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Post by pistonschick on Nov 12, 2009 12:43:13 GMT -8
I pilfered this info from another off-road site - I have not yet confirmed the validity of this information. As soon as I am done here - I will be sending an e-mail to the two Skamania County employees listed below. If I were to guess - I would imagine that this is another land owner "reaction" to illegal 4x4 activities in the SW Washington forest area. I will follow up as soon as I gather more information. If the illegal 4-wheelers continue to tear things up - EVERYTHING WILL BE CLOSED TO EVERYONE! If you know someone who is still up there wheeling illegally . . . JUST SHOOT THEM ! Oh, wait - my mistake -- the politically correct action is please ask them to cease and desist their activities and direct them to the legal trails in the Tillamook State Forest. Then invite them to get involved with local 4x4 clubs in the area that are working hard to open legal 4x4 trails in SW Washington. No wait - that song and dance doesn't seem to be working for these butt-nuggets . . . JUST SHOOT THEM!.I wonder how long it will be before I get moderated ? ;D Crystal
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flipflop
Ok to Drive
attitude is everything
Posts: 178
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Post by flipflop on Nov 12, 2009 13:47:14 GMT -8
Yah, that is terrible news, but it really doesn't surprise me. The problem with "THE PEOPLE" that keep offroading illegally is that a locked gate is not a deterrant, they just make illegal trails around the gates. It's really not complicated who's doing it if you want to meet them wait till its dark and drive around Camas/Washougal hill's on a Friday/Saturday night and look for the fresh beer cans I know people that have traveled from Oregon over to Jones Creek & Mabee Mines area to go "mudding & offroading" and these guy's were not the internet savy type. Illegal offroading is a much bigger problem than most are aware of. I've talked to a local at the Auto Parts store the other day that thought it was "legal" to go offroading in Skamania/Clark county... flip.flop
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Wyldman
Active Member
Safety & Education Chairman
IXOYE
Posts: 643
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Post by Wyldman on Nov 12, 2009 16:35:04 GMT -8
This is the reason FWP's are going to be so vital. The official agencies don't have the man power to patrol this area all the time.
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Post by Jon on Nov 12, 2009 17:25:07 GMT -8
I wonder how long it will be before I get moderated ? ;D It crossed my mind.... But only to test my new buttons. I think flip.flop touched on the issue and so did Wyldman. Theres basically two types off illegal off roaders (in my opinion). - Those who honestly don't know, and seriously do think it's legal. This is where education and FWP's will help. If I was new to the scene and the area, theres a lot of stuff in those hills that can look like legal established trails. For the record, they are not.
- Those who just flat out don't care because they haven't been caught. This is where FWP's can be frustrating, but where enforcement comes in and needs to shine! I'll say it again, the enforcement needs to be swift and expensive. Very expensive. people will have to be made an example of... to well.... be an example to others of what not to do. I am pretty confident that enforcement is willing to make some examples.
As Crystal mentions above, the right thing to do is educate, and document the issue and as we all learned on Tuesday, report it on. You can only do so much, and if they don't want to listen... Theres other folks empowered to make them listen. The unfortunate piece of all this as the poster in Crystals quote from the other board states, this road has been open for a hundred years. It's unfortunate that the the potential mis-use of a few is going to close this area to all.... not only for the next 100 years but potentially forever. Unfortunately to many people live for the moment and don't think about the impact of their actions... either cause they are too short sighted or they just don't care. (see bullet two above) **** Snort*** ;D Butt nuggets *** snort *** ;D
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Post by fivendime on Nov 12, 2009 18:05:04 GMT -8
Never been on this road and it would be a shame to not even have the option due to reckless wheeling of a few. For the record. We dont shoot people here, nor do we want you to do it either......
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Post by bchutchens on Nov 12, 2009 18:21:28 GMT -8
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Post by anglebar on Nov 12, 2009 19:56:46 GMT -8
I have not been on this road in several years and I went up there a few weeks ago and noticed several illegal trails and places where bikes/ATV's/vehicles had been bypassing gates.
This road is the original road that leads to the Skamania and Last Chance mines. There is a TON of history up there and lots of things to explore and see, but I'm certain its all privately owned now.
Recently I noticed a gate that closed the road, I'm guessing maybe a half mile from the end of the road. This wasn't there a few years ago and I understood it to be a County road all the way to the end.
I'm assuming the property owners are getting pissed with all the trespassers and vandalism that has gone on for years. Although there are cameras, signs and a map posted where the private land is, from what I can tell basically you can't leave the road period.
With that, I'm really interested to see what the outcome is and why.
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Post by Jon on Nov 13, 2009 11:39:34 GMT -8
Well I also fired off an email to Skamania county to see whats up. The response I got was "the County is considering vacaton of the road which means that we would release any public interest. It then will be a privately owned road."
They didn't tell me why. It could be anything from funding, to illegal wheeling / vandalism. What ever it is, it's a shame. The guy told me he wouldn't be back until Monday, and I could try and call him then to get more info.
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dobie
Winch Cable Monkey
Posts: 15
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Post by dobie on Nov 15, 2009 16:56:28 GMT -8
Man that is freakin messed up can't people just chill and wait untill y'all get the legal trails goin, We should get a group trail patrol out in that area, I don't drive but I do know quite abit of the younger people that go up in the mountain. I say we go up there and stop being so darn nice. It might scare the crud outta em when they get a tounge lashin from someone who is 6'1 and 300 lbs
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outlaw525chick
Charter Member
Charter Member
Me & my 525 @ Coos Bay
Posts: 171
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Post by outlaw525chick on Nov 15, 2009 17:22:45 GMT -8
It might scare the crud outta em when they get a tounge lashin from someone who is 6'1 and 300 lbs That is all a thought that has crossed our minds. On the other hand we are not "allowed" to do that as part of our Forest Watch Patrol training provided by DNR. Our last club meeting had DNR present and they did the training there. We are there to educate and give/take info on the situation. Pictures speak a thousand words!
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dobie
Winch Cable Monkey
Posts: 15
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Post by dobie on Nov 15, 2009 17:30:37 GMT -8
Well I wasn't talkin about being to mean just being real stern kinda like the cops do when they are givin you a warning, It just makes me mad as heck that they close down all these roads gates make me real angry I love to explore the mountains more than most things in life and there are tons of roads that I will never know where they go unless I wanna go hike them
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Post by anglebar on Nov 17, 2009 17:41:08 GMT -8
From Pearce
What we are doing in vacating Skamania Mines Rd and returning it to the property owners. The county can not afford to maintain it..
From Douglass
Skamania County is considering the vacation of Skamania Mines Road. This means if vacated, Skamania County releases all interest of the road and it goes back to the ownership of the private landowners. It will not be gated by the County, but if ALL of the landowners wish to do that, they could as it would be a choice they can make. No one person can gate the road for closure as they would be blocking access to other owners.
If you have any questions or concerns I would suggest you send a letter to the Board of County Commissioner's so it can be entered into record for the Public Hearing, which is on December 8th. The letter must reach the board by December 1st at noon to be entered into record for the public hearing. I am attaching the notice for any clarification you may need.
Thanks for your interest and I hope this helps.
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