Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126621
.. Hauling in materials (top) and moving rock (above) can be hard work, but it's all for a good cause. Teamwork and fellowship lighten the work load and groups usually finish early. .. Sequoia National Forest Land of riding opportunities i /f you help By Bill and Kathy Herndon • .. Sequoia National Forest: A trail rider's dream ride. Lush green meadows, thick pines set not much more than handlebar's width apart, whitewater rivers, and placid brooks. Not only is it free (well, excep t yo ur 36 : ~~ dollar) it's actually legal to I ridise magnificent ar:d peaceful yo ur motorcycle through th scenery. Grazingcaule, sheep. and all. Hikers, horsemen, fishermen, fourwheel-drive groups and others have been doing volunteer work for years th ere. But pitifully few motorcyclists. But the Fourth of-July 1981 was different. With over 100 riders making the trip, it was the biggest and most successful vol umeer effort of any group in the history of Sequoia users. When the Forest Service had asked for 30 volunteers, they were shaking in their boots a t the "potential chaos." Ins tead they got co-operation , camaraderie, and resu lts. And the August and September Volunteer Days sealed the proof. Better yet, rider s put themselves on the map as first class citizens. T hey proved to detractors (and especially certain environmentalists) that recreational trail rid ers don' t just.ride a nd lea ve; bu t are genui nely willing to work, and work hard to maintain their own. Adopt-A-Trail . With these successes, and increased rapport with th e Forest Service, motorcyclists are being offered another opportunity in '82. Now, for the first time ever, trai l riders are being offered a li m i ted number of "Adopt-ATrails ." Any responsib le club or group (formal or otherwise) can qualify. What are the requirements? Be willing to volunteer services once o r twice a summer (depending on conditions). Maintenance will include building water bars. clearing fallen trees (or reporting them ) or brush, erosion control, clearing or adding more rocks as required, and just gen eral upkeep. What do yo u get? A permanent trailhead sign marked with your club or group 's name, and the trial name. Example: "Chapparals Rattlesnake Creek Trail. " Or "Prospectors M.C. Beach .T ra il." Or " H orn ey Toads Clover Meadow Trail." As independent and unsupervised diplomats, you also have th e full rights of policing your trail, be it spark arrestors, . off-trail riding, or other incorrect trail usage. This " pride of ownership" should have great long-term benefit for west coas t (and other) recreational users that trek to this rider's paradise each summer. It the motorcycle community contin ues to do a good job, it can only strengthen relat io ns with , and impressions on, Fo rest Service and other personnel. And improve the motorcyclists image a t large. You can "Adopt-A-Trail" now. Interested? Call or write Bill or Kathy Herndon, 1633 Hill Dr. , Los Angeles, CA 90041. 213/255-5815. Volunteer days Not to be confused with the AdoptA-Trail program, is the '82 trail riders "Volunteer Days" series. The first major motorcycle volunteer efforts of "Sequoia '81" offered outstanding results: New trail was built, old trails repaired, rock bridges and gabiens installed - and the Forest Service saved non-existent money. Beca use of this, the program will be greatly expanded to four volun teer weekends for Summer '82. They are as follows: July 4, mai n event; July 3 1, smaller event; and Sept. 4, season closer. If last year 's events are good weat her vanes, th e typical 9 a.m . to 4 p .m. work days may be put away by lunch , on o ne or a ll of the above dates. If yo u h aven ' t been trai l riding in Seq uoia, you are m issin g the best riding experience so u th of Was hingto n State. If you've already been, you' ll be back again and again. Come on one of the above "Volunteer Day" weekends. Work a ha lf day for yo ur sport. Then ride the rest of the weekend. Desp ite the devastating loss of trail mileage and especially "Ioop trails" in '78, due to th e so-called "Golden Trout Wilderness" travesty. there are still 202 mi les of legal motorcycle trail open. With a com bination of volunteer work and p lans to obtain Green Stickie monies, the Fo rest Service proposes to have more loop trails, ami back up to around 300 total miles for trail riders within 4-5 years. However, as Federal. and other budgets appear to be getting more austere into the '80s, motorcyclists' efforts wi ll probably play an everincreasing role in deciding their rid ing areas. And righ ts. Do you want to form your future in Sequoia National Forest? Look for the start line banner at Camp 29-30, in Troy Meadow Ca mpground (just above Fish Creek Campground). Br in g your motorcycle, yo urself, and only friends that are wi lling to cook! You can ride double to most work sites. T he sta rt at all four events wi ll be at 9 a.m . at the banner. The Forest Service will supply all tools and equipment and materia l needed. There will also be ice-co ld p unch for a ll. Ca ll or wr ite Bill or Kat hy Herndon at the above number to sign up yourself, or your group or club. •