Packing your garbage out this weekend.....

[Modman]

For all you hardcore camping fans that enjoy it out there in the wilderness, I just got back from the field south of Calgary, lots of quadders and trailers already heading out to the hills for the big May long - Remember that if you bring it with you out there, take it back home with you. Don't be an a$$hole and leave your couches/beer cans/general waste, out there for the rest of us to look at. If you see someone doing this, mention it to them and remind them that we will all lose these areas to enjoy if they can't be responsible. You can always take license plate #'s and report them that way too.

If you can't make an effort to keep it clean out there, you shouldn't be allowed to enjoy it.

Much like the Big Dawg, we have to be self-policing and can't rely on others to babysit us, lets demonstrate to the authorities that we are a responsible group of backcountry users, another "black-eye" weekend for us will likely result in the closure or restricted use of these areas.

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

And there are people out there just waiting for this to happen. Don't let it!!!

For all you hardcore camping fans that enjoy it out there in the wilderness, I just got back from the field south of Calgary, lots of quadders and trailers already heading out to the hills for the big May long - Remember that if you bring it with you out there, take it back home with you. Don't be an a$$hole and leave your couches/beer cans/general waste, out there for the rest of us to look at. If you see someone doing this, mention it to them and remind them that we will all lose these areas to enjoy if they can't be responsible. You can always take license plate #'s and report them that way too.

If you can't make an effort to keep it clean out there, you shouldn't be allowed to enjoy it.

Much like the Big Dawg, we have to be self-policing and can't rely on others to babysit us, lets demonstrate to the authorities that we are a responsible group of backcountry users, another "black-eye" weekend for us will likely result in the closure or restricted use of these areas.

 

[Modman]

Classic, just friggin' classic.



Some people are just too stupid to learn I guess.

 

[ZRrrr]

How sad.........

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

You could see that one coming. Again, it's so frustrating seeing mindless people ruining a sport for everyone else.
Wait and see, this will bring on more closures.

 

[Sledderglen]

Its only time. Goverrnent has all the money in the world to police a area but is broke,no budget,manpower or any education. Just put up closed signs and give out them tickets. I have had a few talks with the governmet over the years and they never change. The want the volunteer groups do the work and offer them no help in the recommended changes needed. Things are`nt going good here and BC will be next

 

[Burns]

Not defending anything that went on out there BUT - what does the government expect when they close all other rec areas and force everyone to one area. Maybe instead of closures there should be limits on the numbers allowed - that and people need to get a clue and have some respect.

 

[BigRed800]

I know a few out of the way places to go out quadding i dont mean to be selfish and keep them to my self but i think i will see whats going to come of these issues about other people being a## holes the riders who do take the extra time and effort to keep there little out of the places clean are going to be the ones who lose

 

[BigRed800]

Not defending anything that went on out there BUT - what does the government expect when they close all other rec areas and force everyone to one area. Maybe instead of closures there should be limits on the numbers allowed - that and people need to get a clue and have some respect.

Im with you i see you just sighed on how did you get so much cash in your casino fund must have hit the jackpot lol

 

[Modman]

....The want the volunteer groups do the work and offer them no help in the recommended changes needed. Things are`nt going good here and BC will be next

The government should not have to show up at all. This is not about whether or not they will close an area, their capabilties or lack of resources, its about users respecting the area and responsible stewardship of the land. Regardless whether the government shows up to police users or not, at the end of the day, its the users responsibility to ensure that when they leave, it should be like they were never there in the first place (within reason, I'm not ranting over a few quad tracks on a trail here and there) but leaving burnt cars, garbage and turning wilderness areas into mud bogs is not appropriate and shows a definite lack of respect and frankly, is downright embarrasing to us other users as this is the stuff that makes the news and these are then used as the representatives of our sport (see my "black-eye" comment above).


I guess my point is that no one should be required to pick up after these individuals, they should be responsible enough for themselves. This is obviously not the case and like BigRed said, I have kept our secret spots and will do so in the future to avoid these types of scenario's, my only concern is that my secret spots may be included in an area that is closed due to behaviour from individuals like these.

Further down the spiral.....

 

[Snowdin]

What do they expect when they close down recreation areas. All those people who went to the closed area are going to go somewhere. It's obvious there are a lot of ATV recreation users by the numbers that show up in the wilderness cutting locks and trying to find a place to camp.

The government should be increasing the camping areas not shutting them down. If there were camp sites available for everyone, then they wouldn't be driving around on other peoples property and wrecking it. If they had good facilities to accommodate everyone, they would have everybody in the same area and could then patrol for bad guys easier.

 

[NosRX1]

Wow thats really ashame it will get closed if this sort of thing keeps happening! I went to High School in Black Diamond, and May long back in the early 90's there may have been 50-100 people tops wow have times changed! I know ranchers in the area that want to see it shut down and this is only going to help there cause.....Its to bad that really is a great area to enjoy the outdoors

 

[Burns]

Im with you i see you just sighed on how did you get so much cash in your casino fund must have hit the jackpot lol

Lurking for a while - just took some time to post...

