If you really needed a reason why it is important to stay on the designated trail, here is one for you. This came from a Sierra Club mailing list.

Crowdog
www.crowley-offroad.com

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To: All Activists
From: Alix Davidson
Date: March 12, 2002

Calling all defenders of the wild, dessert rats and tree hugger alike, I need YOUR accounts of ORV abuse on Forest Service and
BLM Lands

I am creating a color booklet to show Congress why we need more money set aside in the federal budget to keep off road
vehicles out of the Wilderness and away from our special places. I know you might say Congress doesn't care. But after I show them your incredible pictures of wrecked landscapes and tracks into Wilderness areas, they will. To create this fantastic new lobbying tool I need....

1. Really good pictures of damage caused by ATVs, dirtbikes, snowmobiles, dune buggies, 4-wheelers on Forest Service or BLM lands. A good picture would have clearly identifiable tracks in it, and the area would look like a mess. Tracks around gates, next to signs indicating that the area is closed, or into Wilderness Areas with a sign showing that the area is Wilderness would also be great. Clear color prints or slides are preferable.

2. The estimated amount that it would cost to repair the damage portrayed in the picture if the agency ever had enough money. Call your district ranger and ask them. You'd be surprised how willing they may be to give you an estimate, and that's all we need.

Please send it to me
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington DC 20003.

Thanks so much,

Alix Davidson
Recreation Campaigner, American Lands Alliance

I wrote that idiot a nice friendly email the other day, what a jerk! This guy's quest has been discussed at length on the LUN, consensus is we can fight fire with fire, there is a lot of damage caused by hikers and backpackers, including a major CA fire recently.:nuke:

Looks to me that this guy is literally trying to shut us off entirely, while tearing up the land looking for damage. I could be wrong, but I feel as though this whistle blower could even INFLICT land damage in order to get his point across, I've seen it done before. When I lived in Vernal, Utah, A high schooler was out with his vid-cam taking pictures of an area that was definitely torn up. BUT he FAILED to state that this PARTICULAR area that he was filming was actually CREATED by mans machines. This was a place that dirt riders and wheelers took their toys and played, was constructed of riverrock, gravel, and sand, and may have originally been a quarry to build the Dam that was located just about 500 yards away. Just goes to show you that extremists will literally stop at nothing in order to get their way, EVEN if it's not stating all of the facts and staying within the rules. :mad: