2009 Outstanding Trails program awards goes to Fordyce Creek Trail

[navy-jeepster]

2009 Outstanding Trails program awards

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United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA): BFGoodrich, UFWDA and Tread Lightly! team up again in 2009 for the Outstanding Trails program.

Beaverton, OR – April 10, 2009 – United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) has again teamed up with BFGoodrich on the 2009 Outstanding Trails program. Due to the current economic climate, the program was reduced to include only two trails this year and adopted by two outstanding clubs and associations. BFGoodrich, UFWDA and Tread Lightly! continue to identify some of the best trails in the country and give them national recognition with their Outstanding Trails program. It is not all about recognizing the trails, but also the work by local club members and association’s to maintain these trails.

During the course of the program, which runs May through August, BFGoodrich Tires will be at club events associated with these trails and areas, to highlight the uniqueness of each location as well as educate off-road enthusiasts on the responsible use of each trail. Below is a closer look at each trail and corresponding event dates.

• Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area (BMRA) (May 9, 2009), This beautiful 1800 acre park located five miles north of Gilmer Texas is a shining example of what club members and volunteers can accomplish and has become one of the premier off-highway vehicle (OHV) parks in the United States. The park’s facilities and trail systems were designed and constructed strictly for motorized off-road purposes by the all-volunteer membership and is mapped and rated with proper signage.

• The Fordyce Creek Trail (August 8, 2009), Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Fordyce Creek Trail has a rich history starting as an old wagon trail serving the 19th century mining town of Summit City at Meadow Lake, prior to evolving into the OHV trail it has become. The trail was lost for many years after the mines closed and is now accessible after many years of effort by a group of dedicated off-road enthusiasts. The trail has incredible high sierra beauty with five winch hills and four water crossings, ending at Meadow Lake, which is adjacent to Fordyce Lake.

"United Four Wheel Drive Associations is again proud to partner with BFGoodrich for the 2009 Outstanding Trails program. This program is a great opportunity for leaders in the four-wheel drive community to recognize enthusiasts and the impact they are making,” said Todd Ockert, director of environmental affairs, UFWDA. “The Outstanding Trails program has recognized some great trails across the country and the enthusiasts who maintain those trails. United Four Wheel Drive Associations hopes to continue this partnership for years to come."

To help aid with costs associated with the trail’s conservation efforts, BFGoodrich Tires will also present a grant to a selected off-road club at each trail event.
Both Tread Lightly! and UFWDA are non-profit organizations dedicated to responsible and ethical outdoor recreation. BFGoodrich Tires collaborated with these two groups to select the finest North American OHV trails, and will continue to work with these organizations on restoration and education initiatives.

For general information, please contact:

Todd Ockert
Director of Environmental Affairs
559-904-0551
landuse@ufwda.org


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United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) is the leading representative for four wheel drive enthusiasts. UFWDA is a group of individuals, clubs, state, regional, provincial and national associations and businesses in the United States and around the world; our members span the globe from the U.S. and Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan, South Africa, and Iceland. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of this effort contact United Four Wheel Drive Associations today at 14525 SW Millikan Way #22622, Beaverton, OR 97005-2343, 1-800-448-3932 or visit www.ufwda.org.

Tread Lightly!® is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Tread Lightly!'s strategic educational message, along with its training and restoration initiatives are designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with the needs of the environment. The federal government recognizes this by acknowledging Tread Lightly! as a sole-source service provider of education and training on how to be environmentally and socially responsible while using motorized and mechanized vehicles in off-highway settings.

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich® Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com.

[pepe]

Thats cool!

I have seen several trails mentioned for getting this reconition on the TV show "Ride to adventure". Thanks to BFG for the support.

[navy-jeepster]

As Director of Environmental Affairs for UFWDA, I have worked with BFG the last three years on this list.
It is always nice to get a local trail selected.
I do try and keep a non-judgemental thought process in it as I submit the trails.
They had about 20 trails to choose from this year. I did list them in order, and Fordyce was near the top of that list.

But they select the trail based on more then just the trail too. they look at the local clubs that support or maintain the trail, and what kind of work they put into it.

Good job to the local clubs and FOF for their work here.

I will be at the presentation at Sierra Trek in August.

Todd

Corrected my typo on FOF.
Thanks Bret for catching it.

Todd

[yotasmob]

Right on!! I would love to participate on some work days.

[Tinman]

Gonna post some dates this coming week to put in your calendar.

Thanks to everyone that made this possible. The FOF will put the grant from BFG to good use this year!

[tunaman]

thanks UFWDA.

with all the bad news regarding tellico and rubicon this is some good news and will help keep this beautiful trail open.

[navy-jeepster]

Thanks

It is nice to see local trails get picked, as I know the grant money will be used wisely to help the trail.

This is a good program, and I think we do not promote it well enough.
My reason for saying this, is I have a hard time getting people to send me trail info every year for this program.
I compile a list, and send it to BFG for them to pick.

it is tough if we have a bunch of trails for them to pick from. Once they have the list, I end up talking to them about 2 or 3 times a week about any given trail that they are looking at selecting.
It was tough this year, as it is every year. All trails have a special scenic beauty to them, and I wish we could pick them all.

and this year, the list was decreased to 2 because of the tough economic times. they have normally picked 5 the last 4 years.

I am very happy to have Fordyce on the list this year, and will be there for the presentation.

Good job FOF.

Todd

[RCKRATZ]

Awesome stuff! We won't let you down

Thanks for all the hard work to make this happen Todd

[microtus]

Recognition ceremony to take place during Trek.

[navy-jeepster]

One of the reasons I recommend trek to BFG, was a bigger crowd, the Cal4Wheel folks would be there.
Also, this year, BFG was not going to have the money to pay for food, so since there is food at Trek, thought we could take care of that for them at the event.

I will need a seat or two for the BFG folks that show up so we can show them the trail. I do not know how many BFG folks will show up to this event. I am sure Gary Enterline will be here, but not sure who else. As I get that info, I will let the FOF know so we can have seats for them on the trail.

Another idea, is to have a small night run with the BFG folks, and only allow those that have BFG's on their rigs?
Just an idea.

It will be fun time for all. I have never been on the Fordyce trail either, so I am looking forward to it.

Thanks

Todd

[Tinman]

Friends of Fordyce will have a booth at Trek so stop by and see us. Also,we'll be having a small prize drawing with tickets going for a small donation. Tickets will soon be available and we'll have them at Trek too. So far we have a set of tires from BFG of course and a PETT toilet system. We're working on a nice local gift package for third and we'll probably give away a few of our new FOF t-shirts.

[navy-jeepster]

Bret

Add a UFWDA membership to your list of prizes.

Todd

[Tinman]

Thanks Todd!