SFWDA Blog

There seems to be a perception that is spreading throughout the four wheel drive recreation community that the Upper Tellico OHV Area is closed. That perception is not correct. Currently the only trails closed are Lower 2, Trail 7, Trail 9 and a portion of Trail 8 with the remainder of the trails being open. There is a winter seasonal closure but this only affects the winter months.

Proposed actions by the Forest Service published in the scoping letter (which SFWDA is countering) would affect more trails but these are as stated “proposed actions” that are not in effect. This is not to say that we can rest on our laurels however. The risk is still there and we must continue with the Rescue Tellico efforts and maintain our stance for what we believe in. I have stated before and will state again that as an association our commitment to this effort is unwavering but it takes all of us to make it happen. Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and Blue Ribbon Coalition are united in this effort but once again it takes all of us.

Dixie Run registration is on the SFWDA web site (www.sfwda.org). The event is the premier four wheel drive event east of the Mississippi and if you are not aware is held in the Upper Tellico Area.  It is great time for everyone and helps support the Southern Four Drive Association efforts with the public lands we support. If you have not attended the Dixie Run and have been on the fence about coming, please come check it out.  I think you will have a good time.  If you planning to attend, we will see you there and thank you in advance for putting this event into your busy calendar.  As I wrote in a previous Presidents Corner, it truly is the “Dixie Run Experience”.

In closing, the UPPER TELLICO AREA IS NOT CLOSED!  Only the trails mentioned at the beginning of this article are closed. Go ride, support and enjoy this beautiful area. Also, we ask that you help us pass this message along.

See you there,

Gary

RESCUE TELLICO!

In the southeast when you think of premier four wheel drive events the Dixie Run automatically comes to mind as the number one event east of the Mississippi. This year amid the controversy concerning the Upper Tellico OHV Area, there has been speculation that the event will not be held. Well folks, it is Dixie Run time again!

Greg Griffith who has been coordinating this event for over twenty years likes to call it “a little event known as the Dixie Run”. This event started with humble beginnings over twenty two years ago in McNabb Creek Campground. As the event has grown over the years it is now in its present location located just outside of Murphy, NC and has quickly become what I believe to be the “Dixie Run Experience”. I cannot take credit for that statement however. Bob Yarbrough, former President of Southern, and now Past President, coined that phrase a few years ago and it is certainly a true statement.

There is a great atmosphere when amongst the four wheel drive faithful who make the trek every year from all over the southeast and even the entire country to be a part of this event. It is seeing people you may not see but once year at the Dixie Run and playing catch up and the enthusiasm of first timers who vow to be back next year. It is the sounds of vehicles being repaired at all hours of the night, the smell of campfires mixed with the smells of various meals being cooked. It is the sounds of laughter and conversations mixing as trail stories are being told. It is vendors, raffles, silent auctions, and the sense of purpose knowing the real reason of the event and that is to support the trail maintenance that Southern Four Wheel Drive Association has done over the years and still does today. It is the dedication of the many volunteers that it takes to pull an event of this magnitude off. It is all of these things and more all set in a beautiful area that regardless of where you travel, it is hard to beat. Oh yes, I forgot to mention the four wheeling!

As mentioned, the purpose of the Dixie Run event is a fund raiser to support the trail maintenance we do. This year it goes even deeper. With the issues facing the Tellico area, this event is critically important this year not only from the Southern and Rescue Tellico financial standpoint but to remind the businesses in the Murphy and surrounding area just how much an event like the Dixie Run brings in revenue to their area and the following the sport of four wheeling has.

So we look forward to seeing your there! If you are a repeat attendee welcome back! If you have always wanted to go but never have, now is the time to come on down! Check out the web site, www.sfwda.org, for details. Come support Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, Rescue Tellico, and all of the other Off Highway areas we help support and enjoy the fun fellowship of the event.

See you there.

Gary Parsons
President Southern Four Wheel Drive Association

At the third quarter meeting last year I told the folks attending that we were facing some defining times for Southern Four Wheel Drive Association and this is proving to be very true. Eighteen months ago the last thing we would have ever thought about is filing a lawsuit against the forest service but here we are making our stand for what we believe in with United Four Wheel Drive Associations and Blue Ribbon Coalition along with us. As of this writing we have had no official response to the lawsuit. That is not surprising however but we can be sure the response will come in due time.

If you have been looking at the forums, our web site, etc., you have seen the latest proposed actions for the Upper Tellico Area that was released by the forest service on June 9^th. There was a month public comment period which ended on July 9^th. What the forest service was looking for during this comment period was alternate proposed actions for Upper Tellico, and not just the keep the area open letters (although those do help). Southern submitted a rather extensive plan to counter the forest service proposed actions. Jay Bird, Heather Royston, Gunnar Byrd, Griff Shirley, along with input from many others spent a lot of time drafting out our answer and our appreciation goes out to them for the hard work. This has been signed, sealed and delivered to the forest service and we look forward to discussing our proposals with them.

