Saving the GWNF

[toynrnd]

Over the past years more and more folks have been using the George Washington National Forest for fourwheeling activities, especially in the Dry River Ranger District. Many folks are law abiding, tread lightly type people who care about where they go and what they do, making sure they do what is right. Then there are the other folks who will eventually ruin it for everyone by getting our access closed. It’s time to fight back. We as organized fourwheelers need to adopt the attitude “If you don’t know, don’t go.” What I mean is if you don’t know where it is legal to drive, don’t go until you find out from the right people. Just because there are tracks or ruts someplace, doesn’t mean you can go there. Who here, over the course of their wheeling life, has not seen the appearance of user created trails in the George Washington National Forest? Why do people do this? If the GWNF is not hard enough for you, go someplace else instead of making your own trail. Go to Big Dogs, Paragon, Rausch Creek, Tellico, even Uwharrie National Forest for that matter. The beauty of the GWNF is the ability to take your 4WD over some nice, easy, scenic roads. What I would like you all to do, if you are out wheeling in the GWNF (specifically the Dry River District) and see illegal activity use that fancy camera and get a photo of the vehicle, with a clear shot of the license plate. Send it to the Dry River District Ranger office with all the info, date, time, etc.



ADDRESS:

Dry River Ranger District

401 Oakwood Drive

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

[phone]



E-MAIL:

[e-mail]





Don’t give folks the benefit of the doubt any more. If they say they didn’t know, too bad. If the word gets out the bad apples will be busted, maybe those folks who are causing trouble will stay away and lets us keep what little access we have left.



I have e-mailed Mike Alexander, the GWNF law enforcement officer, concerning this issue, and here is the response from his office…



Taking pictures of the illegal activity, complete with license plates is a

great idea. As much as we want to curtail this type of activity, Mike just

can't be everywhere at once! We have to rely on respectful Forest users to

be our eyes and ears. Thank you for your concern and help.



Mike Alexander asked me to pass the following information/phone numbers

along to you. The District Office number is [phone].

On weekends, or after office hours, you may try Mike's

direct dial office number, [phone]. If you are unable to reach Mike

at that number, please try the Rockingham County Sheriff's number (540)

564-3800. The Sheriff's office has radio contact with Mike.



Now if you see some people “rootin’ it up” out there, try to give Mike a call. He may be on the other side of the district, but he also may be just down the road. A $100 ticket might straighten some folks out.



United Four Wheel Drive Associations has a Volunteer Trail Patrol Program that I would like to see get off the ground here in VA. It works much like a neighborhood block watch program. It is exactly the program to train us to be the eyes and ears the Forest Service is looking for. The GWNF doesn’t have the money for enough law enforcement officers to cover everything all the time. We need to help.



Thanks for your time,

Chris Boucher