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Show PAGE THE ZEPHYRMAY 89 over easy by john sensenbrenner Space did not allow us to print my letter to the BLM In the last issue. As promised, here it Is with the BLM response: March 15 taboo for us to use the same sections of the rocks. If this is the case, we have no way of knowing where the bikers paint brush may strike next and push us off another traiL I think you can see the cause of our concern. It makes us think that we too should rush out and start painting our trails to mark our turf before someone else does. Strange, we hadnt before though of it as "our" turf. 4. Do we have to paint the Jeep trails in the SDckrock area to secure our rights there? We dont want to start controversy nor Inflame It, but our concern Is genuine. If a precedent is set on the Slickrock we fear that the paint brush may appear on other trails and reserve all or part of "them. We dont want to be shocked by a BLM publication announcing that the Moab Rim trail, for example, has been limited to a single user. Things have been happening quietly and without our knowledge In the Slickrock area and we would like your response so that we have something tangible defining our status there. It might be useful to include In your signs and pubDcations relating to trail mention use of the that use the area. others also bicycle This concern is only a small ripple in the pond where such a "problem was not thought of a couple of years ago. Lets get it clarified before It wave. a becomes big Very truly yours, IS, 1989 John Sensenbrenner David Minor Recreation Office Grand Resource Area Mr. BJLM. Dear Dave: have a number of questions on the status of the use of the SDckrock area that I would like to pose on behalf of motor vehicle users: I am addressing you because I feel that you should be somewhat conversant with the events that have raised these questions and our uneasy feelings about what may be happening In the area that has come to be known as the I was somewhat apprehensive about submitting this letter. This Is clearly a catch 22 situation. One the one hand if we ignore the Issue we fear we may be slowly and subtly losing our right to use the entire area. On the other hand If we do call attention to it by requesting a statement of what, If anything, may be happening we may awaken the sleeping giant BLM and cause an imposition of the very restrictions we fear: I SDckrock Bike Trail. It is my understanding that you participated In a post-tr- ail "sweep of the Hell's Revenge Jeep Safari trail following Its running on April 2, 1988. You were also included in an exchange of correspondence at that time initiated by a bicyclist claiming to have "adopted that area and authorizing himself to pass judgment on the conduct of the Safari group, pointing out that the littering on the trail was excessive, that there was multiple trailing in places, and concluding that the BLM should ban Jeepers from the area except by special permit We of course do not condone multiple trailing, and this Is especially it is not only damaging to the landscape but abhorrent in large groups might cause others to think that it Is acceptable. Littering is unnecessary, Improper and illegaL As you know, the Red Rock 4 Wheelers go to great lengths to prevent this sort of misconduct on the trails, but unfortunately In spite of our posture of discouragement it does happen. And the Incidents on the Hells Revenge trail last year have prompted us to renew our efforts to curb Impulses to Utter and run off the trails. However, the experience of receiving the complaint and the suggestion of banishment have brought to the surface several points that we would Dke you to respond to, points that we feel strongly about and have cause to worry ... about Bear with me, Im getting to the questions. a Red Rock 4 Wheelers meeting In 1985 I remember that Russ Van Koch explained the different restrictions in force on the various areas in this BLM district The SDckrock area, he told us, is an "open" area. And he went on to explain that one can, In small groups, legally go from point "A to point "B irrespective of the existence of trails in "open areas. Though he emphasized that although this Is permitted, it should be avoided. There are enough trails hereabouts to satisfy The Jeep club agrees. recreational needs without creating more. 1. Now at last my question: Is the Slickrock area classified "open, and technically does this mean that leaving the trail is permitted, though At non-comme- rcial April 7, 1989 Dear Mr. Sensenbrenner: appreciate your letter to our Recreation Planner, Dave Minor, regarding the Moab SDckrock Bike TraiL I will try to answer your questions In the order presented. You are correct in your statement that the Slickrock Bike Trail area Is vehicle use. This decision was part of BLMs designated open to off-ro1985 Resource Management Plan for the Grand Resource Area. The old SDckrock Bike Trail Brochure stated that the bike