I am SOO glad ONF came up. ONF is a big problem here in the SW end of the forest. Many, many, many ATV riders are going where it is clearly posted not to ride. This gives the rest of you a bad name. I see families riding and doing it right when I ride our trails (yes I live in the SW part of the forest, next time ya'll see a Cow-Jeep, wave, its me! If you don't know what a cow-jeep is, you haven't seen me yet.)
There are a few of us working to keep the Volunteer Ranger Program alive. I am hoping this will keep the trails open. I would love to see a number of you in this area volunteer to be rangers. The Volunteer Rangers will be expected to pass on information on trail safety and etiquette, along with helping repair and put up fences.
Some of you might have run into the few folks who were actively involved with the program. Please, if you had a bad experience, don't let that stop you from volunteering. We need folks to step up to the plate and let the forestry folks know you care and are willing to be there for the forest and to help educate and protect our resources.
One thing that led me to realize we can potentially lose our trails (I am a jeeper) is the last time I went out with the group. Two guys had buzzed down a large tree that had been placed on the Boundery Markers out at Blue Sink and drove their 4X4 pick-up truck back in past the Boundery Markers. There is no way these guys missed those markers even if the fresh chippings and the chain saw in the back didn't give them away!
This kind of nonsense will get us all thrown out! We can stop the limiting if we work together and stand en force. I am hoping to get a group together to gather at the Ranger's station and tell them, "here we are, now put us to work as volunteers!"
Please PM me if you are interested.