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With cooperation from ORBA and the SEMA group among other OHV organizations we have been working on a draft letter to be submitted out our newly appointed Secretary for the Department of the Interior, Honorable Ryan Zinke.
The goal here being that with so many newly appointed representatives within our government we may have greater success in expressing our concerns within our OHV communities.
The letter in whole is attached below (click to view). In essence the letters intent is to bring to light the huge economic impact stimulated from the out doors recreation community, and more importantly the motorized recreation component we're very familiar with. "As our nation’s largest landlord of federal lands, you have a unique opportunity to make these lands available to the American public in ways never done before in our country’s history." It was noted in our draft that in A 2012 study on outdoor recreation found that it contributed more than $646 billion to the national economy. Forty percent of that amount, more than $258 billion is directly attributable to motorized recreation.
We helped bring out 75 people total to the park that day.
This is exactly what the SFWDA Meet N Rides are all about: exposing folks to what Southern has going on these days, the accomplishments, status, and direction SFWDA is headed.
We helped bring out 75 people total to the park that day. Especially good when you can get this information in the ears of folks that may have never even had direct contact with Southern before. At the same time, getting these people out on trails too and leading them through trails many of them have never experienced before.
The rain that the park saw overnight before the ride changed the equation a little bit for the difficulty level for everyone and momentum became the name of the game. That, and some folks got some lessons on winch rigging and safety which is always good. The "easy" group went through two rather difficult obstacles together as a team using straps and winches whenever necessary for those without lockers and less aggressive tires. The route wouldn't have been quite as challenging when dry of course. Moderate and hard groups also saw their fair share of challenges but it was expected and didn't stop anyone.
Many thanks to Hale Mountain for opening up their park for us and we hope that many of the attendees will re-visit the park, perhaps when it's a little dryer. Also, thank you to SFWDA for covering the Chick-Fil-A biscuits and O.J. Saturday morning. After all, we are Southern so what's a get-together without good food! See y'all at Trailfest!
Great event for our club, SFWDA, and Hale Mountain Park. Thank y'all!
- Jake White
Owner / Operator CartoTracks.com
Rocket City Rock Crawlers
Complete Photo Collection of approx 250 images can be found on Cartotracks Facebook Page here.
SFWDA also wishes to thank Hale Mountain OHV Park, and
the Rocket City Rock Crawlers for leading our rides.
To be sure you don't miss out on any upcoming Meet & Rides or other SFWDA events be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter. Also checkout our Message Board on a regular basis and follow our Facebook Group page for the very latest group topics.
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Our friends at RCV have offered stepped up large and offered us an Ultimate Dana 44 CV Axle Set with a value of $1,249.
This will be raffled off to one lucky winner at Trailfest 2017!
Better buy your Raffle tickets......
Register Today, Sign Up for your rides, and we'll see you May 4-7 @ AOP!
https://www.sfwda.org/trailfest/
Ultimate Dana 44 CV Axle Set
Dana 44 U-joint axle shafts with a high-strength constant velocity design. Tests prove Ultimate CV Axles to be twice as strong as OEM Jeep JK shafts, and they're just as tough at a straight angle as they are at extreme angles - where U-joints are weakest. Ultimate CV Axles also eliminate U-joint binding to allow smooth transfer power to the ground. Even if you have big tires and big power there are no worries. Ultimate CV Axles are low maintenance and operate with a smoothness you can feel - whether off road or on the street. And we back it all with a "No Questions Asked" limited lifetime warranty.
Axle set includes right and left CV axle shafts, SST seals and installation tool, installation instructions, synthetic moly grease, and installation hardware.
Learn More....
https://www.sfwda.org/rcv
http://www.rcvperformance.com/product-details-axles.aspx…
#Trailfest2017 #SFWDA #RCV
TrailFest 2017 Volunteer Sign Up's are now open as we're hoping you will pitch in a couple spare hours to volunteer for something.
But have you ever wondered; " Why do I attend SFWDA events "?
How about..........4 days and nights worth of some amazing off road trails and rocks. Camping with hot showers and bath facilities. Dinner on Saturday night from a variety of food trucks. Free riding, guided trails, excursions, and as much fun as you can handle is also included in your admission.