 

[medler]

If only the government would get some designated trails .For the big 4x4's and the quads.They are saying they are thinking about banning alcohol? Is that the real problem?Or the real fix?The Police can't search everyones trailer ,It comes down to not enough areas to ride and stupid people.I was out north of Nordegg and went through a big checkstop sat. afternoon at Jackfish lake,They were dumping booze left right and center.We got to our spot and there was a kitchen table laying on the ground,a stop sign laying in a pile,just stupid .I was going to try and bring the table back but it would not fit in the trailer.And the stop sign would fit,but i thought how would I explain to the police that i was returning it? Ya right.If this keeps up the areas are going to be lost for sure

 

[britt]

You could see this coming from a mile away!!! This still does not excuse the pigs that were involved in the mayhem at Maclain Creek!!!! Unfortunately when you shut down and restrict off road areas the slobs and morons will migrate to the next available area (there like rats looking for an area to devour). We will see another knee jerk reaction from the government on this by closing the doors for all motorized users in these areas. I don't know how you can control this because you are dealing with a mob mentality fueled by alcohol and drugs. All I know it is actions like this that puts a black eye on all of us as motorized users. Also this negates all the hard work done by volunteers trying to keep an area open; meanwhile get ready as the government closes more areas to motorized access!!!!!

Britt

 

[Snowdin]

The government should create more camping spaces, not close down more areas. They should make one area for the lunitics. Provide garbage cans and all. Charge them to camp there. Get their names and address and let them go nuts. If they leave the area in a mess. Send them all a portion of the clean up bill.

 

[Billy Boy]

It is kind of ironic that the provincial government is going to announce the Land Use Frame Work today; Just coincidence or good timing after the May long weekend destruction? Now Mr. Morton has been quoted as saying that more areas need to be open for off roaders and back country campers (no kidding sherlock!!!) time will tell if he wil stick to his word As to the long weekend destruction at Mclean Creek: keep it up you idiots its degenerates like you that give fuel to the environmentalists call to ban all motorized users in the back country

Billy Boy

 

[Modman]

What do they expect when they close down recreation areas.

That's twice I have seen that same phrase now - no offence dude, but my reply to that is: Well, I guess they expect people to be responsible and not leave their trash around, burn the forest down, destroy the wilderness. Are their expectations too high?

I go to the wilderness to get away from people and enjoy myself, not shack up with 1000 drunken idiots.

The government should be increasing the camping areas not shutting them down. If there were camp sites available for everyone, then they wouldn't be driving around on other peoples property and wrecking it. If they had good facilities to accommodate everyone, they would have everybody in the same area and could then patrol for bad guys easier.

They can't patrol the stuff they have, how can they make more? They handed out over 600 tickets last weekend, I would say they are out there patrolling. They have funnelled people into areas and created facilities but when some juvenile #$%&, chops down and burns the outhouse, what are they going to do? They have funnelled them into designated areas, those same people are simply destroying those areas now, instead of the other places they used to go (because they are closed - imagine that). The only defence the government has is to close the areas and restrict use, which is what they will do at Maclean Creek. The problem is that 90% of the population that uses these areas is responsible, its the remaining 10% that ruins it for the rest of us (a few bad apples spoil the bunch...).

I agree with Billy Boy, the low lifes of the backcountry are just adding fuel to the fire.

Sad to see.

 

[ZRrrr]

Got a report out of the Cadomin area this past weekend. Couches brought in and then left to burn after the party was over. Bottles and garbage left behind. River and creek destruction. WTF!!!!

I heard that Mr. Morton was thinking of eliminating any free camping and riding in the forestry areas after the weekend reports. People will be forced into the already limited camp sites that exist. Anyone not getting a site will be sent home.

I know one problem is that there just are not enough police and resource officers to handle the idiots. There used to be a time when more of us would approach these idiots ourselves and make them stop. Too scary to do that now since you'll get jumped, stabbed or shot.

No easy answer....but I would gladly pay more taxes for more officers and better organization of rideable areas. Keep the jerks out!

 

[Billy Boy]

Zrrr its funny that you would mention extra taxes for enforcement; in this mornings Caglary Herald it listed the "Land Use Policy Highlights" and one of the highlights is to have an environmental fee, charge or taxes in a possible green tax reform. Now what the environmental tax will mean is any bodys guess But that tax could go towards more enforcement but more than likely it will go towards fixing the damage that has been done over the past years to certain areas. One way to bring more revenue into the coffers for more enforcement and trail development is to have a surcharge tacked onto your quad, dirtbike, sled and possible 4X4 registration that would be designated for that purpose. A good way to enforce that is if you get caught without proper registration and insurance you lose your OHV for a year with with about a $5,000 fine tacked along with it!!!!even for a first time offense!!!
I think by tacking on the extra fee to your registration it would give the user a vested interest in using the backcountry areas responsibly.

Billy Boy