GETTIN’ OFF 4X4 Off-Road Club – April 8 Meeting Minutes

2012-2013 Officers: President: Terry, VP: Brian B, Treasurer: Don, Secretary: Paul E.
Meeting Time & Location: Every 2nd Tuesday at 7, Antonella’s Ristorante (patio area), 1701 Park Avenue, San Jose , CA 95126 (408) 279-4922.
Website http://www.gettinoff4x4.com

7:00 pm. Buffet Dinner $10. Salad, Pasta, Pizza, Bread & Soft drinks, or order directly from the menu. To help Antonella’s cover the cost of using their patio area, members are encouraged to enjoy the dinner.

7:30 pm. Meeting Start

WELCOME and Board Reports

President – Terry: Welcomed Guests & Members; membership explained ( 2 runs, 3 meetings, then members vote; $60 per yr).
Vice President – Brian:
Treasurer – Don: $560 in account.
Secretary – Paul: noted “No Man’s Land” TV show on History Chnl, part of show is finding relics near Darwin, CA. Google search of “4×4 clubs San Jose, CA”: Gettin’ Off is in top 5.
Members Attending (1 point): Aaron, Brad, Brian, Chris, Don, Eric, Gary, Lyle, Mario, Matt, Paul E, Paul H, Randy, Roger, Ron, Terry
Guests – Marco,Tom, Mike
Participation points: Lyle in lead so far.

GENERAL NEWS, ACTIONS & IDEAS

a) Brad has a quote for promo cards to handout on the trail or anytime. 500 cards ~$50; 1000 for ~$75 (?). The vendor has our quality digital artwork & newest logo. The card will have our logo and website, ideas welcome.
b) Annual Board Elections coming. Nominations were held, and can be made up to election time. Election is held at the May meeting. The current board were nominated & seconded.
If you are interested in a board position chime in and/or ask some to nominate you. The Board serves for one year. A copy of the club’s by-laws is attached, and can be be viewed at the club website.

VEHICLE PAINS & PROJECTS
Terry – 4-Runner passed the Smog test.
Paul H – 94 YJ not passing smog. May part it out (!)
Brad – Jeep is back and running.
Randy – Acquired a new YJ, ready to roll.
Don – Contemplating SAS (Solid Axle Swap) on 4Runner. Quotes range from ~$6K to ~$8K, depending work completed, new/old parts, etc. Club members encouraged Don to send out a list of parts needed, and club members could recommend best suppliers. To save on labor costs, members also suggested a time (a Saturday morning at Calabazas RV?) in which the axle could be installed by the club. Aaron & Paul H have professional welding skills. Perhaps this could be combined with the CB tune-up & Swap Meet.

RECENT RUNS & ‘Chances to Lock Axles’

March 14,15,16. Panamint Valley & Calico Mountains. Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Matt, Lauren and his friends Dave & Tony, and I met met in Ridgecrest to run trails in Calico Mountains & Panamint. It went very well, a trip report was submitted March 28. Photos: http://4door4x4.smugmug.com/Off-Road-Trips-1/Calico-and-Panamint-March-2014/38109443_ntbPfH . Click “Map This” for locations.

March 22 – Snow Run ! Terry & Tom (‘new’ Tom) met up near Georgetown & ran up to Wentworth Springs toward Ice House Rd. Just light drifts of bit snow encountered on the way up. Rained off & on. They drove across the dam at Loon Lake to try the Rubicon for a bit, up to the former gate-keeper spot. The rock was wet & slippery, another rig with 38s had traction issues too. Other trails in area were on winter season closure. (these should open up end of April)

March – Eric & friends went to Shoshone Hot Springs, east of Death Valley to Gunsight Mine, and Armagosa River narrows, along old train tracks. Eric noted the pick and shovel labor to build these earth structures for the railroad was incredible for that time.

UPCOMING RUNS (2 points)

April 26 – Adopt-A-Trail – Sourgrass, Hwy 4. Meet at ARCO in Tracy (Grant line Road exit, head southeast, on left) at 7:30am, and/or, Burger King in Angels Camp at 9:15am, and/or Sourgrass parking area at 10:45am. Bring: shovel, pruning loppers, gloves, garbage bags, chain saw, lunch. Looks like we’ll have a good crew of 8 or more rigs going !

