know there were 3 trees if you didn't drive around the first one?

 

[popo_patty]

What you did was admirable. However I started riding offroad on ATVs. I never carried a chainsaw with me and TBH probably would have gotten in loads of trouble running a chainsaw in the national forest.

If the forest service was doing their job they would have moved them. I think they may have better things to do on a day to day schedule but honestly the name is 'forest service' for a reason.

I'd drive around them too. Seems to me driving in a forest full of dead trees sounds like you'll be removing trees for years to come. Careful, they call them widow makers for a reason.

Organizing trail cleanups is a great idea. Cudos for that.

If I'm out joy riding I don't plan to clear every obstacle I come across. If I can't drag it clear I'm either going around it or turning around. Just being honest.

I gotta ask, how did you know there were 3 trees if you didn't drive around the first one?

Haha well I appreciate the honesty!

There are thousands of trail miles where I live. Forest Service is understaffed like everyone else I guess.

Honestly bypasses is becoming an issue here though I can’t speak for other places. F. S. Installed dozens of gates last year to start combating it. I’d really love to keep my trails open so awareness and talking about it is important even if there are disagreements on best practices or saying it at the risk of people calling you holier then thou.

To answer the last question I literally ran up. In the video you’ll see a photo pretty early on of me taking a shot back toward my parked bronco with my dog. That was the initial trip when I ran up past the trees and found the third. I also flew my drone ahead too that day.

 

[userdude]

Haha well I appreciate the honesty!

There are thousands of trail miles where I live. Forest Service is understaffed like everyone else I guess.

Honestly bypasses is becoming an issue here though I can’t speak for other places. F. S. Installed dozens of gates last year to start combating it. I’d really love to keep my trails open so awareness and talking about it is important even if there are disagreements on best practices or saying it at the risk of people calling you holier then thou.

To answer the last question I literally ran up. In the video you’ll see a photo pretty early on of me taking a shot back toward my parked bronco with my dog. That was the initial trip when I ran up past the trees and found the third. I also flew my drone ahead too that day.

They're also doing that here in Texas at the national parks (not sure about state). Really frustrating to see locks being cut etc.

 

[AXMRDR]

Thanks for your reply. Good thing the forest was dead or the drone wouldn't have been very helpful identifying blockages. While we do have occasional fires here, usually caused by lightning, the forage is much too thick for me to use my drone for anything but great fly-over shots. You lucky to have that many miles of trails. We have hundreds but not thousands. I'm jealous.

Sponsored