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Show tti fit QimM(rD(nirs 1 IKAlLS 7?ey are getting maintenance from Utah State Park's Trail Crews By Taylor S. Fielding Signpost asst. production mgr. By the end of September, the four members who comprise Utah Stnte Park's two Trail Crews will have completed maintenance work on off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails on six National Forests and two U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Districts in Utah. This maintenance includes removing fallen trees and rocks, as well as building water bars. Their work provides OHV riders with better trails to ride and helps ensure trails remain open. "With everything they're involved with fires, maintaining campgrounds and providing interpretive programs, as well as budget cuts, which have resulted in a lack of manpower, land managers for the Forest Service and the BLM aren't always able to maintain all the trails in their districts," Garth Taylor, OHV education coordinator with Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, said. "We've built a partnership with the land managers to provide this service to OHV enthusiasts."Scott Behunin, division OHV coordinator, came up with the idea for a Trail Ranger Program after seeing the success that the Idaho Parks and Recreation Department had with a similar program.Tine Utah Trail Ranger Program began in 1994, with a one two-person crew. In 1995, the program was expanded to two two-person crews. To date, the two crews have cleared trails in the Dixie, Manti-La Sal and Fishlake National Forests and the BLM's Richfield District. By September, they will have completed work in the Ashley, Wasatch and Uintah National Forests, as well as the BLM's Salt Lake District. "We tried to provide some assistance to every Forest Service and BLM district that requested help," Taylor said. Crew members travel the trails on motorcycles and use chainsaws, shovels, and pulaskis (trailworking tools) in their work. They are assisted by USDA Forest Service and BLM personnel, as well as volunteers from the areas where the crews are working."The crews are not building new trails, but are maintaining existing ones," Taylor said. "Trails that are not maintained are more difficult to access and ride." Funding for the crews comes directly from OHV funds, which is provided through OHV registration moneys and part of the state gas tax allocated for OHV programs. USDA Forest Service and BLM land managers arrange for the crew's lodging. "The response for the program has been very positive, due to the cooperative relationship we've built with the land managers and the great work the crews have been doing for them," Behunin said. "Volunteer projects on Utah trails mostly occur on a local basis," Taylor said. "The volunteer projects, such as the Adopt a trails program, mostly are coordinated through the Forest Service or the BLM." "Utah doesn't have very many organized groups for summer," Taylor said. "There are more organized groups in the winter, because the snowmobile clubs have a governing body which many OHV clubs lack." "Utah State Parks will assist volunteers as long as they are organized," Taylor said. Interested parties can contact Utah State Parks and be put in contact with the Forest Service, BLM, or other clubs in the state, Taylor said. "The government is cutting back," Taylor said. "We hate for the trails and trail systems to become a low priority, but that's the way it is." State parlc to host eventful Sunday By Taylor S. Fielding Signpost asst. production mgr. Jordan River State Park will be the site of several activities this Sunday, with archery shooting and a vintage motorcycle race. Salt Lake Archery, an organization of local archers, and Jordan River State Park will team up to present a day of arrow shooting and seminars at the site for a proposed archery area at the state park, said Mark Hadley Information Specialist for the Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admittance is free. Donations will be accepted, with the money raised going towards the development of a permanent archery facility at the park, Hadley said. The day will consist of arrow shooting at 3-D, life-size animal targets, as well as shooting at formal bullseye targets, Hadley said. If space permits, members of Salt Lake Archery will present 30-minute archery lessons to children, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Hadley said. Refreshments will be available and prizes will be awarded. The archery area is located at 1800 North Redwood Road. For more information about the archery event, call Larry Smith with Salt Lake Archery at 486-8242, or Jordan River State Park at 533-4496. In addition to the archery events, a chance to re-live the era of vintage motorcycle racing awaits park visi-tors as Vintage Motorcross Races are held at the off-highway vehicle park at Jordan River State Park, Hadley said. Pre-1974 motorcross motorcycles will race on the park's