This brings us to the title of my article, (which will also double as my Presidents Corner on the website). The Time is Now! As most everyone should know by now, there was a frustrating time when not much communication could happen about the lawsuit. There were a lot of questions about what was Southern doing, etc. When the notice of intent (NOI) to sue the forest service was filed by Trout’s Unlimited and the Southern Environmental Law Center in June 2007, emotions ran high (rightfully so) and the call to Rescue Tellico was in full force. At that time we were not sure what the future held (and we still don’t to some extent) but we knew we had to mobilize and be prepared to stand our ground. Like many highly charged situations, it is easy to peak and when things level out and it seems like there are periods of inactivity, it is easy for frustrations to build and it is also easy for the enthusiasm in the cause to wane. As an association, Southern’s commitment to this cause is unwavering, however everyone must realize that we are in a marathon and not in a sprint. In other words we must be able to sustain our enthusiasm over the long haul. We also must be able to support the legal battle that is very likely ahead over the long haul. Please continue your support of Rescue Tellico. We are trying to keep the latest news and developments posted so everyone will know what is going on.

There has been some criticism about Southern focusing too much on Tellico and not caring about the overall big picture relating to the sport, especially when it comes to private areas. It is no secret that Southern was formed to support public lands and Tellico was the focal point at that time. Over the years, this support has spread to other public lands such as Uwharrie, Beasley Knob, Rich Mountain, Anderson Creek, Royal Blue along with Tellico. I know I have probably left some areas out but you can check out the web site to see what we do. We believe very strongly in access to public lands. Private parks are a part of the sport, a necessary part, and our member’s support these areas by visiting them and riding and as an association have even held meetings at some of them. There are private areas in Tennessee that are feeling the effects of environmental pressures for the standpoint of closure and proposed fines and this is an ongoing situation that is nothing new especially out west. In another Trail Mix article several issues back, I mentioned that when I first got into the sport some fifteen years ago (how time flies when you are having fun) I was told that within ten to fifteen years we would see pressures to close Tellico just as places like Moab and even the Rubicon Trail were seeing back then and even today. At that time I did not realize just how prophetic those words would be.

As an association, we try to do what is right for the sport as a whole. The issues facing Tellico actually go deeper than the Tellico area and more than likely will have implications that will affect all areas, both public and private areas across our nation and even areas and industries that deal with the Clean Water Act that are not associated with our sport. So yes we are focusing on Tellico. Not only do we not agree with the trail and area closures and want to keep the area open but we also see the potential issues that could affect a lot of different things down the line. This brings us to where we are now as far as standing up for what we believe in and doing what is right for the sport.

I attended the open house held by the Forest Service on June 28^th and saw several members from Southern there, along with Trout’s Unlimited folks, and curious members from the Murphy community. It was good opportunity speak with some of the Forest Service representatives and while there were no formal presentations and the information on display was nothing new to those who have been keeping up with this issue, it did give a chance to ask questions. I was interviewed by a reporter from The Cherokee Scout, one of the Murphy, NC newspapers. If you saw the article, one quote I gave the reporter that he did not use (actually he did not include several of my quotes) was that we strongly believe that the Tellico area can coexist with all users and still keep the challenging trails open. I really wish he had included that in my quotes. While in Murphy, I also got at chance to talk to a couple of business owners who strongly support our efforts. They are working to get their fellow business owner to follow suit and help support us.

We still have the regular business of Southern going on as well as the Rescue Tellico effort. The second quarter meeting and Summer Convention was held in Murphy at Crawford’s Camp hosted by the Southeast Toyota Land Cruiser Association. We thank both Crawford’s and STLCA for putting everything together and making it a success. We also thank the Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Team for being there giving the opportunity to drive the new FJ Cruisers and furnishing and cooking the Saturday night dinner. The meeting discussed the June 9^th Scoping Letter of the proposed actions concerning Tellico. The third quarter meeting will be held September 13 in Tracy City, TN hosted by the Damn Locals. They always provide great hospitality. Please make your plans to attend.

<>In closing, once again The Time is Now! Please support the Rescue Tellico efforts and help us stand up for what we believe is right. This is not going to be an over night solution to these issues and we must be up for the fight over the long haul. Information on how to donate to Rescue Tellico is on the web site: sfwda.org.

Thanks for your support.

Gary

testing, testing, is there anyone out there?

Started around 9 AM, installed an ITP Diesel pre-pump filter kit.  Al came over and helped, it s was difficult to pull the entire tank without some help.  Rmoved the tank, installed a 12 micron filter, performed the “harpoon” mod, installed the ITP Diesel in-tank mods to eliminate the “mixing valve”, reinstalled the tank, and everything worked very well.  IPT Diesel instructions are the best I have ever encountered.