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December 30, 2007
Wanted: Hikers to Help Defend the Hiking Experience
Illegal Motorized Use in the Nantahala National Forest
Photo taken by Jeffrey Hunter on the Fires Creek Rim Trail
Today the Sunday NY Times has a feature article entitled "Off Roading Surge Stirs Dust and Debate in the West." If you read the article, you get the impression that the problem with illegal and unregulated motorized recreation on public lands is restricted to the west. Of course, that's not so. In fact, the problem is widespread, and is acute in some areas here in the southeast and elsewhere across America.
As a hiker, few things upset me more than seeing the damage inflicted to trails and the public lands that surround trails by Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs). Over the last decade, OHV ownership has exploded. Unfortunately, law enforcement on our public lands has not kept pace with this destructive activity. The results of this are clear; eroded trails, illegal incursions into Wilderness areas, smoke and noise belching on our public lands, rare plants destroyed, frightened wildlife, and in many cases, a diminished hiking experience. Let's be clear. Regardless of your recreational interests, no one has the right to destroy our public lands!
As an staff member of American Hiking Society, few things make me prouder than our work to deal with the OHV issue. As the national voice for America's Hikers, we take few issues more seriously than this one. Here in the southeast I have worked with local trail clubs and the media to draw attention to this issue. In 2007, this resulted in an AP article calling attention to ATV damage on the Benton MacKaye Trail in NE Georgia. Our Western Public Lands Initiative Manager Seth Levy has been working hard on this issue, as has our policy expert and VP for Programs Celina Montorfano. Our Oregon based Recreation Policy Specialist Randy Rasmussen has also been hard at work on this issue.
As we enter into 2008, we need you, America's hikers, to join us, American Hiking Society. We will continue to raise our voices on this all important issue. With each new member, our voice grows louder, and our reach extends a little further. In other words, you can help us defend the hiking experience by joining us. Please resolve to join American Hiking Society today! This is one New Years Resolution that you can successfully accomplish in just a few minutes, and you can do so safely and securely on our website.
Thank you for your support! Happy (non-motorized) Trails in 2008!
Conservation | By Jeffrey Hunter | 11:59 AM