May 31 – Slick Rock, then perhaps the 1st few miles of Deer Valley, from Hwy 4 side. Alternate could be eastern side of Corral Hollow if Deer Vly not accessible..
June –
July –
August 15,16,17 – Club BBQ Run: Aragain Rim, up Hwy 108.

CB Tune-Up and Swap Meet – Terry & Tom to determine best day. If you have 4×4 stuff to sell or a CB & antenna to fix or tune-up, this is a good time.

Other run suggestions: places we’ve not been for a long time, and not closed (as is Eldorado NF): Swamp Lake, Rubicon, Fordyce, Lassen Applegate, Barney Riley, Moab.

8:40 pm – Meeting adjourned.

SAVING OUR TRAILS

Barrett Lake Jeep Trail:

1) After the lawsuit from PEER last year, and the subsequent truce between litigants, Eldorado National Forest (ENF) has put together a plan make the required changes to the trail. Work should begin this July. The trail could be ready by 2015. It appears it will take many 100’s of thousands of federal & OHV trust fund dollars to make the trail changes. It is amazing all the behind-the-scenes work & expense required to re-open these trails to the public: large additional reports & plans written by ENF for environmental compliance, volunteers, pro-access groups & the county of Eldorado, etc, and of course the actual ground work by contractors. Even the recent plans made are under attack by the only opposition, PEER, who is already complaining to ENF about their remediation plans…unbelievable! It really makes true the motto ‘Freedom Isn’t Free’. To help understand this, read ENF’s plans and comments at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3792621.pdf

I think the next trail ENF will work on is Strawberry Pass, they applied and should receive state OHV Trust funding to study it. No word on Deer Valley or Pardoes/Squaw Ridge yet.

Glamis:

2) Some good news for Imperial Sand Dunes in So Cal (a.k.a. ‘Glamis’). A generally positive court ruling for potential renewed OHV access to this long restricted area. See BRC article: http://www.sharetrails.org/news/2014/04/04/epic-decision-portends-new-balance-re-opening-dunes-glamis In possible retribution(?), PEER/CBD a day later, apparently notfied BLM of their intent to sue them on grounds of inadequate record-keeping of ESA animal populations there.

Check BRC (sharetrails.org) and Corva.org(‘News’) websites for more access news.

Paul E

2012-2013 Officers: President: Terry, VP: Brian B, Treasurer: Don, Secretary: Paul E.
Meeting Time & Location: Every 2nd Tuesday at 7, Antonella’s Ristorante (patio area), 1701 Park Avenue, San Jose , CA 95126 (408) 279-4922.
Website http://www.gettinoff4x4.com/

7:00 pm. Buffet Dinner is $10 for Salad, Pasta, Pizza, Bread & Soft drinks, or order from the menu directly. To help Antonella’s cover the cost of hosting our meeting, members are encouraged to enjoy a dinner here.

7:30 pm. Meeting Start

WELCOME and Board Reports

President – Terry: Welcomed members & guests.
Vice President – Brian:
Treasurer – Don: Stated account has ~$500.
Secretary – Paul: Noted that Matt & I wrote our local congressmen stating the unilateral action of Obama using the Antiquities Act to declare new massive National Monunents in Utah are unfair and elitist (whoa!).
Members Attending (1 point): Aaron, Brad, Chris, Don, Eric, Joe, Lyle, Matt, Paul E, Randy, Roger, Ron, Terry.
Guests Visiting – Marco (again, welcome!)

GENERAL NEWS, ACTIONS & IDEAS

a) Brad got quote for cards to handout on the trail & whenrever we want to promo the club. 500 card ~$50; 1000 for ~$70 or thereabouts. The vendor he contacted has our best quality digital artwork & newest logo.
overthe next severl weeks we’llde cie what into to place on the card. To start, our website, at least. Suggestions needed.
b) In case you missed the email we have a few (blurry) shots of our Christmas dinner at http://4door4x4.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=36823966&AlbumKey=hGsH2C

VEHICLE PAINS & PROJECTS

Don – Cab filling with water with new rainfall. Asked for suggestions. I (ed.) had this problem too until my windshield was replaced a few years ago (was cracked). Check windshield seal.
Matt – Master cylinder issues.
Marco – New springs & shocks, adding about 2-3 (?) inches of lift. Excellent !
(Eric – though previously noted, we all look forward to seeing your new 35’s, flat fenders, etc.)

