Snow disappeared fast this year. A tree was blocking the state forest trail I ride on to exercise the dog. We have t done that in a couple months. First time was yesterday. Today I decided to remove the tree before the rest of the world wakes up and makes a mess of the forest going around it. Small dead oak and little maple stick that grew up in the wrong location It was nice to be able to drive in the woods again.
That's awesome you can take the ATV on state land like that to grab scrounges. I have miles and miles of trails in the national forest all around me that are open to snowmobiles during the winter but have no access during the non-snow months outside of walking or mountain biking. While I can understand the main reasons they don't allow OHRVs in the national forest (and idiots would tear the place up in no time), I just wish they had some kind of program where people could be granted access to take out dead and down trees from those areas rather than just letting everything rot away.
We have a several hundred acre woods nearby that a local family gave to the state after they were gone...it's almost all old growth and the trees in there are massive. The state built a couple mile long wooden walkway through there for the public (it can lay wet in there in places for a good part of the year) which the state maintains the walkway, but appears to ignore managing the woods, other than cutting anything that blocks the walkway...and even then, it's literally just a chunk out of the part laying on the walkway, repairs to the walkway, and done. It's such a crying shame to see those majestic hundreds of years old oaks and whatnot just laying there rotting...they'd make such awesome lumber...or at least a whole winters worth of heat for someone! But nope, just let r rot!
It will never happen. The elite know-nothing bureaucrats consider any kind of removal detrimental to the natural ecosystem. We're supposed to make believe human beings don't exist and the planet will be a perfect nirvana without our meddling(s). Unless of course we need to meddle for a wind generator or solar panel. Then it's OK.
Nah, in the morning I went for the first joyride. First time the snow was low enough the dog would join me. She didn’t like the deep snow this year. Usually runs in front of the atv, couldn’t do that. Didn’t like running behind it and getting sprayed with snow Trails get some rough spots further on. Not worth the wear and tear on machinery to go “logging” too far from home Have done it twice and broke the arch once. This was an afternoon mission just to get out of the house and open the trail before the mud riders come.
Well technically I can’t,,,,or shouldn’t. Lots of grey These are old fire roads that were once actual dirt roads before the 1930’s. There are no motorized vehicles allowed,,,,,,unless you’re a landowner and near me there’s lots of private land back there still. I’m an abutter too. And technically this tree was on private property and fell onto state land hahaha. Bottom line on this side of the state forest they don’t care much what happens as long as you’re not willfully destroying things. They do no maintenance or patrolling out here. Only time I see a DEEP official is if I call them or someone broke a leg on a dirt bike or fell out of deer stand. I always remind them this is MY forest and I just let them believe they own it There are other sections they’ll patrol with actual real dirt roads. A State pickup truck isn’t going through these trails. In the winter they’re in the office, in the summer they’re on boats patrolling the Ct river because let’s face it, that’s a better job than walking a bony muddy snake infested trail. I also have a deed from the state that allows me to clean brush on a certain parcel of State forest property. Now if a tree dies and the brush is too high for me to reach it’s not my fault is it?
Went back out for a bit this morning, my property. Same scenario, this tree was down and in my way. Cut it in half and gave it a pull to twist the rootball out of the ground just enough to get the bar tip under it and cut the ball off. Moved the ball out of the way. Guess I forgot to snap a pic of the two logs in the arch but I had to move them anyway so I picked them up to bring home. Cut a few small dead standing trees down which is my game plan right now. Too wet in the processing area for much driving so I’ll cut stuff down until it dries up a bit. This was the biggest stick. Wanted to fall into my access area so I got to try my shiny new wedges Didn’t take much to reverse course. Are these little Gum trees? If so I Could whack them down and soften a sharp corner in my trail.
The younger ones on the left and right look like Blackgum to me, so the big one could be the mother to the other bastards
It is not about this at all. It is about idiots riding all over and tearing things up. There have been rules on no ATVs long before this mindset settled into the bureaucrats. If there was a program that let us do this, as soon as the idiots see people riding off trail, they will think it is open game and you never put the cat back in the bag.
Just seeing this. Didn't show up til now??? Nice find. Snow probably gone now and some good drying going on. Did some wood moving myself Monday. Had a bunch of chunks hanging around since late Spring. Split those up and filled a bin. Another pile of nuggets topped it off. The rest will go to my friend. Snow cover at the wood yard the end of Monday
When I mentioned I wish that we were allowed to use OHRVs to access dead and down via the trail systems, I should clarify that all the dead and down that I scrounge off forest service roads is road-accessible, meaning there is no off trail activity except by foot (and winch cable). Back in 2019, after a storm washed out a forest service road near me and the road was closed to all vehicle traffic, I went down to the ranger station and asked if there was any way I would be allowed to go in and pull out some dead and down firewood. I explained I only live a couple miles from the road, I have a permit, and I've been pulling firewood from that location for a long time. I don't remember the guy's title but the person in charge was a bit of a a** with attitude and just said "if I open it for you, I'll have to open it for everyone". I have no problem with that, it's his call and I grudgingly agreed with him (although he didn't have to be a d**k about it). One thing that did irritate me about not being able to get permission to go in there and get firewood is that there is someone who lives closer to that closed road who had keys for the gate (not sure if it's because he has something to do with the snowmobile club or has political clout) however I saw him driving in and out with two large trucks hauling out firewood for his house. Goes back to the old adage that it's all about who you know. I also agree with you that the biggest reason they don't allow OHRVs in places like the national forest is that too many idiots would abuse the privilege and go off trail and tear everything up. Happens with snowmobilers all the time but they do less damage due to the snow cover.