Most importantly though you're supporting a core mission that benefits us all, to effectively preserve OHV trail access in the Southeast region and educate others to make sure our sport thrives on. It's what we do, and that is why we do it. Now, we need your support to make this event a success!
Sign Up Today & Learn More.....
https://www.sfwda.org/trailfest-volunteering/
#Trailfest2017 #SFWDA
Last year the T-N-T club out of Clemson, SC launched a new workshop which is funded by SFWDA grant funds and provides a totally free opportunity to learn the Tread Lightly! ® principles and how they play such an important role in our sport. With the success from last year we are continuing this initiative through 2017.
Education is at the core of our mission. Our goal is to educate enthusiasts and local citizens about what Tread Lightly! is all about, and why Environmental Stewardship is so important. When on the trail these steps are critical to preserve OHV access to public land for future generations. It's also a huge benefit knowing established best practices when off road that all fellow enthusiasts should aspire towards.
Interested?
Then join us for a three-hour workshop and our second annual Tread Lightly! training event that's entirely free to the public!
Last years workshop being led by Official Tread Lightly! trainers; Scott Fields, and Mike Morrison
Here is what you can expect......
This Awareness Workshop is a 3-hour course that will provide attendees with an introduction to Tread Lightly! principles as decision making guidelines while enjoying the great outdoors in a safe and responsible manner. The workshop will provide you with situational awareness, the know-how on minimizing your impact while recreating, and the outdoor ethic that will help sustain our trails for generations to come.
Many Great Door Prizes will be given away!
“The focus of this workshop will be on the Tread Lightly! principals. Uwharrie Off-Road Training Centers’; Scott Fields is a Tread Lightly! Master Training. He will be leading the workshop based on Tread Lightly’s! three hour workshop outline. Note that we will only be able to accommodate the first 100 people to register for this exciting event.” - Al Sweeney; SFWDA Vice President”
Event Details
COST =
There is NO COST for the event. This workshop is funded by grant proceeds from within SFWDA.
WHERE =
Youth Center at NewSprings Church
2940 Concord Rd
Anderson, SC 29621
HOW =
Register here and now online. It's free! We just want to know who all to expect.
You can also register in person at the event if space is still available but this event is limited to 100 attendees.
WHEN = Feb 25, 2017 ( 9 AM- 12 PM )
“Great Falls, MT, January 12, 2017 — The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) announced today that Russ Ehnes has expressed his intent to leave his position as Executive Director, effective June 1st, 2017. Ehnes, who has held that position for nearly 20 years, will be shifting gears to other opportunities in off-highway vehicle recreation, including managing the Bull Run Guest Ranch, near Great Falls, Montana.
by Karen Umphress | Jan 12, 2017”
Russ Ehnes
NOHVCC's Executive Director
“I am still fully committed to the mission of NOHVCC, and extremely proud of what we have all managed to accomplish,” said Ehnes. “NOHVCC is in a great position right now. Its mission has incredible momentum, with many positive initiatives, thanks to a large and energetic team effort by the NOHVCC staff and Board of Directors. The initiatives include the “Great Trails” resource book, Great Trails Workshops, trail design projects of NOHVCC Management Solutions (NMS), and our partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on its National Motorized Recreation Action Plan.
“I’m extremely proud and privileged to have worked with an incredible staff and board, who are dedicated to making the NOHVCC vision come true. I will still be involved in NOHVCC and keep contributing where the skill sets I have developed over the past 20 years can be put to good use. And, of course, I’ll remain engaged in off-highway vehicle (OHV) activism at the State and local level.”
NOHVCC will begin the search for a new executive director in the near future in order to provide a smooth transition and allow for continuity with its many OHV enthusiast, club, industry and agency partners.
-Calling all Volunteers in NC; Uwharrie National Forest Upcoming Work Day with the USFS Jan. 28, 9am
A quick note from Theresa Stevens Savery (Terry), on behalf of the National Forests in North Carolina, Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharrie is one of the few remaining public trail systems in the eastern US.