RECENT RUNS & ‘Chances to Lock Axles’

Any one go out in last few weeks & lock axles? You bet:

Jan 18: Hollister HIlls ! Great weather, not dusty or crowded. Attendees were Don, Terry, Marco, Rahul, Chris, Matt & Ron. Sound like all had a good time. No attempts at Truck Hill this time.

Feb ~1 to Feb 7: The King of the Hammers, Johnson Valley – Lyle and friends went to witness some awesome 4×4 racing (top speed: 130mph) & radical 4×4 crawling in the desert. They ran some of the less intense trails in the area before and after the main race on Friday. Plenty of U-tube video. Lyle reports there were fully crowds but well organized. 55K showed up to wheel, see the race, and check the vendor’s stands.

UPCOMING RUNS (2 points)

February 22 – Abit early for a Snow Run, at leat int he 5000-7000 ft elevation range, so proposed is the CB Tune-Up and Swap Meet. We all have a few new and used items to sell or swap, some have CB issues. Possible location is Calabasas RV, in the morning, about 9-Noon. Members with CB issues or stuff to sell or trade, email the club a few days before if possible.

March 11 – Club Meeting.

March 14,15,16. Panamint Valley / Barstow. Since Terry trot PV/DV is on-hold for a few years, an idea is try a mid-March desert run, with a chance of slightly better weather and wildflowers. There’s lots of trails south of PV to try for the first time and explore. Itinerary: Head for Ridgecrest Friday afternoon/evening & check in. For Saturday, run trails to the south such as Calico Hills & whatever we can find. Sunday wheel closer to Ridgecrest, wheel to Fish Canyon for lunch. Return to Ridgecrest & head home. Daylight savings starts March 9 so we’ll have a bit more light to work with.

March 22 -Snow Run, anyone? Statistically, this year anyway, there should be good snow to drive on. Wentworth Springs / Ice House Rd suggested.

April 26 Adopt-A-Trail – Sourgrass, Hwy 4.

May
June
July
August – BBQ Run: Aragain Rim, up Hwy 108 (proposed).

Future Run suggestions were places we’ve not been for a long time, and are not closed (as in Eldorado NF). Summer candidates are: Swamp Lake, Rubicon, Fordyce, Lassen Applegate, Barney Riley.

8:30 pm. Meeting end.

SAVING OUR TRAILS
(new this month in bold text)

Paraphrased from sharetrails.org, a.k.a. BRC. Good news that could have significant positive implications for Stanislaus NF Lawsuit:

1) “BILLINGS, MT (January 8, 2014) — Recreation groups are thrilled by a just-released Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the validity of the Custer National Forest’s Beartooth Ranger District Travel Management Plan….Despite the Plan’s numerous restrictions on long-existing motorized access, it was challenged in federal court by the Pryors Coalition…individuals…Wildlands CPR…Montana Wilderness Association, Audubon Society and Backcountry Horsemen. The Coalition’s suit was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull. The Coalition appealed, and heard in December 2013 before…the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals..includ[ing] retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Decision released January 7, 2014, affirming the district court and leaving the Travel Plan in place. http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/54-1-Memorandum_decision_01.07.14.pdf

“This decision has some strong and intriguing language, particularly on the hot topic of ‘minimizing’ impacts of vehicle use and the 40 year old Executive Orders from which that duty supposedly emanates,” noted Paul Turcke, an attorney for the recreation groups. “In candor, we have suffered a number of frustrating decisions at the district court level on the minimization issue. We hope that a circuit court decision, reflecting the intellect and wisdom of a retired Supreme Court Justice, might foreshadow a positive turn as our overburdened and under-budgeted Forest Service addresses the challenge of managing recreation on our public lands,”

2) Abbreviated from email sent Feb 7 “Utah access under attack”. See email for more detail.
Obama at his State of the Union Address, said he would use the Antiquities Act (like Clinton in 2000) to declare new, large National Monuments. In some respects this is not always a really bad, but when this happens, left-wing enviros & anti’s will then push for National PARK status, which often results the closure of decades open-to-the-public road & routes. Obama, Sally Jewel (our new Interior secretary) and many democrats want Obama to make new massive National Monuments in Utah, since the Republican-controlled house will not (good for them!).

