317 miles of MOAB trails have been closed [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS]

[RudeJeepin]

https://www.sharetrails.org/release...izn437AnBK8m93C6-wW0__KoIaWRA&mibextid=S66gvF

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[Scott0700]

Any conspiracy fans think that it’s the tree huggers that are out there littering and driving off trail for the sole purpose of getting them closed?
Sure would advance their agenda.

 

[STLDAVE]

I think education is a large part of the issue. Anyone can hop in a sxs and take off on a trail with little to no instruction. It's unfortunate.

And don't forget the idiots out there with no common sense. Two weeks ago we were doing the self guided tour of Monument Valley Park in the Navajo Nation. Signs said that "high clearance four wheel drive vehicle recommended." Saw lots of Unibody SUVs but the one that really stuck out was the 2022 Mustang convertible with three young twenty somethings bouncing and scraping along the trail. These are the type who just don't think about what they are doing.

 

[MPMB]

And don't forget the idiots out there with no common sense. Two weeks ago we were doing the self guided tour of Monument Valley Park in the Navajo Nation. Signs said that "high clearance four wheel drive vehicle recommended." Saw lots of Unibody SUVs but the one that really stuck out was the 2022 Mustang convertible with three young twenty somethings bouncing and scraping along the trail. These are the type who just don't think about what they are doing.

The sign did say "recommended" not "required."

We used to hike a lot, and we saw the same version of person on the trail. We were coming down from a slog of a hike (Blanca Lake outside of Index, WA for anyone curious) and were about a mile, 1.5 miles from the trailhead.

We passed a group of 12-16 late teens/early 20s. A couple of them had a 16oz water bottle. A few wore shoes, most were in flipflops or slides. Soccer shorts and t-shirts.

They asked "how much farther?" and I replied, "you're almost there." They weren't.

When we got back to the truck, all I thought was "that's who benefits from our search and rescue dollars."

I used to go to a great outdoor shooting area that was destroyed by people leaving TVs, fire extinguishers, bottles and cans, etc.

Common sense isn't so common.

 

[Cap10Glad]

I just feel for those who will lose jobs and income because of lost tourism dollars.
It appears there will be legal challenges forthcoming also.

 

[mrsooner]

Any conspiracy fans think that it’s the tree huggers that are out there littering and driving off trail for the sole purpose of getting them closed?
Sure would advance their agenda.

no. This is the 100% the result of the new SxS\UTV users with a lower cost of entry, trashing the trails. It's not going to stop until those users start policing themselves. And ALL of the off road community starts publicly shaming them.

 

[BearFootSam]

This really sucks. These types of closures are going to keep happening because visitors to Moab (not capitalized, it's not an acronym) can't seem to follow the rules and stay on the trail. Over the last 20 years I've seen more and more destruction of people driving and walking off-trail both inside and outside the national parks.

I'm for open land access, but people destroying the fragile desert ecosystem is killing our past time. If you want to drive off-trail you can go to Sand Hollow and drive literally wherever you want on rocks or dunes.

Stay on the trail or stay home.

It’s great seeing new folks get outside but when they forget to bring manners this happens. I saw it this summer, NF land but inside a designated wilderness during a burn ban amid a historic drought - illegal fires. Everyone makes some exception but one fire out of control and there goes 1,000’s of acres for a century. The stakes are just as high in the desert, old wagon tracks are testament to that.

 

[RacerAV]

This really sucks. These types of closures are going to keep happening because visitors to Moab (not capitalized, it's not an acronym) can't seem to follow the rules and stay on the trail. Over the last 20 years I've seen more and more destruction of people driving and walking off-trail both inside and outside the national parks.

I'm for open land access, but people destroying the fragile desert ecosystem is killing our past time. If you want to drive off-trail you can go to Sand Hollow and drive literally wherever you want on rocks or dunes.

Stay on the trail or stay home.

I love that they close trails rather than enforce laws. To enforce laws you need law enforcement officers. It's not like America doesn't have the funds to do so, they just choose not to, and send it elsewhere. Terrible shame...

There will always be turd people tagging, leaving trash, tearing up trails, nothing new, and won't go away with trail closures. Those same people will continue to go out there and be turds. But the law abiding tax paying citizens always pay the price...

 

[RacerAV]

This has very little to do with the White House, these changes are being made at the BLM level.

Well... tax money could be going toward hiring more BLM officers, but instead, the govt sends it to other countries. So that could be an easy fix. Keep our tax money here, in America, and use it to help the tax paying citizens enjoy the freedom we all work so hard for.

 

[RacerAV]

EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO CHECK OUT BLUE RIBBON COALITION... They're fighting this!

 

[RacerAV]

Where the heck is Jeep, Ford, or Toyota in all of this??? Help your damn customers!

 

[AKDrifter]

no. This is the 100% the result of the new SxS\UTV users with a lower cost of entry, trashing the trails. It's not going to stop until those users start policing themselves. And ALL of the off road community starts publicly shaming them.

SxS's have really have opened up a lot of opportunity for people who previously had no experience with being deep offroad. I personally have grown to dislike the SxS crowd. They're getting land shut down and the hobby regulated quick.

 

[Berserker]

Here's an excellent video by Keeptrailsopen that details what went into BLM's decision regarding the trail closures near Moab.

Part of the issue appears to be river recreation users don't want the possibility of seeing a 4x4 from their view from the water when they pass the trails.

 

[Sweetums]

Any conspiracy fans think that it’s the tree huggers that are out there littering and driving off trail for the sole purpose of getting them closed?
Sure would advance their agenda.

No, I'm not seeing that happen nor do I think they would. There's more than enough idiots already they don't need to fabricate fake ones.

Knock it off, you're embarrassing yourself.

 

[Sunnysideup]

One solution is WAY higher fines for any vehicle off the trails. 10,000 would do it... if they can't pay, do what we do to poachers... impound their stuff and auction it. I have only seen one or two 4x4's in the last ten years doing off trail stuff. I find evidence every time I'm out anywhere on public or private land of ATV, UTV, SxS .... off trail. Treaspassing... or making a dirt race track in a grass meadow to rip things up. In my state it is a lot of out of staters.... but not entirely. Having more people in the feild would be great... or if we can help, take some pics and turn them in. I know they are trying to divide us.... but I'm not "together" with those who advocate the destruction of the landscape by going off trail. There is no "together" to divide. They are opposite what I stand for.

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