trail Is designed for use by trail machines or small motorcycles equipped for rough All other vehicles are not allowed." Tills brochure was country traveL written in 1969 when trail machines were a relatively new use. The trail was designed in cooperation with local riders for motorcycle use. The restriction was for safety reasons rather than for resource protection. The current Slickrock Bike Trail Brochure explains the Intent more It states that " and the trail Is hot suitable for three-whe- el clearly. four-whATVs as it crosses steep slopes and traverses several narrow sections above drop-off-s." In 1982, the BLM authorized the Hell's Revenge Trail as a Moab Jeep The Heirs Revenge Safari Route at the request of the Red Rock Portions of the Hells Trail crosses the Slickrock Trail at several points. Revenge route utilize the historic Sand Flats wagon road. Other segments of the Hells Revenge Trail were used previously for energy exploration and livestock management purposes. The growth of mountain-bi- ke riding on the Slickrock Bike Trail was at a lower level, also appears to be while use, Motorcycle unanticipated. are Like uses these becoming more Important to Moabs jeeping, increasing. to participate In these and other for The visitors economy. opportunity activities close to town has helped Moab to become a recreation destination area. Perhaps we have reached a point where it is necessary to look at basis. Both the SDckrock Trail recreation use around Moab on an area-wi- de In were Trails and the Hells Revenge partnership with user groups. developed BLM would Dke to continue that tradition and welcomes input regarding the use of the public lands. I ad eel Sincerely yours, discouraged? Why does the 1985 BLM guide to the bike trail say It Is for (motor) bikes only? when the painted bike trail overlaps the Jeep trail at many points. For example, a well established though seldom used section of Jeep trail goes around the north side of Shrimp Rock (the only significant place it can be seen is in the soft ground on the north side of the rock) and proceeds along the cliff edge of the river canyon. Your trail guide implies that Jeeps are not permitted on this and other sections of our trails. And the omission of any mention of our presence in the area has led many bicyclists who do not know the history of the trails to assume that we don't belong there and regard us with contempt. Our response to such an attitude is predictable. Are we disallowed from trail sections with the painted line of the 2. bike trail? So we now have a large number of bicyclists getting a lot of obvious attention (painted trail, signing, new parking lot, proposed toilets, to name what Im aware of). And the Jeepers and motorcyclists, outnumbered perhaps 50 to 1 in miles travelled have been put on the back burner and are not consulted In "improvements" to the Slickrock area, though they were historically the first on the scene. Small in number though our incursions may be, we have become apprehensive about our status there since the attitude of some bikers has emerged indicating a desire to rid the area of motor vehicles. Are we being quietly, subtly dispossessed of our right to use the 3. Slickrock area? We have been informed that bikers are In the process of finalizing several more miles of trail to be painted. If we are banned from the painted One of the bike trail, we wonder if we'll be surprised by a fait accompli excluding us from more of our trails there. Painting the trail per se does not disturb us, but the possibility of If In fact It Is being disallowed from those further sections of trail does, Susan L Skinner, Area Manager oh, the giant has stirred. For now, I think that well let this correspondence rest It was not our intention to prompt a "look at recreation use around Moab on an area-wi- de We realize that a simple "yes" or "no" answer is not always basis." and practical perhaps this is such a case. A few comments are in order: Youll note that the BLM response only addresses the unpainted, unmarked Hells Revenge Jeep Safari Trail, acknowledging that It makes contact with the bike trail at many points. No mention is made of other trails and routes used by 4 wheelers in the area which also are interwoven in some cases with the bike traiL Obviously, larger vehicles cannot follow the same course as motorcycles and bicycles. We go around, above and below steep slopes and narrow sections above drop-off- s. But we do go to the same places. Since no mention was made concerning restrictive effects of further painting of bike trail routes, we assume that we can Interpret this silence to mean that we are not restricted from the painted bike trail where it coincides with 4 wheel drive routes, the key being stated In the second ad paragraph of the BLM letter above: this area Is designated open to vehicle use. Therefore existence of the painted bike trail should not deny access of vehicles to any part of the area. other off-ro-ad Uh off-ro- |