I would say that this forum has been started and I think the issue is "trail closures" and how to keep what access is left, open for our children and grandchildren. In my case, great grandchildren in another 10 years or so.
Public perception, in my humble opinion, is 75% of our battle. A few bad apples that exist in every demographic will give the anti- (fill in the blank) groups ammunition to have their way. In our case, overlander two-trackers, for lack of a better term, get it coming from all directions. Unfortunately we get lumped in with Billy-Bob and his skyjacked, black smoking, sitting of 45s, way overbuilt vehicle. When John Q Public thinks of a 4wd off road vehicle that image is etched into his mind. We as overland two-trackers are a far cry from that over built vehicle and John Q Public isn't even aware of our existence. They think of that way over built vehicle and associate it with 4 wheeling, and in turn associate it as being in the back country. They naturally come to the conclusion that, yes, that land needs to be protected and those trails need to be closed. That is just one piece of the puzzle.
In the backcountry we have all seen 3 or 4 trails leading to the same destination carving up the sides of hills. You cannot help but think that some one, years ago, decided he was going to make his own new trail with his overbuilt rig. He did, and so did 10s of thousands of others. Still today, there are people that believe to their core that they have the right to do that. Fortunately, on public lands, there are some hefty fines and penalties in an attempt to prevent making your own personal road.
Now for a really touchy subject. Imagine, if you will, that you are a member of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and you and your wife are back packing in the Grand Staircase. It's been a long day and you find yourself hiking on a two track. Three overland vehicles come your way, slowly, efficiently. The the lead driver pulls to a gentle stop, window down, and says hello, how are you, do you need anything? Do you have plenty of water? We have extra. Everything is fine, you say. Pleasantries are exchanged as everyone remarks on the beauty of the region. and perhaps even exchange e-mail addresses. A very pleasant interaction. Why? Perception created by first impression. The next day you awake, hike a bit, and find yourself on another two track at the end of the day. Somewhere off in the distance you can hear a gentle rumbling. It's confusing, you can't quite put your finger on whats making the noise. Almost immediately you see a long, very long cloud of dust coming at you. The driver and passenger smile and wave as they rumble by. Then, it is one vehicle after another. They all drive by, smile and wave. You lose count after the 9th 0r 10th vehicle. They just keep coming. It had to have been at least 15 vehicles, maybe as many as 25. Once they all pass, not only are you recovering from a subtle form of shock, you realize you and your wife are completely covered in dust. The next Monday at work, you go to SUWA's website and donate another 100 bucks.
My question is, should any of us be going out in large groups on public lands? I know, I know, I've opened up a can of worms here, but I believe that it should be a topic of discussion on this forum. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the sense of community that we have as overlanders. In Moab last April a fellow member, pre-500, stopped by at the gas station and we chatted for a bit, took some photos and went on our separate ways. Way cool. Two years ago a fellow member allowed me to park our trailer on his property so we could go and visit our daughter in Houston. Way cool, and I have the abilty to do that for or help out any member in my amatuer shop, as they visit Pennsylvania. But, back to the discussion at hand. What perception are we inadvertently creating? Is it important to scrutinize our overlanding practices? "Leave No Trace" is obviously a practice we must all adhere to, but is it enough? Do I have my head completely immersed in my rear? Be Good, Do Good,
Don..
