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September 30, 2004
Head-Ons, Part 2
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At the Hollister and San Jose meetings, I asked the audience to raise their hands if they had experienced a head-on or a near head-on at Clear Creek. I was really surprised by the show of hands in both venues. Seems like just about everyone at the meetings has been hit or almost hit. I know that I have had my share of close calls. Goes with the territory. But to see almost every hand in the rooms go up was surprising.
If the BLM shuts down our single track trails as they have proposed to do and force us onto roads, then I have no doubt the there will be a significant increase in accidents. If this happens and someone is killed then I think the BLM officials should be held criminally liable, They have been seen the warning sign. I hope they heed it. The answer at Clear Creek is not to close trails but to manage the area for OHV use. Unfortunately the BLM has not shown that they are capable of this.
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September 29, 2004
Guinness Book of World Records
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I wish someone from the BLM would explain to me what they did to boost their productivity. Is Red Bull secretly donating product to the Hollister Field Office? I wonder how it is that they were able to accomplish so much work on Sunday, September 21, 2003 when for the past five years they have little to nothing for Clear Creek. I am referring to the fact that they designated over 350 routes in one day, and a Sunday at that.
These people may have established a new record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of trails designated CLOSED in one day. I wonder if they nominated themselves. If not maybe I should. This is an accomplishment that should make them the gold medallist for route closures in the BLM if not the entire Department of Interior (and Agriculture too for that matter). They are really good at it! They averaged about 1.4 minutes per route. I tried it but I could not even find routes that fast on a map more less check the GIS database, analyze the data, and make a decision.
OR, maybe they got to a predetermined number of miles and then just said "CLOSED" to everything else? In this situation I could see how easy it would be to designate 350+ routes in 8 hours. Heck, I could probably do it in less than an hour by cutting and pasting "CLOSED" in Excel. Of course first we need their record established so I can beat it!
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September 28, 2004
Bill Dart
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Bill is a good friend and has been a mentor to me over the years. Bill has been by my side as we fought to keep Clear Creek open, first as the AMA District 36 LAO and until last Friday as the Executive Director of the Blue Ribbon Coalition. So, I was very sad to learn last night that Bill has resigned from the BRC due to a ticket that was issued to him by the forest service.
What is really unfortunate in this day and age is that public people are presumed guilty until proven innocent and that their organizations dump them, regardless of the outcome, because they are tainted. This happens all the time in politics and appears to be the case with the BRC and Bill. I guess you can't blame an organization for doing this because the person in question will become less effective and the issue will distract from the accomplishment of the organization's goal. It is just a shame that it had to happen to someone who has worked so hard to keep our trails and areas open.
I want to wish Bill the best of luck in finding a new venue to continue the land use battles and I want to assure the legions of Clear Creek devotees that we are well served by Don Amador, the Western States rep. for the BRC, who, like Bill, has been actively engaged in our struggle with the BLM. Here is the official BRC statement.
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September 27, 2004
Selfish
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That is the best way to describe the "so called" environmentalist who showed up at the San Jose meeting. I am glad that some members of the audience commented on their comments about quiet recreation. I would sure like to ride my bike in any of a number of parks that are "reserved" for non-motorized recreation on the central coast.. Yet, here they come to the podium asking the BLM include "quiet recreation" at Clear Creek.
My answer, like that of several OHV speakers, is GO TAKE A HIKE SOMEPLACE ELSE. Clear Creek is an OHV use area. If you don't like our sport, if you don't like 96 dba, if you don't like the possibility of dust and loud music, if you don't like to see people having FUN, then go find some other place to enjoy your quiet, boring recreation.
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September 26, 2004
At least I accomplished something!
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If nothing else comes out of my efforts this summer and fall, at least the bathroom in Clear Creek should be clean. The new Clear Creek coordinator, Brian White, has taken it upon himself to see that the toilets are presentable. This was obvious the day I observed the EPA air sampling. Since then another club member has reported seeing Brian towing a power washer out of Clear Creek. If you come across Brian when you are down at the Creek, please thank him for his efforts!
