Hello all....
It's been about a year since I visited this site. I lost my job due to the "stimuLESS package" and the reasons for it and just have not been so "web active" since returning back to work. But it's the time of the year where I like to get out in the woods and enjoy it myself and with my children.... So I figured I check in... I stumbled on this discussion
If you want to know about me, I started this thread which went from a very good discussion to a 'slag pile' or what ever someone refer to earlier in this post.
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=5147
I have been involved in this sport for about 25 years, not nearly as long as Y-Buc, but a pretty long time.
I hear some of the "situations" being talked about in this thread and I will tell you these are some we have tried to address in the past, were going to do this year and will do our best to accomplish in the years to come.
Someone questioned why people are not informed about the events, either by web postings or signage...
Something we tried to do years back....
We requested to the state forest (under a completely different management structure at the time) to place nice, professional made laminated, signs up the day prior and the day of the event at any road that would 'link' into the course...
Permission denied...
Last year when I was on this site more often, I posted information about any event that I was aware on happening and where it was taking place if someone did not beat me to it... off road events, horse events.... cub scout clean ups...
This year we were informed that any advertisement of our event could not take place until all the permits were granted and the route was approved, from the 5 state reviewing agencies in Trenton, NJ DEP, Pinelands Commission, NJ State Police, all towns entered and the Wharton Forest..
That was not completed until 3 day prior to the event...
I and a few other guys took off work Monday after the event and spent most of the morning and afternoon in the woods with racks in hand and removing alot of the berms created and picking up trash around the same areas (I will tell you it was not trash left from the event, we just cleaned it up while we were there) we had a dumpster at the start so we put it to good use...
I’m hearing some complaints.... or suggestions....
I agree about the traffic on Carranzza Rd...
Next year I will see what I can do to get all parking on one side facing the same direction, if that area is used again. That area does not have any police force so it can not be request to be patrolled. The rangers, with a very thin staff were all over the place at different times assisting and monitoring as they deemed fit, as were the state troopers assigned to the event. We are not permitted to place signs on the side of the roads as far as I can remember from asking in prior years.
All I can say is that if you meet one of our thousands of members that belong either in a participation capacity, were a family member of young kids watching, most by far respect the pines as much as any of you and have a desire to see them protected as well as recreate with in them.
I myself am a true believer that all trail user can get along and share the 1.1 million acres as well as protect the sensitive areas and inhabitants.. I have worked with and organized others to help with other events within 2 state forests over the past 2 years. If you have an event, Horse, mountain bike, running or what ever where a motorcycle or horse rider can help in anyway, I urge you to contact me and if I can not help I have a network of horse riders and bikes riders that will...