OHV POKER RUN
HIGHLIGHTS PROACTIVE STRATEGY
After last year’s blistering pace of new recreation-related
politics, policy, and planning, QWR thought it wise to kick-off 2026 by driving
our Teryx 800 SxS at the Redding Dirt Riders (RDR) annual “New Years’ Day” Poker
Run held at the BLM’s Chappie Shasta OHV Area near Redding, CA.
One of the event’s “X Factors” is always the weather that
can range from 70 degrees and sunny to freezing blizzards. Per usual, the weather question was answered this
year as nature greeted OHV enthusiasts at higher elevations with an obscuring
mix of rain and fog that kept riders and drivers on their toes.
This popular and super fun event also highlights how an
off-road motorcycle OHV club recalibrated some of their events over the last
10-15 years to serve new and/or experienced trail recreationists who have
purchased SxSs or UTVs to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends.
Another variable that has made said evolution possible is
how the BLM’s Redding Field Office embraced the concept of “adaptive
management” of the trail network to enhance and improve sustainable recreation
opportunities for SxSs as a way to address increased demand for this new
vehicle type to complement historic use of the unit by dirt-bikes, ATVs, and
4WDs.
Don Amador, QWR President, states, “This event is a shining example of how proactive recreation groups and land agencies have worked in a collaborative manner over the last several decades to provide access to high quality OHV recreation for a very diverse group of trail enthusiasts.”
The California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle
Recreation Division’s Grant Program is another key part of that equation since
it helps fund a lot of those dynamic planning efforts and projects that make
the Chappie-Shasta OHV Area one of the crowned-jewels in the BLM’s national
network of destination motorized recreation sites.
# # #