I sent my congressman Mike Honda, an email about this, specific to abuse of the Antiquities Act, and the result of loss of public recreation lands and the rightful access them. Utah could be hit very hard by Obama’s Ant. Act. declarations this year or next. This means eventually Moab and many of the Red Rock lands around it. The immediate threat is the thousands of acres around Canyonlands National Park. Much could potentially closed to 4-wheeling, biking, hunting, camping, etc.

BRC has excellent background on this. Check out: http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/dispatch-from-hawthorne_Feb_2014_FINAL.pdf and,
http://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/utah-land-use-legislation-threats-and-opportunities.

Excerpt from BRC: “…In their latest lawsuit, SUWA has teamed up with wealthy environmental heavy hitters including The Wilderness Society and the Natural Resources Defense Council. With characteristic bravado, SUWA predicts OHV travel plans in Utah will topple “like dominos in a line”…”. Those are fightin’ words!

Many congressmen have written Intr. Sec. Sally Jewel in support of new monument declarations: http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Dem_letter_to_Jewell_on_more_Monuments.pdf. and Mike Honda is on the list. No surprise as he is a democrat and claims to be “pro-environment”. If you live in the Bay area your congressman is probably in the same boat. But if we do nothing, we’ll just get run over by the enviro-nannies.

Write a letter to your congressman in opposition to use of the Antiquities Act by Obama. Who is your congressman? Go to: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CA, zoom into the Bay Area or wherever you are in California, and find your district #. Your congressman is listed on the left side of the page. The link will usually be http://(last name).house.gov/ .Once you locate your congressman, go to his/her web page and find a “Contact Me” link. Many congressman will only receive letters from their direct constituents, who live in their district.

SAMPLE LETTER: (please edit into your own words)

I am very concerned about Mr Obama’s threat to to take unilateral action to designate Federal lands into National Monuments using the Antiquities Act.

Though I am in favor of saving very special, unique public lands from massive urban or industrial development, the naming of new and large National Monuments by the president is wrong. Once designated, this action seems to compel the Interior Department to close-off public recreation access to the land by closing trails, roads, parking and other public facilities that have been available for responsible recreation for decades. It results in very little, if any, additional “protection” often unjustly sought by far-left environmentalists, who also often threaten the “sue & settle” tactic against our public land management agencies.

Once long-standing primitive trails & roads are closed due to a inappropriate Monument designation, it has the effect of only allowing an ‘elitist’-class of far-left environmentalists to access to these formerly open areas. For example, trail & road closures result in a de-facto KEPT OUT barrier to families with small children, seniors, elderly, and physically challenged, who now have no way to access back-country and remote areas. In addition to these special groups listed, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of average recreationists who love to visit the remote back-country are also denied their long-lived heritage of responsible enjoyment of these public lands. Rural businesses are unfairly affected, as local & visiting recreational users now ‘keep out’.

I urge you to re-consider and tell Mr Obama, to NOT designate any new, large National Monuments in the western States, and let local residents and stake-holders who actually live or visit there, including business, industry, recreationists, local & federal land managers and environmentalists, to decide by public consensus if any specific actions should be taken on these public lands.

Thank you & respectfully,
(your name)

3) A Calif judge in Sacramento upheld the “demurer” placed by attorneys from the state of CA (Kamela Harris’s office), which says that PEER/DPC do not have legal standing, as argued, to enforce the land management policies within Calif State Parks, OHV Division, Ocotillo Wells SVRA. CORVA was influential as an intervener in this ruling. PEER/DPC will probably appeal (I think they did already; ed.), so it’s not a 100% done deal yet. Update: As expected, PEER and DPC appealed the demurrer affirmed by District judge for Calif State PArks, OHV Div., that claimants have no legal jurisdiction in managing land decisions within Ocotillo Wells SVRA. See article at Cal4wheel.org.

