I don't know what to make of this? [Archive]

fj40guy

04-29-2003, 01:11 PM

Bummer.... :(

Off-road and off-limits
April 6, 2003

Brian E. Clark: (760) 737-7559; brian.clark@uniontrib.com

By Brian E. Clark

Staff Writer

RANCHO PENASQUITOS – When spring rains fall on Black Mountain Open Space Park, red sticky monkey flowers, purple-hued mountain lilacs and orange-tinged deer weed burst into bloom, peeking through the chaparral and coastal sage.

The showers also bring out off-road enthusiasts, who illegally head for the north side of the 1,314-acre park, where their trucks and motorcycles tear gashes into the red earth and gouge holes in existing trails.

What's worse are the accidents caused by the activity. Each year over the past five years, Senior Park Ranger Lori Charett said, one off-road enthusiast has died when a truck or motorcycle crashed or rolled down the steep sides of Black Mountain's 1,554-foot peak.

In the most recent accident, in May, a 23-year-old Escondido man was ejected from a vehicle, decapitated and crushed, Charett said.

Many of those who use the park illegally live nearby, said Charett, who has worked at the park five years.

"Mostly, it's guys in the teens and 20s, and often alcohol is involved," she said. "A lot of them are locals from Rancho Peñasquitos, Poway, Rancho Bernardo and Scripps Ranch."

San Diego police acknowledged that illegal off-road driving has long been a problem in the park, but said complaints have diminished in recent years as the area around the park has been developed.

"It may be occurring," said Lt. Charles Hogquist of the traffic division, "but nobody is reporting it to us. It's hit and miss as far as enforcement goes there."

Hogquist said his department's log indicates there was one death in the park related to off-road activity in 2001 and 2002. He said there may have been another that was not recorded.

Charett and two other rangers are responsible for patrolling Black Mountain park in addition to Crest Canyon, Clevenger Canyon and Mount Woodson parks – which cover 2,500 acres combined. She said off-road enthusiasts remain among rangers' biggest problems.

"These guys love to get their trucks muddy, and they don't care a bit about the damage they do," she said. "But when you combine steep trails, drop-offs and alcohol, it can be deadly."

Jim McGarvie, president emeritus of the San Diego Off-Road Coalition, said his group does not condone illegal use of Black Mountain park.

"We sympathize, however, with off-roaders who are frustrated that they have no legal place to ride within a couple of hours' drive of San Diego," he said. "This damage to the park and the fatalities is partially a consequence of the failure to provide for a legal place to go."

The Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area, off state Route 78 southeast of Borrego Springs, is the most popular legal location for off-road vehicles in the county, but for most people it is a two-or three-hour drive to get there.

McGarvie said the off-road coalition goes out of its way to inform members where they can – and cannot – drive their trucks or ride their motorcycles.

"It sounds like a lot of these folks are partiers who wouldn't belong to our group," he said. "I don't believe they are your typical off-roaders. Not only are they bad for the environment and a safety problem for themselves, but they give the rest of us a bad name."

Charett said off-road activity occurs at all times. She said students from Mount Carmel High School come to the park before classes begin, rip up trails and then drive their mud-splattered trucks to school.

"They do it to show off," she said. "And the muddier the rig, the better. It's kind of a cat-and-mouse game. We do our best to catch them. But sometimes they come out at 1 a.m."

Penalties

If violators are caught by rangers or San Diego police, they face fines of $250 for a first infraction or $500 for a second offense, officials said.

"But the bottom line is it creates horrible scars on the hillsides, erosion and habitat destruction and damaged property that is costly to repair," Charett said.

Mike Kelly, chairman of the Black Mountain park citizens advisory committee, said off-road activity is the primary management problem for the park.

"It's caused a major amount of destruction to fencing, signage, trails and pristine habitat areas like native grasslands," he said.

"There also have been near-collisions with motorcyclists and hikers," he said. "I personally have been leading more than one nature walk with a group including children when a motorcycle came roaring down a single-track trail almost right on top of us."