motorcross track. Races will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hadley said. The fee to attend the event is $5 a vehicle. Drinks and hamburgers will be available. The races are being ran by the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association and are sanctioned by the American What: Archery Event Where: Jordan River State Park When: Sunday, August 13, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: Free For more information call: Larry Smith, Salt Lake Archery, 486-8242 , or Jordan River State Park, 533-4496 What: Vintage Motorcycle Race Where: Jordan River OHV Park 2800 N. Rose Park Lane When: Sunday, August 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. , Cost: $5 a vehicle For more information call: 968-5838 Motorcycle Association, Hadley said. The Jordan River OHV Park is located at 2800 North Rose Park Lane. The easiest way to reach the park is to travel onInter-state-215 and get off at Exit 25. After exiting, turn east and then turn left onto Rose Park Lane. Rose Park Lane ends at the park, Hadley said. For more information about the vintage motorcycle race, call 968-5838. Outdoors Calendar -A August Thursdays & Fridays: Tours of the pioneer cabins and schoolhouse, TerritorialStatehouseStatePark,9a.m.to5p.m.,regularparkfee,call 743-5316 for more information. August 8 Fifth Annual 1880's Baseball Tournament, Golden Spike National Historic Site, 7 p.m., call 471-2209 for more information, continues through August 10. August 11 Campfire Program, Wasatch Mountain State Park, 7 p.m., free, call 654-1791 or 654-3961 for more information. August 12 19th Annual Railroader's Festival, Golden Spike National Historic Site, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, call 471-2209 for more information. Campfire Program, Wasatch Mountain State Park, 7p.m., free', call 654-1791 or 654-3961 for more information. 4th Annual Walleye Classic Tournament, Starvation State Park, call Alice Larsen at 722-4598 for more information, continues through August 13. Fielding Garr Ranch House Opening, Antelope Island State Park, $5 a car, call 773-2941 for more information, continues through August 13. August 18 Campfire Program, Wasatch Mountain State Park, 7 p.m., free, call 654-1 791 or 654-3961 for more information. August 19 Park's Birthday Party, Fremont Indian State Park, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., regular park fee, call 527-4631 for more information. White Rock Bay Star Party, Antelope Island State Park, dusk to 11:30 p.m., $5 a car, call 773-2941 for more information. August 21 Utah Friends of Paleontology meeting, Utah Field Houseof Natural History, 7 p.m., free, call Sue Ann Bibley at 789-3799 for more information. August 24 "Hopi: Songs of the 4th World, Hopi Traditions and PWlosophy," Edge of the Cedars State Park, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., call 678-2238 for more information. August 26 Antelope Island 1 2 Marathon, Antelope Island State Park, call 773-2941 for more information. Campfire Program, Wasatch Mountain State Park, 7 p.m., free, call 654-1 791 or 654-3961 for more information! Fielding Garr Ranch House Opening, Antelope Island State Park, $5 a car, call 773-2941 for more information, continues through August 27. September All month: Art Show, Fremont Indian State Park, call 527-4631 for more information. Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays: Various artists and craf tspeoples involved with the park's Artist in Residency program, Iron Mission State Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., regular park fee, call 586-9290 for more information. September 1 ' Labor Day Mountain Man Rendezvous, Fort Buenaventura State Park, call 621 1808 for more information, continues through September 4. Art Show, Territorial Statehouse State Park, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., regular park fee, call 734-5316 for more information, continues through September 4. September 9 Utah Centennial Bike Ride, Antelopelsland State Park, call 773-2941 for more information. September 14 Mountain Man Rendezvous, Bear Lake State Park, Rendezvous BeachBig Creek campground area, $3 a car, call 946-3343 for more information, continues through September 17. September 16 White Rock Bay Star Party, Antelope Island State Park, dusk to 11:30 p.m., $5 a car, call 773-2941 for more information. Fielding Garr Ranch House Opening, Antelope Island State Park, $5 a car, call 773-2941 for more information, continues through September 17. September 18 Utah Friends of Paleontology meeting, Utah Field House of Natural History, 7 p.m., free, call Sue Ann Bibley at 789-3799 for more information. September 21 "Native American Rock Art" lecture, by Joe Pachek, Edgeof thcCedarsState Park, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., call 678-2238 for more information. September 23 Utah's Raptor Watch Day, various locations throughout the state, 11a.m. to 5 p.m., call 538-4771 for more information. |