Matt’s Off Road Games
- Thread starter BCN
- Start date
Ddays
Hooked
Funny how we're all figuring how these NGO's, 5013C's, non-profits & whatever other scams are out there all work now. Granted there are some that do some good, but I no longer give money to these groups.
JT@623
Hooked
bigcale
Active Member
Not to hijack the thread or anything. What, in your opinion, is the best option for donating to helping keep our trails open?
Obviously here we have a number of members who may want to donate, or volunteer, or do something that might make an actual difference in keeping our access. Is it something like Tread Lightly, Stay the Trail, or local clubs like Red Rock 4 wheelers in Moab?
bobfriesenhahn
Hooked
The Moab trails were "saved for later".LOL - right?! We also saved over 300 miles of trails in Moab, UT that way too.
View attachment 421975
Good thing we had all those non-profits to "fight" for our trails
bobfriesenhahn
Hooked
None of this makes a difference without identifying the person/persons who make the decisions, and why they make them. Decisions important to us are made by just a few people. They might be in a local office, or in DC.
GP NOIR
Hooked
You're right. When the feds decide to close a trail, close off the Mojave Desert as a wilderness area and sell land to blighted with solar panels and windmill farms in the name of saving the planet, seize lands from the state, groups like UPLA aren't even a speed bump. That doesn't mean they aren't out there trying to do something. Maybe I am gullible for betting on hope that someday things will get turned around. With the Trump administration, I think it's possible. Does anyone have something better? If you do, let's hear about it.
Getting back to my original point, Matt does good things.
DirtHeadDavis
Hooked
Don't know about donating but I think the best way to keep trails open is to not tell every one and their mother about it so shitheads can hear about it and go fuck it up for all of us until it's eventually closed.
GP NOIR
Hooked
The downside to that are the trails that get closed because they're "not commonly used". I saw that happen first hand out in Mojave before the Mojave National Preserve was formed. Back then, we ran into a couple hiking off-road trails to identify which were "commonly used" and those which weren't. Trails identified as "not commonly used" were soon closed.
We get hammered at both ends of the spectrum. They close trails that get too much use and trails that get too little.
Ddays
Hooked
100%
I'd say give the land back to the states but those dumb fuckers would end up closing everything down - makes me gag to say this but we're probably better off with the feds administering them
BCN
Member
I bet there was a little vomit in your mouth after that.
From what I have seen, there is no best option when it comes to giving money to others and with the hope that they'll help to keep trails open. The most that does is make you feel better about yourself, like you're doing something and while lining the pockets of those who say they'll fight for you.
Unfortunately, I don't think there's any putting the genie back in the bottle and it really is just a matter of time before all access is lost. I hope I'm wrong but like I always say, "hope" is just another way of saying "wishful thinking". That said, if you really want to make an "actual difference", YOU need to get your hands dirty and make that difference. Clubs are maybe the best option for doing just that as many work hard with entities like the Forest Service or BLM and to maintain existing trails. However, with the advent of social media, clubs have been falling out of favor and many of they are dying. Worse, some are starting to advocate for the closure of some trails, as a kind of sacrifice and with the hopes of keeping others open. Also, some make it so that only THEY can run the trail and I personally find both to be abhorrent.
So, for me personally, I just try my hardest to enjoy what's still available now and for as long as I can. Certainly, I'm not getting any younger.
Of course, this is just me.
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I'm not trying to be right. I'm just stating facts.
I disagree. I'm not convinced in the least that any of these groups are actually trying to turn things around. Certainly, there is ZERO track record of success from any of them actually making a difference or at least, for as long as I've been doing this Jeep thing. And don't get me wrong, I used to be just like you, wishfully thinking that they'll make a difference and feeling good about myself for preaching the good they're trying to do. But hey, your faith is yours to hold on to
As much as I like the orange man bad, I can't say that I share in your optimism. He's all about privatization and even giving states more rights and at face value, both are good things but not necessarily for keeping trails open.
I don't know Matt for Adam and so far as I know, he's a great guy. But I gotta say, you telling me that he does "good things", doesn't exactly instill a whole lot of confidence that he actually does.
This ^^^ is or used to be the single best way to keep trails open. In fact, there are still a few places and clubs that do a really good of this and it's made a HUGE difference in their locals.
Sorry but this is just nonsense. It was Bill Clinton that closed the whole area down back in 1994 by making it a National Preserve and yes, many trails within it were closed to vehicular traffic at that time. Hell, in some places even foot traffic is prohibited and I know because I spent the better part of my life exploring the area. However, these trails were closed because they now resided in a NATIONAL PRESERVE. Same is true of National Forests, National Scenic Areas and even Wildlife Areas.
Man, I really hate saying it too but BLM land is still the most amazing land and it is a big part of why I live where I do.
GP NOIR
Hooked
Yes, this is so and it's not just you. While I hope things change, this cannot be denied
