We meet monthly, every 2nd Tuesday in the patio area at Antonella’s Ristorante, 1701 Park Avenue, San Jose , CA 95126 (408) 279-4922. Park on Naglee Ave or in the parking lot across from the restaurant.
Meeting minutes are distributed a few days after each club meeting.
7:00 PM – BUFFET DINNER: Salad, Pasta, Pizza, Bread & Soft drinks($10). Attendees are encouraged to enjoy the buffet dinner or order from the menu. This helps Antonella’s recover the cost of using the patio area.
7:30 PM – Meeting starts
Your secretary arrived about 8 pm due to an 7:30pm SJ Earthquakes game at Avaya Stadium on Coleman Ave & 880. Sat in stop-n-go traffic on Coleman for nearly 30 minutes.
Looking ahead, will check if any more games are held on 2nd Tuesdays. So Albert took minutes for the first half. When we receive his notes they will be published Thank you Albert !
WELCOME and BOARD REPORTS
President – Terry: Welcomed members & guests.Also suggested someone should try the Twin Peaks trail in South Tahoe near Sawmill Pond, adopted by Tahoe Hi-Lo. Runners.
Vice President – Brian: Spoke in detail about about the Deer Valley run.
Treasurer – Don: Report about ____. Only a few members have not paid up yet. If paying by mail, it’s: Gettin’ Off 4×4, attn: Don West, PO Box 314, Felton CA 95018
Secretary – Paul: Noted that Eldorado National Forest published a new status report on the 42 Routes ( see ‘Saving Our Trails’ below).
Members Attending – Aaron, Alicia, Brian, Chris, Don, Gary, Jon, Joe, Lyle, Mario, Paul E, Paul H, Rahul, Randy, Roger, Ron, Steve, Terry, Tom K.
Brand New Members this month – Michael & Chris have fulfilled the 2-Run 3-Meeting attendance rule, and votes were taken, so — Welcome aboard gentlemen !!
Guests Attending – Jimmy.
(If I missed you or anyone else who attended please let me know.)
CLUB NEWS, ONGOING ACTIONS & IDEAS
1) Club web page needs updates & maintenance. Eric looking into problem with editing. Also some are not getting emails from our Yahoo Groups server (Chris W for example).
2) Don will be ordering more T-shirts for our newest members, and anyone who wants to buy one. Terry & Don just found a new, suitable T-shirt vendor.
3) A updated membership list has been created; certain new members my be asked for more info such as email, phone, vehicle type & color.
4) Fire Permits are needed for any fire or stove used outside of improved campgrounds in National Forest or BLM areas, when allowed. As of July 1, many of the Forests in Calif have banned any type of open fire, so fire permits are of limited necessity. Brian suggests using http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/ to get one if needed.
5) Terry was contacted by an auto parts distributor for discounted parts for club members.
VEHICLE PAINS & PROJECTS UNDERWAY
1) Aaron – Lots & lots of stuff- to be updated.
2) Chris – new powder coat & bead-protectors rims on wheels
3) Terry – his new SUV got hit by crazy driver on on-ramp; but nice job by body shop, looks brand new.
4) tba….
RECENT RUNS & ‘CHANCES TO LOCK AXLES’
1) Jun 25, 26, 27 Slick Rock (& Deer Valley?) (was Rubicon). This was an a overnight camping run. About 4-5 participants. Drove up Thursday, hit the trail early Friday morning & finish on Sat afternoon. Brian was trail boss. Heard that all sorts of stuff — good and not so great — occurred on the trail; more info pending.
2) July 4 weekend – Michael and buddies went camping up Hwy 4, Matley Ridge and Salt Springs Reservoir.
UPCOMING RUNS
3) POSTPONED to July – 24 & 25 Gold Lake & Snake Lake. Postponed so more could participate. Overnight run, near Hwy 49, kinda centered between Downieville, Graeagle and Sierraville. Info at: http://4x4trailmaps.com/4x4Trails.php?Trail_ID=47 and http://4x4trailmaps.com/OHVA.php?OHVA_ID=29. Essentially a new route for most of us, should be good ! Rated “Difficult” but not like Rubicon or Fordyce, perhaps more like our Adpot-a-Trial.. It was noticed that the Diablo 4Wheelers ran the trail on the 17th & 18th. Updates coming next week. Needs a Trail Boss — anyone been there before?
4) August 11 – Club Meeting.