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September 25, 2004
EIS Scoping, Continued
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Today I published the BLM's EIS Scoping document on the Salinas Rambler's web site for all to see since the BLM has failed to publish it. Only took them 47 days to produce this report after I originally requested it. Sure must be hard to create a scoping document after the fact.
Originally the story from Sky Murphy, the NEPA coordinator, was that he was waiting for a copy of the report from George Hill. Now the story is that he had a draft of the report back in July and was waiting for George to finalize it. Sound like a cover-up to me. Scratch another BLM person from my confidence list. More...
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The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance (Thomas Jefferson)
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This is why I took a vacation day between the Coalinga and Hollister meetings to observe what the EPA was up to in Clear Creek. According to the project manager of the Atlas Superfund site, their record of decision directed them to conduct a risk assessment before they closed out the project. I decided to take a day off to check out what they were up to. William had the same idea and received permission to work with the EPA that day. It's a good thing he did.
The EPA hired a couple of riders to simulate a typical OHV users experience in Clear Creek. They asked the BLM for a recommendation of some routes to ride and a member of the Hollister Office staff suggested that they make a loop out of Serpentine Hill, R002, Halfway Hill and Clear Creek road and then do laps. Given the state of the DEIS, I guess that this is what the Hollister office thinks constitutes an OHV recreation in Clear Creek. Or perhaps the person who recommended these routes hoped that the EPA would get a very high reading from riding those dusty, beat-up routes?
William recommended a combination of roads and trails along with some time spent playing. Now that sounds more typical. I went along for the ride. The route William led them on passed through Jade Mill and up R002. At the top we dropped into the hillclimb near the green gate and made one pass. Then it was back out on R002 to T116. After that three miles, it was back on R002 a short distance to T114. William was leading and I was riding behind the second EPA rider. I could see the guy struggling on T116 and about the time we hit the bottom of T114, he was tired and lost it. Fortunately, the ground broke his fall. Unfortunately it also broke his clutch lever and the strap of his backpack. As he burrowed in he also clogged the apertures of the air sampler and they shut off automatically. End of test for EPA rider number 2.
The first EPA rider was in better shape as he actively raced a bike in SoCal. William proceeded to take him around the Creek for another 40 minutes of test time while I nursed the 2nd rider back to Oak Flat. The EPA will be back in Clear Creek for a week of sampling in mid-October. We can only hope that it rains soon. It would be good if other Clear Creek users monitored the October test. Contact me if you can help. I will post the exact dates as soon as I get them.
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September 22, 2004
Hollister Meeting
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Got to this meeting early and got a parking spot right out front. Almost immediately, another vehicle pulls up, a couple emerge and walk into the meeting hall. The guy is wearing a Quicksilver T-shirt. Like these people already! When I got into Veterans Memorial Hall I introduced myself, give them one of my hand-outs and chatted a bit before I circulate some more. Later in the evening before public comments we chatted some more.
Rather than spending a bunch of time recreating the wheel, here is what Tami wrote on the SF Dirt Bike forum about the Hollister meeting.
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September 21, 2004
COPS
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So I show up at the Coalinga meeting and outside the meeting hall are a bunch of Sheriff's cars. I thought they must be having a convention or something but, no, they are there to keep the peace at the BLM meeting. On top of that they had a law enforcement ranger from the Bakersfield office there too along with William. Only thing missing was a metal detector. WTF? I guess they must have a pretty low opinion of the OHV community if they felt they needed protection. Or maybe they were feeling guilty and feared for their lives because of the POS plan they put together. I guess they were really afraid of the San Jose crowd, holding the meeting right in the County Sheriff's office.
Seems that George Hill, the Assistant Field Office Manager was so scared that he took vacation. Or, maybe it was his way of making sure that Bob Beehler showed up for the meetings. Even Bob wouldn't face the crowds, sending state office staff and new Hollister staff to sit at the front table Pretty sad as it is his fault we are where we are!
