CHRISTMAS TRAILS

Oak Knoll Trailhead

BLM Redding Field Office

 

                                                               CHRISTMAS TRAILS

While hiking yesterday at a popular BLM recreation site near Igo, CA, I was reminded about how the Greater Redding Area is blessed with an abundance of diverse outdoor recreational opportunities that include both motorized and non-motorized activities.

 

Many who read this blog already know about the world-class OHV trail system at the Chappie Shasta OHV area adjacent to Lake Shasta, but the BLM also has many non-motorized routes that are enjoyed by hikers, runners, MTBers, and equestrians.

          Don & Ellen Amador       

                                                                                          

                                                

    

One of those sites is at the Oak Knoll Trailhead where a major trail network exists that is used mostly by hikers, MTBers, and equestrians.  During our hike we encountered several groups of MTBers and chatted with them about the area.  They loved the managed trail system and the opportunity to get long day’s ride on varying terrain that offered some spectacular views.

Redding Trails Alliance

 

BLM partnerships with trail groups are clearly evident at this site.  Just like the agency works with the Redding Dirt Riders to maintain the Chappie Shasta OHV Area, the BLM has a strong partnership with the Redding Trails Alliance to help maintain many non-motorized routes.  Good stuff!

Trail Sign with Slash Piles in Background Ready to Burn

 Both Ellen and I can’t wait to get back out on this and some of the other trails in the Clear Creek Greenway.  And, the area has also inspired me to get out my MTB and give those trails and myself a good workout.

 

Christmas is a great time to get out on trails with family and friends.  A Merry Christmas to all and to all a great outdoor experience.

 

OHV/CONSERVATION COLLABORATION ON NOR CAL NATIONAL MONUMENT PROPOSAL

Current Entrance Sign to Walker Ridge 

BLM Indian Valley Management Area

 

OHV/CONSERVATION COLLABORATION ON NOR CAL NATIONAL MONUMENT PROPOSAL

 

*The article below is an overview of the recent FS/BLM public listening session and I have added a link to my testimony with links at the end of the article to the 2016 Monument dedication and some additional background on this expansion proposal for those who want more info.  

 

 

On December 13, the Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service hosted a public meeting in Woodland, Calif. to hear from the community about management of the region’s public lands, including a proposal to add the Walker Ridge area to the existing Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. 

Standing Room Only at FS/BLM Listening Meeting

 

As many OHVers already know, in the BLM’s Indian Valley Management Area there is currently a significant amount of unauthorized use of both street-legal and non-street legal within the proposed expansion area and adjacent federal and private lands since the BLM did not undertake travel planning in that area during the 2006 Resource Management Planning effort due to lack of agency resources.

 

 All Historic OHV Routes Currently Closed

Numerous conservationists, OHV representatives, and other stakeholders mentioned the importance of bringing the proposed expansion lands into the existing Monument management umbrella so there could be a unified command structure that would aid in subsequent Monument and travel planning efforts.  

 

LINK TO DON AMADOR TESTIMONY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poNJmxSxcdk

 

Tribal leaders, officials from the CA Natural Resources Agency, and elected local and state representatives also stated their support for the proposal.

Del Albright                                    Allen Schrage

 

Having been on the front-line in many of the highly contentious 1990s-era land-use battles between multiple-use advocates and hard-core environmental groups, I much prefer the 10-year or longer collaborative relationship that exists between OHV and conservation groups regarding the original Berryessa Monument designation process and now in this proposed addition.

 

It was great to have Allen Schrage from the Mendo 4x4 Club and CAL4WD state his support and also remind the audience that OHV recreation is an important use and value. I want to commend Duffy Collin from the Oakland Motorcycle Club for attending and submitting their support letter.   And thanks also to the California Enduro Riders Association and the Marin County Motorcycle Association for allowing me to submit their support letters for the public record.

 

Del Albright, a 40-year long advocate for sustainable motorized recreation, stated his belief that National Monuments should be designated by Congress but highlighted the collaboration and outreach in this specific Monument proposal and the need for a unified command structure as the rationale for his support of this effort.

Duffy Collin

 

I want to commend Duffy Collin from the Oakland Motorcycle Club for attending and submitting their support letter.   And thanks also to the California Enduro Riders Association and the Marin County Motorcycle Association for allowing me to submit their support letters for the public record.

Bob Schneider - Conservation and Monument Lead

 

As the former Chair of the CA State Park Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, former OHV representative on the BLM’s Central CA Resource Advisory Council, and OHV leader who has a long-term commitment to the collaborative process that brings land agency leaders, Tribes, conservation groups, local government, other stakeholders, and the OHV community together with a common goal of both protecting natural and cultural resources and providing a high-quality outdoor experience, I believe the robust attendance by those stakeholders at the FS/BLM public listening session held on December 13 in Woodland, CA highlights what can happen with diverse interest groups find common ground on land management issues.

 

One of the speakers said that in a world filled with chaos it is nice to be part of something positive.  I strongly agree.

 

LINK TO 2016 BERRYESSA MONUMENT DEDICATION

https://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2016/03/ohv-recreation-key-partner-in-national.html

 

LINK TO HISTORY OF WALKER RIDGE ADDITION PROCESS

https://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2023/09/qwr-news-release-monumental-decision-in.html

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years. Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA. 

 

 

 

"BIG RICH" PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH OFF-ROAD ACCESS WARRIOR - DON AMADOR

Don Amador - Goat Mountain 

Stonyford OHV Area - Mendocino National Forest

 

Special thanks to the Big Rich podcast and their ongoing effort to interview Inductees into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame to preserve their off-road advocacy and access stories for those future generations that are interested in the early land-use  battles (circa 1980s – 2000s).

 

Recently, I was interviewed by Big Rich where we had a great conversation about my earlier life in Humboldt County growing up enjoying the great outdoors in the Pacific NW.  We also talk about a lot of subjects including my first motorcycle, recreating on nearby timber company property and public lands, what event started my land-use career, getting involved in the BRC and subsequently becoming their Western Representative, remembering the successes of the BRC /Turcke legal program (circa 1996-2000s), OHV politics, my run for Congress in 1998, getting the 2003 CA 96 dBA OHV Sound law enacted, rewriting the CA OHV Program via SB 742 in 2007, Oceano and other OHV challenges, getting riders engaged, finding common ground with conservation groups, cost recovery,  1984 Wilderness Act/trail closures, Timber Wars, building quality relationships with decision-makers and agency staff, import of on-the-ground trail decisions made at the local level, and many other topics.

 

LINK TO HOF WEBSITE/AMADOR – Scroll down to Big Rich Show #191

https://www.ormhof.org/don-amador

 

The interview is 54 minutes long and I hope that it sheds some light on my advocacy journey and its goal to preserve and protect access to public lands for responsible OHV recreation.

 

Lastly, I want to thank the many leaders in the powersports industry, politics, government, grassroots, conservation groups, and recreation organizations who have mentored me over the last 34 years.  Their patience, commitment, fellowship, and support is what I credit for helping me become an effective advocate for responsible recreation and resource management-related policies, legislation, and projects.