Kelly said he hopes off-road enthusiasts eventually get the message that it is illegal to ride in the park.

"It's like the early days in the Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve," he said. "It's a slow process of putting up gates and getting signage out there to educate people – and then giving tickets."

Charett said blocking trails with boulders, laying down telephone poles secured with rebar or building fences with posts set in concrete is often ineffective.

"They drive around the boulders or use their winches to rip out the fence posts or move the phone poles," she said. "It's a daily battle. And they know it's illegal because they rip out the signs that say it's banned."

When arrested, a few show remorse, she said. Others are defiant. Most say they used the park because they didn't want to drive to desert areas where off-road activity is legal.

Charett said trucks cause more damage than motorcycles, because trucks have a high clearance and can drive off trails to go through thick vegetation. On occasion, the ranger said, she will encounter a family – recent arrivals to nearby 4S Ranch housing development or some other surrounding community – unloading motorcycles from a truck.

"They tell me they looked up and saw this big hill and open area and thought it would be a great place to ride their bikes," she said. "But once I talk to them and let them know that's prohibited here, they are pretty cooperative. I wish everyone was like that."

Source (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20030406-9999_mz1mc6offroa.html)


Pirate4x4.Com > Miscellaneous > General Chit-Chat > I don't know what to make of this? PDA : I don't know what to make of this? primergray 04-29-2003, 12:37 PM I am still reading this stuff: http://www.offroadwarehouse.com/mb/YaBB.pl?board=general&action=display&num=2002 fj40guy 04-29-2003, 01:11 PM Bummer.... :( Off-road and off-limits April 6, 2003 Brian E. Clark: (760) 737-7559; brian.clark@uniontrib.com By Brian E. Clark Staff Writer RANCHO PENASQUITOS – When spring rains fall on Black Mountain Open Space Park, red sticky monkey flowers, purple-hued mountain lilacs and orange-tinged deer weed burst into bloom, peeking through the chaparral and coastal sage. The showers also bring out off-road enthusiasts, who illegally head for the north side of the 1,314-acre park, where their trucks and motorcycles tear gashes into the red earth and gouge holes in existing trails. What's worse are the accidents caused by the activity. Each year over the past five years, Senior Park Ranger Lori Charett said, one off-road enthusiast has died when a truck or motorcycle crashed or rolled down the steep sides of Black Mountain's 1,554-foot peak. In the most recent accident, in May, a 23-year-old Escondido man was ejected from a vehicle, decapitated and crushed, Charett said. Many of those who use the park illegally live nearby, said Charett, who has worked at the park five years. "Mostly, it's guys in the teens and 20s, and often alcohol is involved," she said. "A lot of them are locals from Rancho Peñasquitos, Poway, Rancho Bernardo and Scripps Ranch." San Diego police acknowledged that illegal off-road driving has long been a problem in the park, but said complaints have diminished in recent years as the area around the park has been developed. "It may be occurring," said Lt. Charles Hogquist of the traffic division, "but nobody is reporting it to us. It's hit and miss as far as enforcement goes there." Hogquist said his department's log indicates there was one death in the park related to off-road activity in 2001 and 2002. He said there may have been another that was not recorded. Charett and two other rangers are responsible for patrolling Black Mountain park in addition to Crest Canyon, Clevenger Canyon and Mount Woodson parks – which cover 2,500 acres combined. She said off-road enthusiasts remain among rangers' biggest problems. "These guys love to get their trucks muddy, and they don't care a bit about the damage they do," she said. "But when you combine steep trails, drop-offs and alcohol, it can be deadly." Jim McGarvie, president emeritus of the San Diego Off-Road Coalition, said his group does not condone illegal use of Black Mountain park. "We sympathize, however, with off-roaders who are frustrated that they have no legal place to ride within a couple of hours' drive of San Diego," he said. "This damage to the park and the fatalities is partially a consequence of the failure to provide for a legal place to go." The Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area, off state Route 78 southeast of Borrego Springs, is the most popular legal location for off-road vehicles in the county, but for most people it is a two-or three-hour drive to get there. McGarvie said the off-road coalition goes