Backwoods ethics

[StG58]

So, I'm going to bring this up at the risk of getting hammered on.

The skid roads and logging trails around here get overgrown with scotch broom, assorted pucker brush and alder in short order. If you don't drive down them once in awhile it only takes a coupla' three years for the trail to become impassable to a Suburban (too narrow) and only a few more years to become impassable to a TJ (too overgrown altogether). What's you-alls take on driving those trails? Is it an a-hole move? I've been known to remove a few alder saplings with a machete from a trail before just to keep it open for the future.

 

[Chris]

So, I'm going to bring this up at the risk of getting hammered on.

The skid roads and logging trails around here get overgrown with scotch broom, assorted pucker brush and alder in short order. If you don't drive down them once in awhile it only takes a coupla' three years for the trail to become impassable to a Suburban (too narrow) and only a few more years to become impassable to a TJ (too overgrown altogether). What's you-alls take on driving those trails? Is it an a-hole move? I've been known to remove a few alder saplings with a machete from a trail before just to keep it open for the future.

Personally I don't think this is an asshole move. I do it all the time, and I think it's totally fine because it was meant to be a trail or road.

Now on the other hand, if it wasn't designated as a trail or a road and you're just driving over shrubbery to be cool, then you're an asshole who is ruining it for all of us (unless it's on your own land of course).

 

[StG58]

That's been my thoughts as well. By contract the roads that aren't supposed to be driven on are Cut and Bermed (C&B'd) by the logging companies when they're done. And those boys can Cut and Berm a road, let me tell you. Next time I'm out, I'll try to remember to get pictures. If it's been C&B'd, I'll leave it alone, but otherwise I'll poke my nose down it to see where it goes. I did hike down one skid trail last year because there was supposed to be a lake down towards the bottom. They had C&B'd the road at the top and next to the lake and it had blown out over the winter. Too bad to, it was a pretty fair sized lake for the Coast Range, maybe 10 - 15 acres? Just a big green meadow now.

But, yes, if it was a road at one time it's going to get driven on unless it's gated, posted or C&B'd. That's my stand.

 

[Chris]

I agree completely. Can't really get mad at someone for clearing a designated trail or road!

 

[Tristan]

Those are the trails I like to go down. Ones that's people don't use regularly and don't know where it goes. And I agree with chris, if people don't keep them cleaned up even just a little bit they'll become impassable and we will lose awesome trails.

 

[StG58]

Those are the trails I like to go down. Ones that's people don't use regularly and don't know where it goes. And I agree with chris, if people don't keep them cleaned up even just a little bit they'll become impassable and we will lose awesome trails.

True fact there. A lot of the local jeeple go up to Brown's Camp or over to the OHV area off the Wilson River, ands that's about all they do. Over and over. I think they're missing the boat by not getting out in the backcountry, but that's just me.

 

[Chris]

True fact there. A lot of the local jeeple go up to Brown's Camp or over to the OHV area off the Wilson River, ands that's about all they do. Over and over. I think they're missing the boat by not getting out in the backcountry, but that's just me.

Oh yeah, they're missing out BIG time! But I feel like a lot of the Brown's Camp crew might not be into the whole overland thing as much as you and I are.

 

[derekmac]

Every year we try to find old trails that haven't been run in years, and open them back up. 99% of the trails we run are on Crown land, so we're allowed to clear and maintain them. The ATV clubs also do a good job keeping trails open, but (and it's a big but) they will only clear wide enough for an ATV, and any bridges they repair or replace will be sized for an ATV. They have made trails that were passable by full sized rigs only passible to ATV's now.

 

[StG58]

Oh yeah, they're missing out BIG time! But I feel like a lot of the Brown's Camp crew might not be into the whole overland thing as much as you and I are.

Which is funny, a lot of those rigs would do just fine overlanding, but there's no bragging rights in that.

Every year we try to find old trails that haven't been run in years, and open them back up. 99% of the trails we run are on Crown land, so we're allowed to clear and maintain them. The ATV clubs also do a good job keeping trails open, but (and it's a big but) they will only clear wide enough for an ATV, and any bridges they repair or replace will be sized for an ATV. They have made trails that were passable by full sized rigs only passible to ATV's now.

How does Crown land work? I'm guessing it's like our FS or BLM land. The funny thing down here is the motorcycle and ATV guys wait for the Jeepers to clear the trails in a number of cases. Especially the more difficult or remote ones.

 

[derekmac]

Crown land is government owned, with free access for the public. We have very open land use laws here, which also include private land, which has to be signed or gated to restrict access. A good number of the trails we run are either on pipelines, or power lines. The gas and power companies only lease the land, but it's still controlled by the province, so we can still access them with no issues.

