TreadLightly

Good afternoon everyone!! Tip of the week: With the 4th of July holiday weekend rapidly approaching, we hope that you and your friends and families are making plans to head outdoors to enjoy some responsible fun and celebration. Since we figure (and hope) that many of you will be camping, we wanted to toss out a few reminders about campsite ethics. - Look for previously-used campsites, and camp on durable surfaces. - Campsites should be at least 200ft from water sources, other campsites, and trails. Pay attention to local regulations (MVUMs, etc) concerning how far your vehicle can be off the trail for camping. - Keep a clean camp. Place food and other products with odors in animal-proof containers or back in vehicles. - Follow the pack it in, pack it out guidelines. Police your camp before you leave to leave it in better condition than you found it. - Campfires are not for waste disposal. Please do not leave trash in campfire rings, especially glass. All that said, lets all cross our fingers for beautiful weather and get back to planning that perfect trip!

As with every type of trail-based user group, the use of our quads/dirt bikes/4x4's/etc has the potential to change the trail and "move some dirt". Its constant awareness of the impact that may have, and changing behavior as appropriate, that lies beneath the "tread lightly" term. Thanks for the post!

No one is asking you to "pussyfoot" around everywhere. I enjoy the thrill and speed of riding just as much as anyone, trust me. However, it is also important to note that there are places where speed and throttle are acceptable, and there are places where they are not. For those who, like yourself, enjoy the "throwing of dirt" I usually recommend heading to the sand dunes. The great thing about sand it being able to toss it around until the sun goes down, with little overall impact. As for the sound, there are two things to consider. 1) The legal requirements of the area. They vary state to state, and I would assume you are within that. 2) The respect for others. Your phrasing of "people and wildlife get out of the way" is something I would urge you to consider from the other side of the trail. As an ambassador to the sport that millions enjoy, we obviously strongly recommend yielding to non-motorized users (and definitely to equestrians). While it does slow down your lap times, it builds a positive reputation among those whom you encounter, which helps us all. Loud pipes, while announcing your approach, are also one of the things that are used in travel management decisions to limit or even close areas down. The AMA and BRC have been working for numerous years to promote quieter machines, which perform at just as high, if not higher, level as louder counterparts. Just a Saturday afternoon 2-cents. Enjoy the ride!

Hope everyone is enjoying the start to the weekend! Tip of the week: Again, as part of both the "Educate Yourself" and "Do Your Part" principles, this week I am encouraging everyone to take a small amount of time out of your evening and complete our Online Awareness Course. This online activity covers the basics of the Tread Lightly! principles and is a wonderful way to quiz your knowledge of what responsible recreation means to us as a community. Enjoy: Tread Lightly - Online Awareness Course Also, everyone who completes the course is entered into a drawing for a free hat, courtesy of Cabelas.

Jonny, Good points. Concerning sound legislation, it definitely is not a case where any law enforcement officer or ranger can tell the dBa just by looking. As someone who is certified in the SAE J-1287 test (industry standard) who has tested hundreds if not thousands of machines, I can say with 100% certainty that I wouldn't be able to do that. Especially now that many of the aftermarket companies are making quiet pipes that maintain a more aggressive look, not to mention the plethora of other modifications that can affect sound, it is impossible without actually using a meter to be certain. I have had bikes with 100% stock intake, motor, exhaust fail due to bad maintenance, and highly modified bikes pass. The concept behind the sound legislation is a valid one, however. Most the riders I ride with prefer quieter bikes for many reasons including the fact that other trail users (motorized and not) respect and appreciate it, as well as the higher likelihood of seeing wildlife, etc. Its an unfortunate situation if your group is being treated unfairly in the permitting process. I know of non-motorized groups who have had permit applications denied, as well as steep costs on insurance for the event. On the other side of the coin, I also know of many OHV clubs who have worked consistently with local land managers and have streamlined the permit process and are rarely, if ever, denied. There are likely quite a few hurdles for the non-motorized community as well, but the OHV community tends to be in the spotlight (for various reasons) more often, and so we tend to be under greater scrutiny. All that said... We do appreciate your support and encourage you to continue working with those land managers to show the responsible side of OHV recreation as a means towards clearing up misconceptions and maintaining public access on public lands.

Tip of the week: Now that summer has officially begun (by our definition, not the calendar's)... lets talk sharing and courteous use. 1) Be aware that with very few exceptions, almost all motorized areas are open to the vast majority of other uses. This could mean hikers, equestrians, and of course other riders/drivers in the area. Slow down in tighter areas and where visibility is reduced. 2) Motorized users yield to everyone, everyone yields to equestrians. Stop and say hello to other users if given the opportunity. 3) Use caution around equestrians. While many trail horses are getting more accustomed to vehicular travel, they can still be easily spooked. Stop well ahead of them, and turn off your engine unless waived by. On quads and dirt bikes, stop on the downhill side of the trail, as a horse's instinct with uphill movement is to anticipate a predator. 4) In general, yield to uphill traffic. This is not a rule, it's a guideline. Use common sense please, and most of all be patient. We've all been in situations where its in the best interest of all parties to yield to downhill traffic.