5) August 14,15,16 BBQ Run. Back to Bear Valley Loop Trail. We will run less of the 20+ mile trail this time, avoiding most of the manzanita groves, but prepare for a little brush rash anyway. This is a moderately difficult route overall, with a few bypasses, so all rigs are welcome. There is a really nice campground for groups, and we’ll have a evening run to a nearby mountain top for a gorgeous view. This year we’ll have a brand new sign-up list, showing all the BBQ equipment, food, cooking & clean-up responsibilities. A tow is needed to haul the BBQ trailer (~1200 lbs) up Hwy 80 & Back. —This person eats steak or ? dinner for free. BBQ run is $10 per person, little kids free. To participate in the evening Door Prize “competition”, each attendee brings their own 4×4, automotive, or outdoor-related gift worth $10-$20.
To Sign-Up for the BBQ Run this year, please go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GGH2262 (I think Paul H offered to tow the BBQ trailer there & back, so he gets the free meal !)
6) Sept. 8 – Club Meeting
6) Sept 12 – Deer Valley. We’ll run the trail on Saturday, and you can stay Sat night at Terry’s new place in South Tahoe off Hwy 89. Hwy 4 Protocol (just like the Adopt-A-Trail run). 33″+ tires & 1 locker recommended.
7) October 17 or 24 – Sourgrass Adopt-A-Trail run.
8) November 25- 29- Death Valley / Panamint or somewhere else in the desert run (Calico Hills & area?).
9) December – Toys for Tots & Christmas dinner.
Summer season note: It is possible certain National Forests may “close” mid-to-late summer due to fire hazard.
8:30 PM – Meeting adjourns.
If there are any corrections, clarifications or updates, please chime-in. If you are an active member your name should be on this list:
Aaron, Alicia, Brad, Brian, Chris W, Chris ?, Dimas, Don, Eric, Gary, Genna, Jon, Joe, Lyle, Marco, Mario, Matt, Michael, Paul E, Paul H, Rahul, Randy, Roger, Ron, Steve, Terry, Tom K, Tom W.
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SAVING OUR TRAILS
Updates and New info in BOLD type. If you have new information feel free to send out an update. Though some are several months old, they are still active projects waiting for an outcome or completion.
Recent Actions
Here’s the latest on our cherished yet closed Eldorado trails, direct from Jeff Blewett, Cal4 Wheel’s Natural Resource Consultant for No. Calif.. Cal4 appears overly optimistic , while ENF has just published its own status.
- Deer/Clover Valley- cal4: “late summer” ENF: “Fall 2016 or Summer 2016”
- Pardoe’s/Squaw Ridge(‘Squaw’ renamed ‘Hungaleti Ridge Trail’) Cal4: “by the FS it is open”; ENF “mitigation work starts Fall 2016 or Summer 2016.
- Strawberry Ridge- Cal4: “Summer 2016”; ENF “Summer 2017”
- Barrett Lake- Cal4: “should be open late summer. Trail repairs and reroute will be finished this month by the HiLanders”; ENF: “work starts on Meadow 1 in July 2015; meadows 5 & 6 completed”
ENF’s overall route status is at : http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/home/?cid=fsbdev7_019037
Finally a June 2015 update on the 42 Routes initially closed is at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3843438.pdf
Many lessor-known routes are re-opened, but the best remain closed. Some of the route status in this update appear to be in conflict with Cal4’s assessments:
There are apparently no “public” links from the ENF Home webpage to the 42 Route Project web page, but it’s at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/home/?cid=stelprdb5362046
Some of you are familiar with the Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area near Livermore. It has been controversial from a “greenie/enviro” perspective. There have been attempts in the past to close it, but the riding public, CORVA, local Carnegie groups, and the Calif Dept of Parks-OHV Div have persisted and kept it open. A few years ago a new 4×4 obstacle course was created. Right now, they plan to open up a new area, adding about 3000 acres, with dozens of miles of new trails for motorcycles and 4x4s added to the existing 900 acres. There was a city council meeting in Livermore to take and advisory (non-binding) vote on wheather the city of Livermore supports the Carnegie expansion or not. I sent my comments days earlier to the entire Livermore City coucil (however Livermore residents carry much more “sway”). Three voted against the expansion and only 2 voted in favor. CORVA created an entire web page for the Carnagie/Tesla SVRA expansion, which is chalk full of great resources and information: http://www.corva.org/Carnegie-SVRA-Expansion . BRC’s Don Amador has a blog too: http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2015/05/code-red-carnegie-action-alert-update.html . Dan A, Cal4 & CORVA also asked us also to contact the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to vote in favor of the expansion and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement contracted out by the Calif Dept of Park, OHV Divsion. I did. The county supervisors voted 100% against the DEIS and expansion of Carnegie SVRA on an advisory vote. It’s hard to know if this will be litigated, but it is moving that direction. In part these negative votes by Liver more & Alameda Couty, were promulgated by the East Bay Regional Park District, who set up a false public expectation that this land could be acquired by them and converted to another regional (non-motorized) park. EPRPD has 120,000 park acres in Alameda & Contra Costa Cos, whereas motorized parks are now only 900 acres, to be 3900 acres we hope. The SVRA owns the land, purchased by money from the OHV Trust fund, which comes from a tiny fraction of gasoline taxes and green/yellow sticker fees.
