cripduck wrote: Lanerd, your statement about DS would have people think that this last weekend at DS was scary at the least. You said "over 50,000 people, 20-30 LEO'S, 1200 citations, thousands of bikes, quads and other off road vehicles. I have good idea where you pulled these numbers from, I hope it did not hurt to bad. In past posts you have shown that you are not fond of the TH people or their life style and that you consider DS and SH your own backyard. If you post in the TH forum stick with the known facts and stop with the BS rumors.
FYI, (HERE)_ is where I got my info from and it didn't hurt a bit, thank you very much. After re-reading it, I confess that I did confuse the number of citations with the number of persons stopped by LEO's...sorry about that.
Now, I could make suggestive and derogatory remarks directed at you, but I won't.
Also, FYI, I ride a very potent quad and have been involved with dirt bikes since I was about 14....I am NOT against TH people or their life styles, as my post had absolutely nothing to do with TH people or their lifestyles. What I am not fond of is what has happened to Dove Springs in the past couple of years and what I imagine is happening all over the desert.
Yes, Spangler "IS" my backyard and I throughly enjoy riding my Raptor there, but only over trails/roads that I am not only familiar with but also comfortable with. I don't ignore other's safety and I respect other's rights to ride the same trails/roads, and I don't ride off the marked trails/roads. I slow way down coming around blind corners or going over blind hills/bumps or coming upon oncoming traffic. Much of this was happening at DS this weekend. Yes, there were many, many who were safe, considerate, and prudent....more the norm than not. But just the tremendous amount of people and vehicles made the entire place "scary". Kinda reminded me of walking down 5th ave in NY.
To me, it WAS scary "at the least". I saw bikes jumping OVER well used trails/roads as other unknowing vehicles were passing by underneath. I saw very small kids (but obviously well experienced) doing jumps and maneuvers that should only be done under supervision and a closed course area. I saw dune buggies sliding around blind curves with oncoming traffic. I saw Sheriffs and Rangers everywhere trying to keep the idiots from killing them selves or others. I saw LEO's in their vehicles with sirens blasting going to other areas.
Dove springs has gone from a great place to ride my quad to an area that is now so crisscrossed with tracks from bikes, quads, buggies, trucks, etc, that it no longer looks anything like it use to. There were so many people/vehicles that I was very uncomfortable and concerned for my (and others) well being that any pleasure I typically derived from riding my quad was soon turned into discontent and disgust. Dove Springs is no longer a good place to go, especially on long weekends.....just too damn many people.
Yes, for me, it WAS scary! I'm assuming you were there and I truly hope that you had a great time.
Ron
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ovrcr wrote: There is, of course, the other side of the story. I spent this last weekend camping in one of the existing campspots between DS & JB. My child-raising years are behind me now, and can now look forward to finding a spot to camp where I can enjoy the scenary and go for extended rides on the miles & miles of "allowed" trails. Do I miss having the youngin's bombing around camp at all hours? nah...With all of the open area available at Jawbone, Dove Springs, and Spangler, I don't understand why it's not possible to have some areas where an old coot like myself can enjoy the same riding adventures as you younger child-raisers without having to put up with the dust and noise of youngin's buzzing around camp at all hours. I believe in live and let live, and maybe restricting unlimited riding to open areas only will help perserve the rest of the area without the threat of closures. I respect your right to ride and enjoy the area, and I can only hope that the feeling is mutual.
OVCR you hit the nail on the head! At least for me. Although I have never been to any of these places (yet) I get the same feelings at Pismo. Last summer a group was camped next to me with about 6 kids riding the kiddie track in camp non stop for hours .. I swear those kids never even stopped to pee To make matters worse "Dad" had "hopped up" their little 50s and 90s by gutting the mufflers. Sweet. I too respect their right to do that though, however I wish they'd set aside areas (even teeny tiny ones)where camp riding is not allowed.
Hey Lanerd, sorry if you took offence to my post. Stating what is factual goes along way. I could not find anything in the article that pointed to DS, just to all of East Kern County. My family rides at DS or SH every weekend the weather is good. It appears that you have been around awhile, and as the population increases so does the need for space. If you don't like riding at DS then don't. SH is a open riding area and the people who ride that area are free to ride wherever they want. I hope you won't have issues with that. With that being said, you can stop by my camp anytime you want and have a cool beverage if you are inclined to do so.
cripduck wrote: Hey Lanerd, sorry if you took offence to my post. Stating what is factual goes along way. I could not find anything in the article that pointed to DS, just to all of East Kern County. My family rides at DS or SH every weekend the weather is good. It appears that you have been around awhile, and as the population increases so does the need for space. If you don't like riding at DS then don't. SH is a open riding area and the people who ride that area are free to ride wherever they want. I hope you won't have issues with that. With that being said, you can stop by my camp anytime you want and have a cool beverage if you are inclined to do so.
