Predictable increase of backcountry motor vehicle issues

[Big Blue]

that depends on what you are considering a sidexside when most say a sidexside we are talking about a razer or a canam x3 most of the ones older people use are those utility things i wouldnt really call that a sidexside.

btw i was in colorado last month and the amount of times i was about hit by a damn sidexside on trails while on my dual sport was a lot... either young or old driving way to fast or being stupid.. so ya im not a big fan of em...

I give up! I guess we just have to agree to disagree. You have your definition of what is and isn't a sidexside and I have mine. We all have our prejudices and nothing is going to change them.

All I have been trying to say is. The problem is people not the vehicle.

See Ya...

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[Squatchranger]

btw i was in colorado last month and the amount of times i was about hit by a damn sidexside on trails while on my dual sport was a lot... either young or old driving way to fast or being stupid.. so ya im not a big fan of em...

They are increasingly being banned on the streets of many mtn towns, last year as I was descending Imogene pass above Telluride there were 2 signs posted indicating only licensed street legal vehicles are permitted in town, Silverton has banned them , the proliferation of these things is causing numerous problems and I predict there will be increased constraints on them. And I agree they enable ever expanding access to the backcountry for some (too many) people that are clueless.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/06/17/off-highway-vehicles-conflict-colorado-mountains/
https://www.westernslopenow.com/new...act-does-our-recreation-have-on-our-wildlife/
[/QUOTE]
NGL almost all of the side by side drivers act like jet ski riders (those who have boats know what i mean) Driving fast, not paying attention, and just raising hell. I have driven my buddies side by side and I am not gonna lie I got the urge to do a lot of stupid shit and drive like a maniac, you just feel like you can. Ofc I didn't litter or anything (truck bed's my trash can) but I did go pretty quick.

 

[Squatchranger]

I give up! I guess we just have to agree to disagree. You have your definition of what is and isn't a sidexside and I have mine. We all have our prejudices and nothing is going to change them.

All I have been trying to say is. The problem is people not the vehicle.

See Ya...

Yes the problem is the people but side by sides are like jet skis they attract that kind of person and if you drive/ ride one you kinda get the evil kermit on your shoulder telling you go fast and drive/ ride like a yobbo.

 

[Rhino]

btw i was in colorado last month and the amount of times i was about hit by a damn sidexside on trails while on my dual sport was a lot... either young or old driving way to fast or being stupid.. so ya im not a big fan of em...

They are increasingly being banned on the streets of many mtn towns, last year as I was descending Imogene pass above Telluride there were 2 signs posted indicating only licensed street legal vehicles are permitted in town, Silverton has banned them , the proliferation of these things is causing numerous problems and I predict there will be increased constraints on them. And I agree they enable ever expanding access to the backcountry for some (too many) people that are clueless.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/06/17/off-highway-vehicles-conflict-colorado-mountains/
https://www.westernslopenow.com/new...act-does-our-recreation-have-on-our-wildlife/
[/QUOTE]
out here where im at they are getting banned at offroad parks slowly or being watched more and reported more since they are causing issues or accidents or being found drunk...

 

[Grandaccess]

not gonna lie you are sad... ive spent thousands on recovery gear for wheeling and ive stopped and helped people all the time on a trail or if they spun off the road... shit happens... now if they are in a illegal area they shouldnt be at then ya they can call a tow im not going into an area i shouldnt be in..

thats right, if they are somewhere they shouldnt be, I am not gonna ruin my stuff, and they are probably out there with a Taco with 300k on it too
and if I ruin my tranny doing it who is gonna help me out?

 

[Rhino]

thats right, if they are somewhere they shouldnt be, I am not gonna ruin my stuff, and they are probably out there with a Taco with 300k on it too
and if I ruin my tranny doing it who is gonna help me out?

somewhere they shouldn’t be meaning an illegals trail that’s not allowed for trucks… if you are on it then it is a legal road or trail for a vehicle to be on… sometimes people learn hard lessons offroad and it’s good to help each other out when it’s needed but you seem to not because your oh so precious rope might get hurt oh no! Psh pathetic old man

You are going to ruin your transmission on pulling someone out in some snow… then maybe the ranger ain’t up for the task if you are worried about the trans

 

[raytwntrvlr]

I lived, hunted, fished and made a living as a surveyor in western Colorado from the late sixties until I moved away in 1988. In those 20 or so years I saw things keep getting more and more restricted. Jeep trails, marked on USFS maps were being closed and tank-trapped, the previously wide-open access on any and all of the old mining and logging trails was going away. I'm just glad I lived there when there were so few 4x4s around that you could actually spend a day or several w/o seeing anyone else, if you knew the country. My kids (in their 40s now) still talk about the great times we had back then. To hear these stories about how things are now, makes me sad.

 

[Radioman]

not gonna lie you are sad... ive spent thousands on recovery gear for wheeling and ive stopped and helped people all the time on a trail or if they spun off the road... shit happens... now if they are in a illegal area they shouldnt be at then ya they can call a tow im not going into an area i shouldnt be in..

I carry lots of recovery gear when I am in the mountains. I have helped several people out when they were stuck. Often, they want to give me some cash but I always refuse, I just ask them to play it forward when the opportunity arises.

 

[Rhino]

I carry lots of recovery gear when I am in the mountains. I have helped several people out when they were stuck. Often, they want to give me some cash but I always refuse, I just ask them to play it forward when the opportunity arises.