I can understand your frustrations. However, comparing recreational OHV use to installing windmills could be considered apples and oranges. Recreational OHV trail use does require for active management whether its adoptions and trail days, or paid trail crews. Otherwise, just by the sheer nature of human trail use (motorized or not), the trails will undergo change. Whether that change is erosion, rutting, or even over-growth from non-use... There has to be active management. Government projects like windmills, forest thinning, etc tend to have a shorter life for activity on the landscape, and are often required (or should be) to restore the area after the project is completed. How does that translate to Tread Lightly? Well, being responsible users (which I will thank you for) means that less active management has to be done, reducing the needs on those land managers to invest time, money, and personnel on the ground. Again, I do understand your frustrations, but also realize that its not a "government cover-up", but rather the desire from within the community to promote responsible use as a means to maintaining access in the future while still maintaining the natural landscapes.

Here is a great video that was produced by the Arkansas Childrens Hospital covering some safety and private lands access considerations. Note: Please watch the video prior to showing to children and younger teenagers, but we still highly recommend it. AETN A Trip Unplanned: ATV Safety (Arkansas Educational Television Network)

Tip of the week: With many areas in western states still receiving snow (the year of the endless winter?) and high snowpack levels throughout, it is important to take a few things into consideration before heading out. 1) Check with local land managers to see if seasonal opening dates on gated trails have been extended. 2) Minimize use of extremely wet trails to avoid the creation of ruts. 3) Go through patches of snow, not around. Chains were not invented so that we could drive around snow-bashing opportunities 4) Be prepared in case the weather changes on you. Think extra clothing, water, food, and gear to spend the night if things get real bad. Most of all... have fun and be safe out there!

Interested in becoming a Master Trainer for Tread Lightly!...? Important: Please Read Before You Register Please submit one registration per person, this insures that we receive all pertinent information in our database. If you are currently or have been a paying member of Tread Lightly or you have taken the Tread Trainer course before, your registration will not go through because of a gliche in our database. Please email Tread Lightly! and let us know your name and email and we will make the necessary changes in the database and email you to let you know when you can register. Thank You! Carlsbad, California (San Diego Area) Description: When: FRI & SAT June 10 & 11, 2011 Time: 7:45am - 5:00pm both days Where: Hampton Inn Carlsbad 2229 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad, California 92011 Toll-Free: 800-675-8738 You will receive an email registration conformation upon completion of the registration process. You will receive an email for Tread Lightly! when registration for this course closes on May 27, 2011 providing more specific information about course expectation and pre-course assignments. If you have additional questions please drop us an email. A one hour pre-course conference call is required. Calls are scheduled for June 1 at 10am Pacific or June 2 at 3pm Pacific. If you have a conflict please email Tread Lightly!. Although this course is provided at no cost to you it is not free. The typical course cost for a Master Tread Trainer course is $7,500 and typical registration fees are $75. This course is funded through the California OHV Program Grants and Cooperative Agreements programs. Please make every attempt to attend the course these are your dollars at work. Course Date: 06/11/2011 Course Location: Livermore, California Registration Open: Open until full or May 27, 2011 Course Cost: $0.00 Course Size: 13 Seats Remaining: 5 To register: Tread Lightly - Master Trainer Courses

Treading Lightly is one of the best practices that we as public land users can do to make sure that we can not only continue to use our public lands in a variety of recreational manners, but also make sure that the natural resources and experiences remain intact for future generations. Its not about restriction, but rather about responsibility for our public lands and to ourselves, our friends and families, other visitors, and future generations. So what does it mean to "Tread Lightly"? Well, we've developed our 5 Principles to break it down to basics: Tread Lightly! Principles Travel Responsibly on land by staying on designated roads, trails and areas. Go over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trails. Cross streams only at designated crossings. When possible avoid wet, muddy trails. On water, stay on designated waterways and launch your watercraft in designated areas. Respect the Rights of Others including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed. Leave gates as you found them. Yield right of way to those passing you or going uphill. On water, respect anglers, swimmers, skiers, boaters, divers and those on or near shore. Educate Yourself prior to your trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies. Plan for your trip, take recreation skills classes and know how to operate your equipment safely. Avoid Sensitive Areas on land such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams. Stay on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitats and sensitive soils from damage. Don’t disturb historical, archeological or paleontological sites. On water, avoid operating your watercraft in shallow waters or near shorelines at high speeds. Do Your Part by modeling appropriate behavior, leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species and repairing degraded areas. We gain a lot by Treading Lightly as a community. Please help us by promoting the Tread Lightly! ethics whenever you can. For more information: Tread Lightly - Home Also, you can follow us with social media! Facebook: Tread Lightly! | Facebook Twitter: Twitter Myspace: Tread Lightly (Tread Lightly!) on Myspace Thanks for the support!! And please, feel free to ask here if you have any questions or desire for clarification, at all.