The only offence I took with your post was you insinuating that I was pulling this info out my a$$...which was not only not true, but very disrespectful of you. Yes, you're correct, it did refer to the deserts of east Kern....and I did not differentiate between DS and the rest of the county. I was at DS and I couldn't believe how many people were there...I therefore, zeroed in on DS and unintentionally did not separate it from the other areas.
Again, for the record, my post was directed to the amount of people at DS, the destruction of the desert at DS, and the abundance of riders who disregarded safety, laws, and respect for others; NOT to the TH people or their lifestyles.
No, I don't have issues with using our deserts for enjoyment...I do that almost every day, not just the weekends as I live here and have lived here for many, many years. My concern is that people on OHV's (in general) don't seem to respect the desert, it's fauna, or animals. I understand wanting to have fun, having the wind in your face, using your skill and experience in maintaining a high rate of speed over terrain that is difficult. I don't understand wanting to make a new trail up a hill ten feet away from an existing trail or heading across the open desert that has absolutely no trails, over plants and any thing else that may get in the way. We use to have tortoises, horny toads, chuckwallas, and foxes all over this desert...when was the last time you saw any of them..if ever?
Ok, I'm ranting...sorry. It's just that this is my home, not some place to visit and have fun at on the weekends. I don't know where you live, but just think if people came there on the weekends and tore up your neighborhood and then leave it that way for others to have to look at every day. I know, it's just the desert...right? Just bushes, sand and rocks. Who cares?
I do accept your gracious invitation for a cool one. Let me know when you're at SH and how to find you, and I'll definitely drop by and we can discuss this until the beer runs out.
Lanerd,
myself and family and friends we come with will try very hard not to ruin your residence and where we play.
If we all feel this way maybe we can still ride for many years and show our grandkids where our favorite riding places are.
Thank you for taking the time to post how you feel it seems very diffrent when you stated about our neighborhoods like SH is yours.
Hockymom63 wrote: Lanerd,
myself and family and friends we come with will try very hard not to ruin your residence and where we play.
If we all feel this way maybe we can still ride for many years and show our grandkids where our favorite riding places are.
Thank you for taking the time to post how you feel it seems very diffrent when you stated about our neighborhoods like SH is yours.
Thanks Barb...appreciate the kind words and understanding.
RaptorGirl wrote: What areas are they talking about? The bowl/four corners? What about all the trails that already exist out there? or this only because of it being a holiday weekend. $$$ making weekend. We really enjoy DS, close to home and the variety of riding. Hope we don't lose another riding area
If you look at the map that Fish Poet posted you can see the Purple Open riding area.
4-corners is in the Green and has always been a limited use area- there's a big white sign at the cattle guard
Main Entrance is SC94 then up to the first intersection after Powerline rd. hang a right and up the hill and as soon as you cross the cattle Grate you are now in Limited use area.
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I am glad the Leo's are out in force, especially on crowded weekends. If you follow the rules, you usually will not have a problem with them. If you don't, be prepared to pay...simple.
I went through DS a couple months ago and west of where the out houses are, I saw some yahoos camped right next to the main road (by some Joshua trees) and they had a small track set up going ACROSS the main road for their kids...???. Then, they had the nerve to post "stop" signs up so those with the right of way were expected to stop....NOT.
* This post was
edited 02/24/08 03:12pm by an administrator/moderator *
Back from S H, had a good time.
COLD, WINDY, some Hail storms both Fri and Sat, but very little dust and some great riding. Drove the Rhino from the RXR tunnel area to the quarry area and then to the Randsburg area and did not see another rider, very cool drive.
I saw the QUADTARDS aplenty, NOT the safe and sane Quad riders but the no helmet, riding double, kids on 400-500# utility Quads buzzing around the camps. The same ones I have seen at D S, Jawbone, Cal City, and most all places. These are the @$$E$ that will get ride areas closed or restricted.
* This post was
edited 02/25/08 11:41am by BobWanderer *
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BobWanderer wrote: The Rangers at Jawbone basically told us to go over to Spangler if you don't want so many restrictions on where to ride!!
Hey lanerd
Don't put all the blame on the people here at the T H section for "spilling the beans".
The Rangers are actually telling people to go over to Spangler,
And I heard they told the people at Dove Springs the same thing.
I respect your wanting to keep the place to yourself, but that isn't going to happen with the shrinking ride areas.
All we can do as a group is make sure we leave the area cleaner than we found it and stay on the marked and legal trails.
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To make matters worse "Dad" had "hopped up" their little 50s and 90s by gutting the mufflers. Sweet. I too respect their right to do that though, however I wish they'd set aside areas (even teeny tiny ones)where camp riding is not allowed.
or this only because of it being a holiday weekend. $$$ making weekend. We really enjoy DS, close to home and the variety of riding. Hope we don't lose another riding area