Exactly what I do! I’ve even stopped on my bike to help push broken down cars out of the way (as long as it wasn’t dangerous) I know I’m an asshole but every now and then we can help people out. Even if those people see me on the side of the road and leave me there haha

 

[dtech]

I lived, hunted, fished and made a living as a surveyor in western Colorado from the late sixties until I moved away in 1988. In those 20 or so years I saw things keep getting more and more restricted. Jeep trails, marked on USFS maps were being closed and tank-trapped, the previously wide-open access on any and all of the old mining and logging trails was going away. I'm just glad I lived there when there were so few 4x4s around that you could actually spend a day or several w/o seeing anyone else, if you knew the country. My kids (in their 40s now) still talk about the great times we had back then. To hear these stories about how things are now, makes me sad.

Things have changed greatly in co, newer folks can't really relate to your experience, I'm not a co native but an eagle scout taught to respect the land , in the 80s I hooked up with a group of outdoorsman, co natives whose fathers took them hunting and fishing and most of all to respect the land. I usually stick to wilderness areas so haven't encountered many ohv but see them everywhere, and last week hiked to a lake on the grand mesa, enjoying some quiet time fishing when I hear one of things a good half mile or more away blaring music and it got louder and louder. The lakes in the area are open to hi clearance motorized travel and the amount of trash on the trail and on the road side of the lake was disturbing and I doubt that hikers were responsible. To me riding around in a noisy vehicle blaring music and discarding trash is more for urban areas and not the backcountry where many people go to for a tranquil relaxing outdoor experience , so yeah glad you enjoyed it because the quality outdoor experience has deteriorated, thank the lord for wilderness areas, but I think my backpacking days are behind me.

 

[Ronbo]

Whether people are in side X sides or trucks, a lot of people are just plain stupid, and they don’t belong off road. Their stupidity ends up getting off road trails closed. This guy was somehow able to crash into a freight train at the widely popular Nemo tunnel trail in Tennessee and got the whole trail closed off permanently because of his idiocy. Plus he totaled his 67 GMC truck in the process.

https://www.utvdriver.com/utv-news/nemo-tunnel-tennessee-off-road-destination-closes/

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/nemos-closed.1289269/

How’s that for littering?

 

[RedRocker]

Same issue in Moab, they're closing over 300 miles of trails around Moab from vehicle traffic. SideXsides seem to be the biggest issue, but assholes come in all shapes & vehicles.

 

[Blmpkn]

Wild assumption.

I spent three years working in agriculture throughout the Midwest, where I met a great many prolific litterers who will tell you to your face they see no need to change. Running non-opped trucks on farm diesel, celebrating any form of disobedience. Self described "Outlaws" ...with blue lives matter stickers. ?

There are shitheads everywhere. However the city folk are the furthest away from the wilderness areas in question, so pretty wild to accuse them exclusively.

https://wcyy.com/maine-named-least-friendly-state-tourists-voted-2023/

See link.


I live in a Scenic, wooded, tourist state... where the overwhelming majority of natives really don't care for tourists.


Why? Because they come up here to experience the woods and escape their concrete jungles for a bit and fuck everything up for the rest of us ?

 

[TheBadger]

https://wcyy.com/maine-named-least-friendly-state-tourists-voted-2023/

See link.


I live in a Scenic, wooded, tourist state... where the overwhelming majority of natives really don't care for tourists.


Why? Because they come up here to experience the woods and escape their concrete jungles for a bit and fuck everything up for the rest of us ?

My Dad is from Wiscasset and I was lucky enough to live there for three years. Great memories.

 

[subquark]

Being a Ham Radio Op and having worked for NOAA and FEMA (Cert. Storm Chaser) in Emr we carry everything for a rescue, health and safety related kits, chainsaws, Lights, when I roll up on someone that their truck is stuck in a snowbank or up to the frame in mud or car is up to the hood in water, I will always bust out the chains or yank strap for $100 or they can call a recovery company for $500 to $1000 I am not gonna put my equipment under stress for free, F*** that! some of us have spent a lot of time & money for these situations, getting your self into a situation then getting back out are 2 different things LOL you never know how bad it is until you try and get back out LOL then its too late, you just have to be "overkill ready" for anything!
I have not had this truck in a really bad situation "yet" but I have had in the past Chevy, Jeep, Toyota and Rams in the eye of a hurricane, something tells me already this truck will shine

I've been struggling with "using my stuff for free" to help others. Part of me, as a former volunteer Firefighter and Paramedic, feels it's my duty to help a fellow human being.

BUT ... so many could give a crap after you've helped them, or even sue you, that it's made me cynical. And I hate that - but, I honestly believe that this is reality.

Even just using a couple of flares is an expense, selfish as I feel writing that.

When I was young and dumb (as opposed to old and dumb), I got my FJ40 stuck really good way south on Padre Island, I thought I was going to lose it. The starter was under salt water but the engine was still running. Fortunately, a 4x4 pickup and a jeep rolled up, and it took both of them to get me out. Boy was I thankful.

But today, well I don't know.

I do know that, thanks to insight from you on this forum, that my idea of yanking people out of the snow banks has moved from using a strap to first trying with traction boards. Much less chance of damaging something on their vehicle.

I suppose I'd also judge who it is needing help. If it's a regular hard working guy, like many of us. Maybe in something a bit older or utilitarian, I'd be more likely to go "all out" in helping them. Rather than some rich person in a BMW ... probably best to offer them a warm place to sit as they wait for a tow truck.

It sucks being that way, but too many horror stories of good Samaritans getting sued. I used to carry my full Paramedic crash kit (even supraglottic and nasotracheal intubators), but no longer, just a small first aid kit for the smallest of injuries for me and Kate.

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