out of its way to inform members where they can – and cannot – drive their trucks or ride their motorcycles. "It sounds like a lot of these folks are partiers who wouldn't belong to our group," he said. "I don't believe they are your typical off-roaders. Not only are they bad for the environment and a safety problem for themselves, but they give the rest of us a bad name." Charett said off-road activity occurs at all times. She said students from Mount Carmel High School come to the park before classes begin, rip up trails and then drive their mud-splattered trucks to school. "They do it to show off," she said. "And the muddier the rig, the better. It's kind of a cat-and-mouse game. We do our best to catch them. But sometimes they come out at 1 a.m." Penalties If violators are caught by rangers or San Diego police, they face fines of $250 for a first infraction or $500 for a second offense, officials said. "But the bottom line is it creates horrible scars on the hillsides, erosion and habitat destruction and damaged property that is costly to repair," Charett said. Mike Kelly, chairman of the Black Mountain park citizens advisory committee, said off-road activity is the primary management problem for the park. "It's caused a major amount of destruction to fencing, signage, trails and pristine habitat areas like native grasslands," he said. "There also have been near-collisions with motorcyclists and hikers," he said. "I personally have been leading more than one nature walk with a group including children when a motorcycle came roaring down a single-track trail almost right on top of us." Kelly said he hopes off-road enthusiasts eventually get the message that it is illegal to ride in the park. "It's like the early days in the Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve," he said. "It's a slow process of putting up gates and getting signage out there to educate people – and then giving tickets." Charett said blocking trails with boulders, laying down telephone poles secured with rebar or building fences with posts set in concrete is often ineffective. "They drive around the boulders or use their winches to rip out the fence posts or move the phone poles," she said. "It's a daily battle. And they know it's illegal because they rip out the signs that say it's banned." When arrested, a few show remorse, she said. Others are defiant. Most say they used the park because they didn't want to drive to desert areas where off-road activity is legal. Charett said trucks cause more damage than motorcycles, because trucks have a high clearance and can drive off trails to go through thick vegetation. On occasion, the ranger said, she will encounter a family – recent arrivals to nearby 4S Ranch housing development or some other surrounding community – unloading motorcycles from a truck. "They tell me they looked up and saw this big hill and open area and thought it would be a great place to ride their bikes," she said. "But once I talk to them and let them know that's prohibited here, they are pretty cooperative. I wish everyone was like that." Source (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20030406-9999_mz1mc6offroa.html) primergray 04-29-2003, 01:15 PM The problem is look at some of the comments in the thread. "I have enough money to pay the fines" is disturbing. I am waiting for a moderator from ORW to jump in soon, close all of the trails and ORW is out of Business, Jack fj40guy 04-29-2003, 01:25 PM OMG.... I didn't read the thread far enough. WTF are some of these people thinking? Odd thing is the MAJORITY of the post are totally "anti tread lightly"..... more along "lets rip it up before the put up the condo's.... " "I'll do as a damn will please" OK, pretty much gave up after reading those comments. Tom :usa: P.S. VEGITARIAN is an old Indian word for "doesn't hunt well" -- funny. What size shirt do you wear? Need to send you something from Texas. :D ChevyGal 04-29-2003, 01:33 PM Eric McCarty Senior Member Posts: 1247 Re: shame on us Date posted: 04/08/03 at 13:28:58 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F it. If I get ticketed for having a good time, so be it. I got plenty of cash to pay for that crap. You Eco-Nazi's can suck my #@$%+*&@@!%^!!!! E. What a moron. Everytime someone like this thinks this way, it only hurts those of us who do follow the rules. His attitude is a prime reason more and more places are closing all the time. rusted 04-29-2003, 01:42 PM Originally posted by roundrocktom more along "lets rip it up before the put up the condo's.... " I can see that viewpoint. They close off all kinds of land because you run one trail over a couple bushes. Then a year later the entire hillside is excavated and they put in houses. WTF? How can one trail be worse than denuding the entire hillside and then paving it?