Anti-Access Organizations sampler:
1. CSNC is the group that sued Eldorado National Forest and successfully convinced a judge to force ENF to close and/or repair trails. One of CSNC’s primary goals is to limit OHV. Website http://www.sierranevadaconservation.org/achievements/. While we generally have no issue repairing or re-routing routes around what have recently been identified as ‘sensitive’ areas, there was no need to close the entire lengths of all 42 routes for 2, 3 years or more. Many have re-opened, but many remain closed to public access.
2. CBD is one of the most notorious and powerful anti-access organizations. They often tend to lump motorized recreation access in with all forms of habitat interference, even though 99% of OHV use causes very little or virtually zero affect on animal habitat & popluation. Sample: “… cumulative threats from our changing climate, predation, drought, disease, and off-road recreation; and other threats all support an endangered listing….” re: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/birds/Gunnison_sage_grouse/pdfs/Gunnison_sage_grouse_NOI.pdf and http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/off-road_vehicles/index.html. It’s very interesting they almost never mention other causes of habitat interferences such as: hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, camping, hunting, wildfires, highways, fences, etc. But apparently off-road recreation is “equal” with climate change, predation, drought & disease! CBD are also well known for launching a plethora of lawsuits, using the “Sue & Settle” tactic, thus taking millions of taxpayer dollars from the Forest Service & BLM to pay their attorneys: http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=301242 and http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/about/staff/
3. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) http://www.peer.org/campaigns/public-lands/off-road-wreckreation/news-releases.html and http://www.peer.org/news/news-releases/2013/01/07/court-orders-tighter-off-road-plan-for-stanislaus-forest/
Older Actions
Moab: (for details see previous Saving Our Trails) and https://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2015/03/23/national-call-to-action-help-save-moabs-trails & http://www.cal4wheel.com/access-issues/22-other-states-access-issues/610-moab-trails-need-your-letter-of-support
Plumas National Forest lawsuit. (for details see previous Saving Our Trails and go to Corva.org) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jN3Xdy0CKM&feature=youtu.be and http://www.corva.org/FS.Lawsuit
Deer Valley Route closures from Jan to July 31 due to Yosemite Toad (see previous Saving Our Trails and latest Eldorado 42 Routes closure news above) http://cal4wheel.com/access-issues/northern-california-access-issues/541-forest-service-proposing-seasonal-closure-on-deer-valley-trail & http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/land-use-issues/1909145-forest-service-proposing-seasonal-closure-deer-valley-trail-yosemite-toad.html
Oceano Dunes “air pollution” (for details see previous Saving Our Trails) and: http://cal4wheel.com/access-issues/central-california-access-issues/595-urgent-comments-needed-on-oceano-svra and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Oceano-Dunes/141393079248971 .
If you shop at Amazon.com, they have a charity giving program where they contribute a 0.5% of your purchase amounts to one of thousands of charities. But on their dime ! One of the qualifying charities is Blue Ribbon Coalition, as they are a 501(c)(3) organization. It costs you virtually zero $. So how do you sign up?
1) Sign-in to your Amazon account.
2) On another tab/window, Go to http://www.sharetrails.org/content/support-brc-while-shopping-online to read how it works.
3) There, click on http://smile.amazon.com/, and you will see some info and a short list of various charities. To donate to BRC, enter “BlueRibbon Coalition” exactly as shown here, in the search box. The results should show “Blueribbon Coalition Inc” and “Categories: Natural Resource Conservation and Protection” and “Location: Pocatello, ID”. (careful–there are dozens of other ‘Blue Ribbon xxxx’ charities out there, be sure you have the right one.)
4) Click OK to sign-up, and BRC will receive 0.5% of your purchase amounts. To automatically donate, always shop at the “Smile” web address: at https://smile.amazon.com/ (if you use Amazon’s normal web address, no donations are made). Your cost is zero and you can change charities or cancel anytime.
There are dozens of other, mostly irrational public land closures in the works by the enviro-left/elitists, so we encourage everyone to check Blue Ribbon Coalition, Cal4wheel, Corva.org, and Pirate4x4 websites for the latest access news, and contact the land managers and/or government officials and tell them public land is for everyone.
Paul E, Club Secretary