OHV KICK START - EMERGING TECH, OPPORTUNTIES, AND CHALLENGES KEY FOCUS AT INTERAGENCY TRAIL WORKSHOP

 

2023 RANGER RIDE AND INTERAGENCY OHV WORKSHOP

BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area, Redding Field Office

Photo credit: George McDougall

OHV KICK START - EMERGING TECH, OPPORTUNTIES, AND CHALLENGES KEY FOCUS AT INTERAGENCY TRAIL WORKSHOP

As part of our commitment to facilitating OHV educational opportunities, QWR restarted its popular on-site OHV workshop program by hosting the 2023 Interagency Ranger Ride at the BLM’s Chappie Shasta OHV Area near Redding, CA on May 1-4.  

 

Due to a series of mega wildfires and COVID, the OHV Ranger Rides had been sidelined since 2017 so the group of dedicated OHV trail leads, crews, instructors, and partners were glad to get back to an in-person field workshop.

 

Top tier federal and state OHV specialists from the Klamath, Shasta Trinity, Mendocino, Eldorado, and Tahoe National Forests and the Ukiah, Eagle Lake, and Redding Field Offices were in attendance.  CA State Park representatives were there from grants, law enforcement, and the OHV Safety Week Program.   Chris Real from DPS Technical was there to give agency staff training on administering the SAEJ1287 Sound Test for OHVs and performing the inspection for spark arrestors.

Intersection of  SxS Trail and Single-Track Motorcycle Trail

 

To kick off the workshop on Tuesday morning, Sky Zaffarano, the OHV Program Manager for the BLM’s Chappie Shasta OHV Area talked about the agency’s efforts to manage the route network for all sizes of OHVs with a recent focus over the last few years to provide trails for SxS use while increasing single-track companion routes that often parallel the wider trails used by larger vehicles.  This enhances the OHV recreation experience for both vehicle types and also increases vehicle safety.

DirtBike School Class

Photo credit: Virginia Real

 

Jon Brandt, a certified DirtBike School coach and State Park Peace Officer, taught a one-day hands-on training session to agency students that needed lessons on how to safely ride an off-road motorcycle and to get their Dirt Bike certification.

 

Josh Liebscher, CA State Parks OHV Grants Administrator, gave the participants on overview of the Grants Program and their commitment to help support their federal agency partners provide environmentally responsible OHV recreation on public lands.

Chris Real teaching OHV Sound and Spark Arrestor Class

Photo credit: Virginia Real

 

Chris Real from DPS Technical, provided sound and spark arrester training/certification. The new field staff had the opportunity to perform vehicle measurements use of instruments and to understand inspection methods for spark arresters with valuable participation from seasoned OHV specialists.

 

Real also had a special presentation related to Emerging Technologies of Off-Highway Vehicles. This presentation reviewed 50 years of Off-Highway vehicle types and provided a perspective of the new vehicles that are headed to the Off-Highway recreation areas.  In addition, he highlighted both the opportunities and challenges from large ROVs to Electric motorcycles that land managers are contending with in multiple use areas.

 

Other topics discussed in various modules or around the campfire include the import of  land agencies adding dirt bike strike teams to their suite of post wildfire and storm recovery efforts, developing meaningful partnerships with trail clubs or non-profit trail recovery organizations,  looking for new management strategies to enhance recreation opportunities for SxSs (since it remains a growing user group),and allowing staff to actually get some on-the-trail seat time to help build muscle memory and/or see how other units manage their trail systems, and much more.

 

Don Amador, QWR President and founder of the 27 year-old Ranger Ride Program, states, “We had an dynamic mix of new OHV trail personal,  private sector professionals, and agency OHV Master Performers that fostered a rich educational experience for new agency hires and seasoned staff alike.”

 

45-Mile Group Trail Ride at Scenic Vista with

Lake Shasta near Full Pool

“It was clear the group thought one of the most important benefits of this and similar field-based events is they allow for participants to build long-term relationships with other professionals for the benefit of providing sustainable trail-based recreation for current and future generations,” Amador concludes.

 

 

QWR appreciates the presenters from the FS, BLM, DPS Technical, and the CA State Parks OHV Division who helped make this workshop a success.  We also thank the OHV Division and the CA Outdoor Recreation Foundation’s BE THE OFF-ROAD HERO Safety Week Program for sending educational materials and support staff.

 

QWR wants to thank the BLM’s Redding Field Office for sharing their OHV management expertise with the Ranger Ride attendees and the Redding Dirt Riders for helping with the BBQ.  And thanks also to the MIC’s Right Rider Access Fund and Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. for their generous support of this workshop to help educate agency staff about safe vehicle operation and review new recreation management strategies to address emerging technologies and uses. 

 

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2015 NOHVCC National Trail Conf. - Oct. 25 - Nov. 1

R5 Wet Weather Soil Study Update at 2014 Ranger Ride/Workshop

Tahoe NF

Dear OHV Recreation Agency Contacts,

I talked with a number of agency recreation staff at last week’s OHV commission meeting

in Sonora who asked about the dates for the NOHVCC 2015 National OHV Trail Conf.

As you know, QWR is attending this event and encourages agency recreation staff to

attend as these events are a great opportunity to network with OHV recreation specialists

from around the country. 

NOHVCC is still working on the final event program, but here is the preliminary info.

It will be held in Folsom, a suburb of Sacramento the week of October 25 - November 1, 2015;

most likely using the same schedule as last year.

Here is the agenda from the 2014 conf. as they expect to follow the same format.