Here, the main ATV club called ATVANS (ATV Association of Nova Scotia) is funded by the government. When you register your ATV, and when you pay for your license plates (yearly), a portion goes towards trail maintenance. There are thousands of kilometers of ATV trails here, of which probably 90% are not shared with us. It's only that 10% that can sometimes be a pain for us. The snowmobiles are the same as the ATV's, and they use most of their trails in the winter. We make sure to stay off the groomed trails in the winter as they have a short time to enjoy their sport, and it's also dangerous for them if we rut their trails up.

Tomorrow I'm going on a run that starts on a pipeline, and ends up going on an unmaintained public road. That's something else that we have a lot of. Unmaintained public roads for the most part are VERY old stage coach roads. They are by no means passible by anything less than a stock Wrangler. Some of them do have a lot of history, and old ruins along the way.

 

[billiebob]

So, I'm going to bring this up at the risk of getting hammered on.

The skid roads and logging trails around here get overgrown with scotch broom, assorted pucker brush and alder in short order. If you don't drive down them once in awhile it only takes a coupla' three years for the trail to become impassable to a Suburban (too narrow) and only a few more years to become impassable to a TJ (too overgrown altogether). What's you-alls take on driving those trails? Is it an a-hole move? I've been known to remove a few alder saplings with a machete from a trail before just to keep it open for the future.

This is my favorite adventure. Brushing out old trails. I love the pruning saw but blow down and deadfall mean chainsaw time.

 

[StG58]

This is my favorite adventure. Brushing out old trails. I love the pruning saw but blow down and deadfall mean chainsaw time.

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Wow, that looks just like my neck of the woods! Other than your firearms laws (as I understand them from our media) that's home. A lot of that type of blowdown, I just eyeball it for clearance and safety and drive under. It keeps the taller rigs out. 'Course, one of these days THAT'S gonna bite me in the ass too.

 

[Chris]

This is my favorite adventure. Brushing out old trails. I love the pruning saw but blow down and deadfall mean chainsaw time.

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Very cool! That's my favorite type of adventure too!

 

[RaymondT]

Years ago in B.C., we had seasonal forestry workers and lookout staff that used to open roads on crown land for fire access during the fringe of fire season. With government cutbacks, they canned all the forest rangers, forestry staff, and seasonal suppression crews. A lot of initial response now is by air. Logging companies only tune up the roads leading into active or future blocks they are bidding on so it's up to the public to keep roads open. I always pack a chainsaw due to the deadfall over winter laying across the road. Most people appreciate it when you open up a road.

 

[billiebob]

yes, they do !!! The only problems are the stupid abusers who defile our pristine wilderness with wanton disregard for the vegitation and a slack assed lazyness to pack out their shit..... that and drop a cigarette butt out the window ! No wonder the forestry companies decommission resource roads. Support tread lightly and all those other more municipal organizations defending our the environment and our "right" to access it. And TREAD LIGHTLY !!

And your comments about government cutbacks are on the money. To all those wishing for more deregulation and slashing of government funding.... realize it will result in less back country access while doing nothing to lower your taxes.

But.... it is illegal to reopen a closed road. All those resource roads are private roads owned and operated by the forestry or resource company doing business on them.... I do appreciate your efforts. But we break the law doing it.

 

[badlieutenant]

In Texas, you get to own your land.

 

[derekmac]

In Texas, you get to own your land.

Is Texas the only state where you can own your own land?? If not, I don't really get your post.

 

[StG58]

In Texas, you get to own your land.

Try not paying your property taxes, then say that.

 

[badlieutenant]

Is Texas the only state where you can own your own land?? If not, I don't really get your post.

Sorry for the brevity. In Texas, we don't have very much "public" (government owned) land that people can all go on and share. We do have lots and lots of private land. A lot of people own ranches with tons of land for trail riding, hunting, fishing, etc.

I will eventually buy a large plot of land that I can go trail riding, fishing, and hunting on. It isn't that far out of reach and I do see it in my future. It wouldn't be a big deal to buy and own 15-20 acres with a river running through it with a nice house built up on it wherever I improved (cleared) some of the land.

When I do, you are all invited for BBQ, beer, and Jeeps!

 

[derekmac]

Sorry for the brevity. In Texas, we don't have very much "public" (government owned) land that people can all go on and share. We do have lots and lots of private land. A lot of people own ranches with tons of land for trail riding, hunting, fishing, etc.

I will eventually buy a large plot of land that I can go trail riding, fishing, and hunting on. It isn't that far out of reach and I do see it in my future. It wouldn't be a big deal to buy and own 15-20 acres with a river running through it with a nice house built up on it wherever I improved (cleared) some of the land.

When I do, you are all invited for BBQ, beer, and Jeeps!

Ah ok, I gotcha. That sounds like an awesome plan! For me to buy a big parcel of land would require moving too far away from civilisation for my wife, lol.