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September 20, 2004
Dual Sport Adventure
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A winter storm in the summer. Who'd have thunk it? But that is what 22 hardy dual sporters were treated to yesterday. The fund raiser for the Clear Creek Legal Defense Fund was put together by Joe "Joe Racer" Wytman of Dual Sport Adventures and what an adventure we had. We started under partly cloudy skies and the early part of the ride was typical late summer high sierras riding - silt and dust, space yourselves out on the trail. I wore my jacket sans sleeves and Cold Pro gloves. I was worried that the gloves would be too hot but this turned out to be the best decision of the day.
As we neared the 50 mile mark we started to get snow showers and I could see the clouds closing in and the mountains to the west disappearing in rain and snow. By the time we got to the lunch stop at Bear River Lake Resort it was snowing good and Joe made the decision to cancel the rest of the ride and bring the group back together.
There was a run on sweat shirts, hot fluids and gas for the bikes and then it was off the way we had come. I cut up a plastic bag I had brought along and made sleeves to keep my arms dry. It was snowing big flakes at lake level but our course soon took us lower in elevation and into rain. Gradually we climbed higher back into the snow and cold. We got to a point where Joe offered a bail-out on dirt roads and pavement but no one took it, preferring to tough it out on the trails. He proceeded to attempt to find his way through the storm and snow covered mountains but after numerous tries, including a very tough uphill trail, Joe led us back to the original bail-out. By now the storm was going good and fast riding on the roads and pavement led to a deep chill. In fact some riders climbed inside the fireplace at the lodge to warm up. Big fireplace!!!
My riding partner, Bob, experience his first snow run and wrote about it on Thumpertalk. All in all, almost everyone had a good time and are looking forward to next years run so that we can complete the circuit.
Thanks to Charlene of East Bay Motorsports for the contingency gifts that were given out at the dinner on Saturday evening. I would also like to thank Rex Halepeska of Western Power Sports for the donation of approximately $1,000 worth of product that we hope to raffle off at the Timekeepers Prime Time Hare Scrambles on October 2/3 at Metcalf Park in San Jose.
Finally, a big thanks to Joe for organizing the event and for spending many days putting the course together.
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September 17, 2004
Thank You
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What a busy week. Coalinga on Tuesday evening, monitoring the EPA in Clear Creek on Wednesday, Hollister meeting that evening and then San Jose last night. Thanks to everyone who showed up for these three public meetings. I estimate that between 200 and 250 people, including families with multiple generations, attended. We had a good turnout and a lot of people stepped up to the podium to let the BLM know that we are not pleased with the direction they are going with the management of Clear Creek.
The Hollister Freelance had a write-up on the meeting. I believe that their estimate of attendance was low as I counted almost 100 people in seats during the public comment period. I will have more on the meetings next week. It is off to Bear Valley tomorrow so check back on Monday evening.
PS: the BLM finally produced a scoping report at the Coalinga meeting and I will be reviewing it and posting comments. Only had to wait 47 days!
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September 12, 2004
Public Comments
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In preparation for the meetings I set up a page with my thoughts on the issues to address with the BLM this week. I recommend that you read Al's letter in the previous (September 10) entry for thoughts on issues. Also check out the editorials "Use Spectrum, Diversity, 270, and Signs."
I am going to be really busy this coming week attending the three meetings so don't look for any new additions to the blog until next weekend, if then. If you are totally bored, can't sleep or on blog withdrawal, then I invite you to browse thru the rest of these ramblings. When you are done you will feel better about yourself because you will realize that you have more of a life than at least on person on this planet. At least I hope you feel that way!
Day 45, waiting for George Hill to finish the BLM's EIS scoping document. (another example of government inaction)
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September 10, 2004
Head-Ons
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If you ride a lot at Clear Creek, especially in the Clear Creek drainage, you are likely to have a head-on with another rider or at least a close call. Knock on wood, I have been very fortunate over the years. The last one I remember was on a snowy morning ride two winters ago. I was out working on the enduro and had to dive into the bank on T115 to avoid three riders racing up the road around a turn.