2014 NOHVCC Agenda (Tue. – Sun.)

http://www.nohvcc.org/docs/default-source/miscellaneous-files/2014registrationpacket.pdf?sfvrsn=2

QWR will be working with NOHVCC on some potential trail rides at nearby OHV areas during

the 1^st part of the week.

Here is a link to a story QWR did when it attended the 2012 NOHVCC National Conf.

http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-trail-ideas-highlighted-at-2012.html

Stay tuned for updates.

Don Amador

Quiet Warrior Racing

www.quietwarriorracing.com

Forest Service Chainsaw Class - Important Training Tool for Trail Volunteers

Mendocino NF Chainsaw Class and Instructors

Managing sustainable OHV and other recreation programs on federal lands is a complex challenge in the 21^st Century.  Most successful programs have these common factors; appropriated funds, support from line-officers, dedicated recreation staff, supplemental monies from fee programs, state or other grants, and volunteers. 

QWR's Don Amador

 

For this article, QWR wants to focus on trail volunteers and their growing import in the aforementioned equation.   To bolster their volunteer workforce, the Mendocino National Forest recently held a chainsaw certification class for volunteers.

Blowdown on FS Motorcycle Trail

According to the agency, before Forest Service volunteers can operate a chain saw or a crosscut saw on a Forest Service project, they need to attend an official Forest Service training course on the safe and proper use of these saws.  The Forest Service has training courses specific to the use of saws for firefighting and for other purposes.  Usually, the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) course is the preferred crosscut and chainsaw class for non-fire personnel.   The operational and safety based training course for volunteers will help both experienced and inexperienced sawyers use chain saws and crosscut saws for limbing, bucking, brushing, and—to a limited degree—for felling smaller and less complex material.  Safety is the number one element emphasized in the chainsaw training.

Trail Crew Clearing Blowdown on FS 4wd, SxS, ATV, and MC Trail

The training is very comprehensive.  Topics include, but are not limited to: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), area size up, proper body positioning and stance,  familiarity with OSHA requirements and regulations, physics of “binds”,  physics of “kickback”, sawyer/swamper communication, cutting area control, danger tree awareness,  job hazard analysis and emergency evacuation plans,  Forest Service radio communication, radio procedures and how to use a Forest Service radio;  parts of the chainsaw,  how to sharpen chainsaw chain,  and saw maintenance;   and of course the inclusion of safe chainsaw handling, starting and stopping procedures, use of escape routes,  and field practice with limbing and bucking practicum.

LINK to FS Chainsaw Course (with volunteer section)

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/fire-aviation/management/?cid=stelprdb5366863

Bill Aaron, a Region 5 chainsaw instructor who taught our class, states, “Trail volunteers are an important part of the Forest Service trails system.  Without their assistance the upkeep and maintenance would be much more difficult, and they are an integral key in the trails program.”

Chainsaw and Rack on QWR's DRZ400 Trail Maint. Bike

The Forest Service also states that volunteers who have completed saw training successfully are usually certified at the "A”  or “B” level. The level of certification indicates the types of saw work, along with any restrictions, that the volunteer can perform.  The "A" level is considered “apprentice” and the "B level is considered “intermediate” with restrictions limiting them to limbing, brushing, and bucking.

After training is complete, a line officer (usually the district ranger or unit manager) issues the volunteer's saw qualification card. Saw training and recertification is required every 3 years.

Don Amador, QWR President, states, “A skilled trail volunteer workforce is a force-multiplier and they not only help keep trail clear of trees and other vegetation, but their donated hours can be used as a match for grants from the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division.  Volunteers continue to be an important factor in the land-management equation.”

Chainsaw Certification Card

“I considered it a privilege to have been part of this chainsaw class where safety and proper cutting techniques were emphasized.  Recent wildfires at popular OHV areas such as Stonyford on the Mendocino National Forest and Hull Creek on the Stanislaus National Forest highlight the need for a skilled volunteer workforce,” Amador concludes.

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SxS Trails and Training Serve Greater Sacramento Area and Delta Region

Located just 25 miles east of Sacramento California, Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) offers a lot of diverse recreational opportunity for the OHV enthusiast.   There are a number of trails for dirt-bikes, ATVs, SxSs, and 4x4 vehicles. 

 

 

The unit also has several 4x4 obstacle courses for full-size vehicles, an environmental training center, kiddie tracks, and is home to the world-famous Hangtown MX.

 

QWR believes it offers the residents of the Greater Sacramento Area some great OHV recreation that is convenient, well-managed, and fun.

 

The park offers SxS training as well.  Last year, Prairie City SVRA, Hollister Hills SVRA, and a site in Irvine were designated as official training centers for the Basic DriverCourse created by the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA).

 

After taking the free 2 hour online ROV E-Course, students 16 years of age or older which have a valid driver’s license are eligible to take the 3 hour closed-range driving program taught by a licensed ROHVA DriverCoach.  The cost for the Basic DriverCourse is $150 per driver and a passenger can attend for free.    

 

At some locations, the DriverCourse offers additional Open Trail Experiences which allows the driver to put some of their new skills into practice on a variety of terrains. 

 

Link to ROHVA Main Website for info about all the Courses

http://rohva.org/

 

Link to ROHVA DriverCourse Video about the Training

http://rohva.org/Videos.aspx

 

Link to ROHVA Free ROV E-Course

http://cbt.rohva.org/

If you live in the Greater Sacramento or Delta Region of California and don’t have time to take a family OHV vacation into the mountains and are looking for a place where you or your family members can ride or drive their motorized vehicle,  Prairie City SVRA is certainly an alternative that is worthy of consideration.  It is also a great place to get trained up on that new SxS you just purchased.

  

Link to Prairie City SVRA

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1221

 

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