How do we stop the damage?

Jason Howell

Explorer
Nov 23, 2009
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Tony

Scout
Jul 30, 2015
68
43
72
Folsom
I thought he was related to all three stooges
By the way I was out riding today and saw park police on soot road and high crossing.
Looks like they are patrolling
 

NJChileHead

Explorer
Dec 22, 2011
831
628
Well I wish everyone would just relax and stick to the issues instead of getting personal. But I'm not willing to move this thread as it currently stands. Of course, that could change if things continue going downhill…. ;)

Thank you for saying so. In my experience, this forum has historically been a community of people who may not agree with everything, but are at least respectful to one another. It would be nice if this would continue.
 

Jon Holcombe

Explorer
Dec 1, 2015
967
1,934
Medford
Well I wish everyone would just relax and stick to the issues instead of getting personal. But I'm not willing to move this thread as it currently stands. Of course, that could change if things continue going downhill…. ;)
Boyd, I apologize. There are two posters in particular that come out of the woodwork whenever MAP and offroad is discussed, and they offer nothing else other than attacks on Jason. I attempted to poke fun at his garbling of Jason's last name, and it fell flat. This forum, and the advice and knowledge of the members here, is extraordinary. In the future, I will resist my knee jerk reaction to defend the underdog. My mantra will be "shut up and point your camera".
 

NJChileHead

Explorer
Dec 22, 2011
831
628
Hi Jon,

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who notices it. Now I don't agree with everything that Jason says and he's certainly drawn the ire of some folks and perhaps for good reason, but this forum is something special and I don't want to see good people start leaving in disgust because of a cultural shift toward meaningless personal attacks.

This forum is stacked with knowledgeable people with many years of boots-on-the-ground experience, we'd all be fortunate if it would stay that way.

Chilehead
 
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Tony

Scout
Jul 30, 2015
68
43
72
Folsom
I ran into some park police officers two weeks ago. They said things were quite out in Wharton with no
New damage to report. So it appears that the damege is stopping. Does that make everyone happy now.
 
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WaretownMike

Explorer
Jul 16, 2013
186
100
52
Waretown
It's not a new opinion. I always chuckle a bit when someone makes me out to be some kind of experienced political operative. Before last year I was a photographer and cinematographer exclusively. I have never lived anywhere else but the Pine Barrens(travelling for work) and got passionate about this issue because I am in a long term personal film making project on the natural wonders of the pines. Coming to a place that I have never been to and finding it annihilated before I get a chance to see it is quite galvanizing.

My last film project http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/spring-tribeca-review-884272

So the thousands of $$$ you have made from working on the PPA's website has no influence here?
 
Feb 1, 2016
273
133
53
Camden County, NJ
Hopefully one day common sense will prevail and the 1997 USGS maps will become the official roadmaps for Wharton and beyond. Just add some additional details demarcating already established state natural areas, environmentally sensitive areas, and already existing no motorized areas like lower forge camp. Stay on the roads. Don't drive into bogs, swamps, vernal ponds, wetlands, etc. Pretty simple. NJParks and Forestry in conjunction with DEP and other State actors should and do have the ability to close roads (temporarily or permanently in rare cases as needed) for safety, maintenance or based on newly emerging data regarding the road condition. Looking forward to 2017, may cooler heads balance access with prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law those who despoil, damage and destroy our Pinelands.
 
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Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
25,602
8,178
To me there is no need to have any map as a guide. Just stay on the roads, don't drive in wetlands where the road does not go, and life will be good. I don't want to be on some side road somewhere and the Park Police come up to me and say it is not on a topo. If the road is there I am going down it if I have something I want to get to. And if you watch the interview of Al Horner online he does the same thing and I am sure many other people who have spoken out in favor of the MAP do so also. Don't let them kid you. So lets just catch those who seriously break the law and leave the rest of us to enjoy the woods we own.
 
Feb 1, 2016
273
133
53
Camden County, NJ
To me there is no need to have any map as a guide. Just stay on the roads, don't drive in wetlands where the road does not go, and life will be good. I don't want to be on some side road somewhere and the Park Police come up to me and say it is not on a topo. If the road is there I am going down it if I have something I want to get to. And if you watch the interview of Al Horner online he does the same thing and I am sure many other people who have spoken out in favor of the MAP do so also. Don't let them kid you. So lets just catch those who seriously break the law and leave the rest of us to enjoy the woods we own.
That sounds great in theory and I agree with your concern about ticketing but I am concerned that without drawing a line in the sand and saying "these are the official roads/trails" that the significant number of folks coming from near and far will start developing their own trails, which will become roads at some point but will not be State sanctioned and will not have had the planning/oversight to determine if T&E species as well as general Pines flora is being protected (not to mention aesthetics!). Time will tell if DEP and NJPC decide if the Pinelands need a map. Time will tell.
 
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smoke_jumper

Piney
Mar 5, 2012
1,518
1,046
Atco, NJ
I agree. While a map is useful I don't agree it's necessary. You can use 1st beach as an example. It's not a road and any map wouldn't protect it any more then it already is. It's posted no motor vehicles. It is only a half a mile from the ranger station and just off a highly traveled dirt road. The only thing that would prevent further vehicular damage there would be a barrier like what was used at Atsion to close off the helicopter area. Using a map as an enforcement tool is more confusing then having no map in my opinion.
 

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,153
4,257
Pines; Bamber area
I agree with Pine Barrens Advocate. A lot of you were okay with the correct Topo Map before. Let's not change in midstream and make this so hard. You'll lose State support.

Like you, I may unknowingly wander onto a trail that is not on the map. If I get caught, my fault.
 
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