Years ago my brother-on-law Brian had one bad one and you will not find him leading a group, ever. Now with more and more quads showing up in Clear Creek I think it inevitable that there are more people being hauled out of the Creek to the hospital. The Dirt Ranger, William, was the victim of such an accident back in March and I am sure that some of you reading can relate. More...
Day 43, waiting for George Hill to finish the BLM's EIS scoping document. (another example of government inaction)
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September 8, 2004
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Thanks to Justin, we will soon have bumper stickers available to adorn your truck, toy hauler or any other flat surface. Justin contacted me a while back and suggested that bumper stickers might be a good way to raise money for the legal defense fund. I agreed and told him to run with the idea, which he has. In the heading above is a scaled down image of the sticker. I will have some at the Coalinga meeting for sale and if not completely sold out, also at the Hollister meeting. We are asking for a $5.00 donation and all of the profits will go to the Clear Creek Legal Defense Fund hosted by the Blue Ribbon Coalition
I would like to suggest that clubs, shops or your group of buddies get together and place an order with Justin via e-mail and he will work on fulfilling it. I would like to see every truck and motorhome parked in the Creek displaying one of these.
Good job, Justin!
Day 41, waiting for George Hill to finish the BLM's EIS scoping document. (another example of government inaction)
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September 4, 2004
NIH
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NIH - Not Invented Here refers to the problem wherein people in companies continue to ignore existing solutions to problems because it was not created in-house. Could this be the reason that the BLM has failed to consult with the OHV community on ways to solve some of the problems we face in Clear Creek? Do they think they have all the answers, or is it that they don't want to solve the problems because then it would give them an excuse to eventually close the Creek? More...
Day 37, waiting for George Hill to finish the BLM's EIS scoping document. (another example of government inaction)
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September 3, 2004
A Little Too Hard?
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OK. Maybe Wednesdays night's blog was a little too hard edged? What do you think?
Fact of the matter is that there are a lot of hard working, conscientious people who work for the BLM and it was wrong to lump them all together as it may appear that I have done. For instance, there are a number of new faces in the Hollister Field Office and I am hopeful that this new set of eyes will help influence a decision that will allow us to keep the unique and wonderful OHV opportunity that we presently have in Clear Creek. Time will tell.
Nevertheless, you need to show up for the meetings this month. See the link above.
Day 36, waiting for George Hill to finish the BLM's EIS scoping document. (another example of government inaction)
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September 1, 2004
Just a bureaucrat
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This is how Jim Keeler, the National OHV Coordinator in Washington DC, described himself (or words to that effect). I had contacted him in 2002 to seek direction regarding Clear Creek and ask for information about the national OHV strategy. I cannot tell you how many times he told me that he was just a low level person who did not make decisions, but it was a bunch of times. I wonder if this is what the staff of our government is taught during their indoctrination to government work? I suspect what they really mean to say is "look, your wasting your time talking to me, so go away, and don't bother me". Well, it took a while to sink in but eventually I broke the code and stopped calling him.
A while back Jim transferred to CA and became the California State OHV Coordinator. Regrettably, I got a chance to meet him face to face last November. He was my driver during as tour of Clear Creek the day after the Kum Ba Yah, can't we all just get along, feel good meeting in Hollister. Joining us in the jeep was Karen Schambach of PEER. For anyone unfamiliar with the name, she is the environmentalist from Georgetown that has been trying to shut that area down. How she got involved in Clear Creek, I don't know. Anyway, here I was in a jeep with her and Jim and they were like a tag team, repeatedly telling me that times have changed and asking what I was willing to give up to keep Clear Creek open. Like to not be able to tell them apart, almost.
It is a very sad situation that the BLM places a bureaucrat in a position such as the state OHV coordinator rather than someone who is passionate about the sport. They seem to find a lot of rabid environmentalists to fill the botanist billets. But I guess that is the way they do things in government because, hey, they get their pay check every month no matter how little they do or how bad they screw something up (like Clear Creek).
So, my advice to anyone in the California OHV community considering a call to Jim Keeler is don't waste your breath, he's just a bureaucrat.
Day 34, waiting for George Hill to finish the BLM's scoping document. (another example of government inaction)
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