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There is a proposal that will be voted on today in Sacramento that will “SAVE STATE PARKS”. That sounds great doesn’t it? Well yes, EXCEPT the proposal TAKES $21million out of our OHV “Trust Fund” and gives it to State Parks.
If this is successful then the effect will be that all the State OHV funding for areas like CC Camp, Cow Mountain, Stonyford, Georgetown, Foresthill, Shasta-Chappie, Metcalf, pretty much all BLM and Forest Service OHV areas will be eliminated.
There are 3 Senators who have to vote today on this proposal for it to move forward to the next level. We need 2 NO votes to stop the theft of our OHV $$.
The good news is that we have 1 NO vote.
We need to tell the other 2 Senators to vote NO and keep their hands off of our OHV Trust Fund.
Call Senator Joe Simitian’s office at 916-651-4011
Call Senator Alan Lowenthal’s office at 916-651-4027
Be polite. The people that answer these phone calls are office staff and are not the decision makers. They will pass the message on.
The general message is “OHV Trust Fund money is for OHV recreation, it is not for State Parks to use. Vote NO on the SAVE STATE PARKS proposal.”
Ask that they pass your message on to the Senator before the hearing today.

If you have a couple of more minutes and live in the general Santa Rosa area, Senator Noreen Evans is probably your representative. Call her office at 916-651-4002 and tell her staff the same thing. She is also a supporter of this plan.
You can watch the hearing today at 2:30 at this link. mms://192.234.214.75/SEN-4203
Thank you for any effort you can put on this.
Visit our Action Center for more here: http://cal4wheel.com/action-center

Art

“Kid’s on the Rocks was started in 1990, by a dedicated group of volunteers who worked with the US Forest Service and several organizations that assist developmentally disabled “kids”. Over the last 20 years we have given thousands of people a very memorable experience in the forest that they would likely never get. We combine the talents of off road drivers, organizations who can donate and participate, and willing volunteers to help prepare the great Bar-B-Que we have at the end of the run.”

It is a great experience for all.

I plan on going up Thursday or early the Friday before.  Camping is on a first come basis but there is usually plenty of dispersed camping areas and camping at the Niagara Trail OHV Campground.

Let me know if you plan to attend so I can provide an as accurate as possible head count.

Pres Bill.

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It’s that time of year again.  Time to show off your rig before the Rubicon trip.

Livermore Rodeo Parade on Saturday June 9th.  Plan to be there about 8:30AM.  More info to follow.

Last years event – http://madhatters4x4.com/blog1/?p=390

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We had a guest speaker at our April meeting providing information on a neat 4WD OHV event called The “Nevada Trophy 2012″.
A GPS navigational rally to challenge your skills. The event starts on 6/21/12. Check it out.
Information can be found at http://www.offroadexperience.com/nvtr12info.htm

Pres Bill

Given the distance and duration of this trip, I’ll start posting some plans for this trip. It will be over the week of Thanksgiving. Currently, planning to head down either late Friday (11/15) or early Saturday (11/16) and set up camp at Panamint Springs Resort. They have motel rooms, only RV/full hookup RV sites, plus a large group site, as well as a full restaurant (and bar – this is key). The food is kinda pricey (but generally good w/ large servings), and the beer is decently priced for the 22-32oz mug  There is usually gas available here, tho note that it tends to be $1.50-2.00 higher than in civilization, but its really the only gas around for 50+ miles (one way distance to Lone Pine). My advice is bring several jerry cans if possible. Or just plan on $5-6/gal for regular.

They do a big Thanksgiving dinner, gratis, for anyone in camp for Thanksgiving Day, so the campground tends to fill up, particularly the full-hookup RV sites. Plan ahead – make site reservations for whatever period of time you think you might be there – they don’t charge in advance and have a 48 hr cancellation policy. And they have WiFi, so if you have the ability to work remotely, it makes for a great office away from the office . No cell coverage to speak of tho.

A number of folks are scoping out a side trip either at the beginning of the trip or end to Front Sight firearms training over in Pahrump. Depending on who is coming down when, I may or may not plan to head over to Front Sight (http://www.frontsight.com). If anyone who isn’t a member is interested in taking a course, I have a bunch of class certificates.

I’ll start compiling a list of trails I’m considering, but there are numerous places to explore around the Death Valley/Panamint Valley region. Trail conditions can be pretty variable due to washouts and the occasional landslide, but other than Isham Canyon that has some tight spots with some damage likely, pretty much everything else is generally passable with most mildly modified rigs. Many of the trails are routes to old mining operations/town sites, so lots of neat stuff to see.

If you are planning on coming or thinking about it, give me a heads up as to which days, etc.

More to come…

Art

I have to work on Friday so will not be driving up Friday morning.   If I don’t get in until late on Friday we will meet at the Shelter Cove Marina at 8:00 AM Saturday morning.  Please contact me if you are planning on going on this run and have not already let me know.   Weather should be good and it should be a fun run.

For those interested in joining us on the Lost Coast Run here is the scoop. The run will be the weekend of May 5. If you want to caravan up with us we will meet at the Starbucks in the Hacienda shopping Center at 8:00 AM on Friday. It is about a 5 hour drive up Rte 101 to get there. We will stop for lunch along the way. We will be staging out of Shelter Cove. Carmen and I are staying at the Inn of Lost Coast 888-570-9676. There is BLM camping at the Wailaki campground.  Check out the link below for more info.   My plan is to come back Sunday via Usal Road if it is not too wet.   This is one of the most remote roads in California and follows the coast in an undeveloped area for about 50 miles.  There is dining and a small crocery store in Shelter Cove for supplies.   The wheeling for the most part will be easy with only mud in some areas to deal with.   All rigs are welcome.    I will not be at the next meeting so please contact me to let me know that you are going so that we do not leave anyone behind.     You are also welcome to meet us at Shelter Cove if you cannot leave Friday morning.   My contact info is 510-414-5323 or tgunther@comcast.net.   I am looking forward to a good trip.

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcata/kingrange/campground.html

A word of warning – come prepared as strange things tend to happen in this area and make sure to carry plenty of ratchet straps.

Looks like trails such as Barrett, Strawberry, Deer Valley – total of around 40 routes are facing possible/likely closure due to lawsuits by the CBD and others against the Forest Service

Art