4) In not so great news, federal judge said that Tahoe National Forest’s newly restrictive Travel Management Plan was legal, which closes 800 miles of existing routes there. This will be appealed by recreation groups, probably by CORVA and/or Cal4 and/or BRC.

Although these rulings may not seem to directly affect our favorite wheeling locations, they set legal precedence for potential future attacks on our favorite areas, such as Stanislaus & Eldorado NFs, Panamint and Hollister.

2012-2013 Officers: President: Terry, VP: Brian B, Treasurer: Don, Secretary: Paul E.
Meeting Time & Location: Every 2nd Tuesday at 7, Antonella’s Ristorante (patio area), 1701 Park Avenue, San Jose , CA 95126 (408) 279-4922.
Website http://www.gettinoff4x4.com/

4:30 Meeting Start

WELCOME and Board Reports

President – Terry: Welcomed all members & guests to the meeting & Christmas party. Spoke about the Toys-4-Tots run.
Vice President – Brian:
Treasurer – Don: “financially sound”
Secretary – Paul: Spoke briefly on recent trail access rulings & legislation. See ‘Saving Our Trails’ below.
Members Attending (1 point): Aaron, Alane+kids, Alicia, Brad+guest, Brian, Chris+Layla, Don, Gary+guest, Joe, Lyle, Paul E, Paul H+spouse?, Mario+daughter, Matt, Randy, Roger, Terry, Tom.
Guests Visiting – Surprise guests were Amy G & Joe S. Great to see all the guests attending !

GENERAL NEWS, ACTIONS & IDEAS

1) (from prev. mtg) To promote our club, an idea is to print some simple ‘business’ cards to handout on the trail. If you’ve had experience with this, please assist. Someone noted Brad may have best quality digital artwork with newest logo. No activity yet.

2) (from prev. mtg) We asked if the club’s website should it be updated every month, or just include general info. Terry said should we have current info, and most agreed. This will show the club as fully active. We needed someone to update the website at least once per month, and Rahul has graciously volunteered ! (we should not publish any member’s emails, last names, telephone numbers, dollar amounts, other personal information, to protect the integrity of the club and the privacy of members). Thanks Rahul !

VEHICLE PAINS & PROJECTS

(no reports this month)

RECENT RUNS & ‘Chances to Lock Axles’

1) November 28-30 – Thanksgiving weekend, Panamint Valley+DV. Joe headed this run which included northern routes in DV & Panamint Valley. Included were Lemounge Canyon, Loolout City, Defense Mine. Had Thanksgiving Dinner at Panamint Springs Resort, wheeling on Friday & Saturday. Joe arrived before Thursday for pre-runs. There were some county road outages-closures that shaped the itinerary. On the run: Joe, Alicia, Eric, Dave, Aaron, Ron, (anyone else? ; Sorry I did not get all the places Joe spoke of, but it sounds like they had plenty of places to explore; ed.)

2) December 4 – Toys for Tots Run. 3 PM, school parking lot across from Antonella’s & caravan’ed to Christmas-in-the-Park in downtown San Jose to drop off un-wrapped gifts for children, sponsered by Marines. Big Thanks to those who participated: Joe, Alicia, Aaron, Alaine, Ron, Gary, Tom, Lyle, Roger, Brad, Eric(?). Drop off location changed to the other side, & caused a bit of confusion. Went well overall.

3) December 21, 4:00 PM – Holiday Party & Dinner at Antonella’s! Our monthly meeting was followed by our Christmas Dinner Party. The dinner Antonella’s was excellent as always. Each member & guest brought a wrapped gift for the gift ‘swap-o-rama’. The hot item was the the hand-held search light, “stolen” 3 times (the max). Festivities ended about 7:30.

UPCOMING RUNS (2 points)

1) Dec 26 though Dec 29/30 – Panamint Valley, staying in Area 52. Lyle & Randy are there right now, through this weekend. Temperature should be very nice there now. Enjoy !