Hey guys! So our 3rd Annual Tread Lightly! Charity Auction is now live on eBay. It’s bigger than ever this year. We’ve got about 200 items from 50 companies that will be auctioned with bids starting at 40% to 75% percent off retail prices. 100% of the money raised will go to help keep offroad trails and the great outdoors beautiful, healthy, and open to the public. A FEW Featured Powersports Products Grizzly 450 EPS ATV from Yamaha Gator CX Utility Vehicle from John Deere Outdoor, Camping, Hiking and Fishing Gear from Cabela’s Neoprene Dust Filter Riding Mask from RZRMask Dakar Riding Pants from Klim USA 7/8" Handlebars from Pro-Wheel Racing Components Gloves, Pants, Jerseys, Helmets from Moose Racing ODYSSEY® PC625 Battery by EnerSys® V-Front Ramp Shield for Powersports Trailers from Caliber Powersports Apparel and Accessories from Kawasaki Pre-Oiled Air Filters from No-Toil Industries Motorcycle Boots from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Extreme Spotlight H9 Kit from Cruiserheads.com ATV and UTV Windshields from Powermadd Renthal Motocross Handguards $250 Gift Card to ProArmor.com Factor Vertigo Helmet from EVS Sports Stay-Lock Tie Downs from High Roller Products UNO™ UTV Gun & Bow Rack from All Rite Products Flywheel Puller Tools from Dennis Stubblefield Sales Inc. Powersports Helmets from MotoMart at Carnegie 2-Cycle Exhaust Stealth Kit from dB Snorkel LEAD-DOG Helmet Light See the all the rest of the auction items here: treadlightly items - Get great deals on eBay Motors, Sporting Goods items on eBay.com!

Hey guys. So, many of you know we held a big Tread Lightly! Charity Auction in June. The big ticket item was a Grizzly 550 EPS ATV donated by Yamaha. However, the auction winner lost his job and was unable to follow through, so we are auctioning the Grizzly right now on eBay starting at $5,999 (retails $8,100). The best part about this auction is that the ATV can be picked up right at your local Yamaha dealer. No big shipping charges or travel costs. And, Yamaha has agreed to pay all taxes and dealer prep fees. You just need to pay the title fee. Remember, all the money raised goes straight to keeping our trails and recreation areas beautiful, healthy, and open to the public! You can potentially score a fabulous deal while helping a good cause. Let me know if you have questions. Here’s the link: Yamaha Grizzly 550 EPS- Pick Up From YOUR Local Dealer:eBay Motors (item 180397132615 end time Aug-24-09 13:42:53 PDT)

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that we have a bunch of stuff left over from our Annual Tread Lightly! Charity Auction and will be auctioning everything off at deep discounts this week. Items include tires, gift certificates, a winch, ATV grips, riding gear, handguards, ATV covers and more. PLUS we've got a new Yamaha Grizzly 550 EPS that can be picked up straight from your local dealer. 100% of the proceeds will go to keep our trails beautiful, healthy and open to the public. Here is a link to the charity auction Thanks guys! The Tread Lightly! team

Hey! Just wanted to let you guys know about our big Tread Lightly! Charity Auction on eBay that’s running June 2-June 11. 100% of the proceeds are going to help the great outdoors and off-road recreation access. Below are JUST A FEW OF THE 150 ITEMS AVAILABLE. All bids are starting around 40%-80% off retail prices. See the charity auction at this link: eBay Seller: treadlightly: Parts Accessories, Outdoor Sports items on eBay Motors. A Few Featured Items Gator™ CX Utility Vehicle with Grille Guard from John Deere $4,449 Leather AGVSPORT Riding Jacket from Suzuki $219 2 Sand Hauler Paddle Rear ATV Tires on Douglas .125 Aluminum Wheels from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC $89 TakT 981 Helmet from EVS Sports $139 Tread Lightly! Motorcycle Tie Downs from Cycle Express $9.99 Reima Mountain Shell Jacket from Sandance Sports $99 AFX Combat Off-Road Technical Backpack $29 Pocket Tire Plugger for Tubeless Tires from Stop & Go International $15 Case of Amsoil Synthetic Motorcycle Oil from BestWholesaleOil.com $67 32 oz bottle of Bike Magik™ Qwik Shine from BioKleen Products $9 Drink Holder Attachment for ATVs from All Rite Products $18 ODYSSEY™ ATV/PWC Battery from Enersys™ $74 Set of 4 Dirt Devil II Tires from GBC Motorsports $259 Cobra ATV Windshield from PowerMadd $79 "His and Hers Kawasaki / Monster Energy package” consisting of jackets, shirts, hats, a backpack, and other accessories from Kawasaki $325 And Lots more! Tread Lightly! (Tread Lightly - Home)

Thanks for letting us hang out. We appreciate your support! Monica Tread Lightly! Tread Lightly - Home