Hi Everyone – I wanted to send out the message about the January 28th Work Day. We’ll meet at 9 am at the Uwharrie Hunt Camp. We’ll work on armoring several wet areas on the trails with rock from Cotton Place TH, Dutch John TH and from sources on the trail. We’ll also put up some short sections of guardrail or the old log barricades up. If you have a trail trailer, pickup truck or other vehicle that can be used to haul rip-rap, large gravel, posts and guardrail please bring it that weekend. Also, if you’re chainsaw certified please bring your PPE and saw, etc. because we might not get out to the trails before then and with the storm this weekend we might have some trees come down on the trails.
Thank you everyone for your continued support. I appreciate it very much. Bye - Terry
Theresa Stevens Savery (Terry),
MS Forest Resources / Watershed Management
District Recreation Staff Supervisor
Forest Service
National Forests in North Carolina, Uwharrie National Forest
p: 910-576-6391 x102
c: 910-975-0274
f: 910-576-4171
tsavery@fs.fed.us
789 NC Hwy 24/27 East Troy, NC 27371
www.fs.fed.us
Caring for the land and serving people
Some photos taken from a recent work day cleanup in 2016. These events are all about volunteers working to ensure our trail access is preserved. being proactive and preventative. Working cooperatively as enthusiasts with the USFS.
From an email blast communicated by our friends at the USFS. This is an open invite for anyone looking to get more involved.
Join SFWDA and the USFS for the first of four collaboration workshops focused on developing a plan that will be used to create a proposed action for the Foothills Landscape. This is a great opportunity to share your views, discuss ideas, and interact with other members of the collaboration community and Forest Service employees -- a time to roll up our sleeves and really get down to work.
From the USFS;
We have had quite a jam-packed fall on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. The unseasonably dry weather has kept us busy fighting wildfires up north and attending to insect outbreaks down south. These pressing demands demonstrate even more that the need has never been greater for strategic, holistic, large-scale and long-range planning for a healthy, resilient forest. And we can't do it alone.
The Community Conversations this past fall gave us an overview of the attitudes, values and beliefs of community members. Now, looking forward, we need to begin to design on-the-ground actions that address the widespread resource challenges in an integrated way and on a scale that results in enduring impacts.
What to Expect Next:
Collaborative Workshops
We are planning four workshops before the end of August. These workshops will be focused on developing a plan that will be used to create a proposed action for the Foothills Landscape. This is a great opportunity to share your views, discuss ideas, and interact with other members of the collaboration community and Forest Service employees -- a time to roll up your sleeves and really get to work!
Our first upcoming workshop:
January 31st and February 1st
Lumpkin County Parks and Rec Community Center located at 365 Riley Road, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Learning and Sharing
Please take a moment to check out the thoughtful comments and robust discussions shared during the recent Community Conversations at www.tinyurl.com/FoothillsLandscape. The online forum for comments, discussions and sharing pictures worked so well during the Community Conversations we are going to use it again. In between the workshops you will be able to start discussions, post ideas and add comments on the restoration goals, treatment locations, and methods of treatment.
Also, share this update with others and encourage them to sign up to receive emails on the collaborative effort.
Thank you for helping make sure we are working together to do the right work in the right places for the right reasons.
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests provide the finest outdoor recreation opportunities and natural resources in Georgia. Featuring nearly 867,000 acres across 26 counties, thousands of miles of clear-running streams and rivers, approximately 850 miles of recreation trails, and dozens of campgrounds, picnic areas, and other recreation activity opportunities, these lands are rich in natural scenery, history and culture. The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Our streamlined new Trailfest 2017 Registration is setup, has been tested, and is ready to launch.
Live Friday morning; (1-20-17) at 8am Eastern.
Before that happens I wanted everyone to know we have a really special prize to give away from our friends at Warn, but it will only be offered to those who register online.
With our Ticket Multiplier this year the earlier you book the better your odds of winning.
Book your tickets online and qualify to win this exclusive Warn Winch raffle prize.
Warn Industries has graciously contributed a brand new shiny WARN® ZEON® 10-S Winch kit. Thats one of their top winches with a 10,000 lb rating, complete with remote, 100' of synthetic cable, aluminumm fairlead, hook and all.
https://www.warn.com/truck/winches/ZEON_10-S.jsp