2) January 14 – Monthly Meeting at Antonellas, 7:00 pm.

3) January 18 – Hollister Hills

4) February 22 – Snow Run. Suggestions open.

SAVING OUR TRAILS
–Brief update–

1) Signed by Obama yesterday, the US Defense Appropriations Bill will allow Johnson Valley to be shared with the Dept Of the Navy (Marines) rather than fully deeded to them. The compromise will allow Johnson Valley to be used for Marines training for 60 days per year, the remaining time for public recreation access. In the deal the Navy will get some new permanent land from the BLM, just not the larger popular areas traditionally used by off-roaders and the Hammers races.
2) A Calif judge in Sacramento upheld the “demurer” placed by attorneys from the state of CA (Kamela Harris’s office), which says that PEER/DPC do not have legal standing, as argued, to enforce the land management policies within Calif State Parks, OHV Division, Ocotillo Wells SVRA. CORVA was influential as an intervener in this ruling. PEER/DPC will probably appeal, so it’s not a 100% done deal yet.
3) In not so great news, federal judge said that Tahoe National Forest’s newly restrictive Travel Management Plan was legal, which closes 800 miles of existing routes there. This may be appealed also.

Although these rulings may not seem to directly affect our favorite wheeling locations, they set legal precedence for potential future attacks on our favorite areas, such as Stanislaus & Eldorado NFs, Panamint and Hollister.

~5:15 pm Meeting end, Dinner Party begins.

2012-2013 Officers: President: Terry, VP: Brian B, Treasurer: Don, Secretary: Paul E.
Meeting Time & Location: Every 2nd Tuesday at 7, Antonella’s Ristorante (patio), 1701 Park Avenue, San Jose , CA 95126 (408) 279-4922.
Website http://www.gettinoff4x4.com/

7:00 Buffet Dinner is $10 for Salad, Pasta, Pizza, Bread & Soft drinks, or order from the menu directly. To help Antonella’s cover the cost of hosting our meeting, members are encouraged to enjoy a dinner here.

7:30 Meeting Start

WELCOME and Board Reports

President – Terry: Welcome Members & Guests.
Vice President – Brian:
Treasurer – Don:
Secretary – Paul:

Members Attending (1 point):
Guests Visiting –

GENERAL NEWS & ACTIONS

1) To promote our club, an idea is to print some simple ‘business’ cards to handout on the trail. If you’ve had experience with this, please assist. Someone noted Brad may have best quality digital artwork with newest logo.

2) Our donation to CORVA was acknowledged in their November newsletter: http://www.corva.org/pages.php?pageid=89

3) Keep up on writing comments to your legislators & land managers ! (1 point). See Saving Our Trails, below.

4) Website content discussion.

VEHICLE PAINS & PROJECTS
1)

RECENT RUNS & ‘Chances to Lock Axles’

1) We had a good turnout for our fall trail clean-up at Sourgrass Rec Area near Dorrington on Hwy 4. The weather was about perfect for working on the trail. There was some litter to pick up, and nearly all the usually blocked spur routes had been re-opened. The FS wants them closed, so we rebuilt the barriers again. At the spur just before the creek crossing Terry dragged a big log down the hill and we set it in place, with nearby boulders. Other than the creek xing and a small spring, the trail was completely dry. This time there’s just a few photos+video, as we have plenty photos from before:

http://4door4x4.smugmug.com/Off-Road-Trips-1/Sourgrass-Nov-2103/33215538_Sf5bP7

UPCOMING RUNS (2 points)

1) November 28-30 – Thanksgiving weekend, Panamint Valley+DV. Joe will talk about the run Looks like we have a contingent going thus far. Will have Thanksgiving Dinner at Panamint Springs Resort, wheeling on Friday & Saturday. Arrive Thursday, drive home Sunday. Joe will be arriving before Thursday for pre-runs, anyone interested in arriving early can help out too. There are some county road outages-closures that will shape this trip itinerary.

2) December 7 (mid afternoon) or 21 (early evening) – Toys for Tots for the Marines at Christmas in the Park & Holiday Dinner at Antonella’s.
3) January tbd

8:30 Meeting end.