They should be kept from idiots that can't respect them and it's what's happening. They aren't closing this land completely just to motorized traffic, one of the main half truth's this video has a problem with.
@@John-ke2jmHow would anyone be able to get through here and have an enjoyable time without a motorized vehicle? Why penalize the good people who do no harm Karen???
@@conniec7650 You can walk or use a bike, like many places that are close to motorized traffic. We penalize the good people because the BLM has a duty to protect that land, if it doesn't have the budget to stop idiots from destroying it then we get to lose motorized access. The land not being destroyed does and should take precedent over people driving their jeeps out there.
The people in these non elected agencies are being put in place by the elected people. As long as people continue to vote for those who want to limit our freedoms then this will continue to happen.
Who is really going to enforce this? Bill Gates and his land grab commies? Cut the locks, open the gates, its our land not theirs and its not disrespecting, its not giving in to their addenda 21 made up rules.
In the 1970’s I raced off-road motorcycles in the southwest. In those days I raced across many pristine areas. Thousands of us did it. And following our trails came thousands more 4 wheeled OHVs, especially in the past 20 years. There was an environmental movement in the 1970’s to greatly restrict this activity. There’s still plenty of off- road racing opportunities but it will never be as back then. Much has been restricted, and much has been paved over, eg Pikes Peak use to be all dirt road, now it’s all paved . The fact is we did a lot of damage, and the flood of modern off-road 4 wheelers available for near everybody to drive has only made it thousands of times worse. There were almost 200 million people back in the 1970s, now there are over 350 million in America and billions in the world with social media telling everyone where the special places are. Off road racing, and off road adventures are the love of my life, but we are losing it, not because of closures, but because we are destroying it. Somehow we got to figure this out for ourselves and future generations if we even care about them. And judging from what our recent ancestors destroyed in past 150 years, I’m not sure this general will do any better.
Closing trails to motorized vehicles is a violation of the ADA. Motorized vehicles is the only way someone like me with limited mobility can enjoy these areas. I cant hike in that far, and there are no wheelchairs capable of the journey. Unless they provide some alternate means for me to enjoy this area, it either needs to be entirely closed to everyone, or open to those with special needs. I believe a lawsuit based on discrimination against the disable would succeed.
I have a handicapped, special needs daughter who absolutely loves spending time outside and we love camping… and now this is another trail we can’t visit. Very, very annoying. And for those who say “well good, now you can hike it” are just uneducated and insensitive. To them I say that I hope you aren’t “burdened” with a special needs kid or family member or you never have a catastrophic illness or injury, because you’ll never see this either. This makes me very angry.
You're not wrong but you are not entirely right either@@John-ke2jm. There are federal laws that guide the BLM's accessibility program including the ADA since 1990. It's not entirely expected that there will be 4' wide, well-graded paths and sidewalks in the backcountry, BUT the guiding principles are founded in equal opportunity, independence, and integration to provide for the inclusion of people of all abilities... stated on both the BLM and ADA websites. So it's not spouting nonsense, it's called fact.
So what you are saying is that everyone, regardless of their ability or handicap, should have easy and full access to anywhere on public lands? Gotta disagree with you on that one. I respect your desire to get outdoors despite your limited mobility, but that doesn't entitle you easy access to anywhere you want to go especially when it is at the detriment to the resource you are trying to access. Unpopular opinion maybe....but you can't have a desire for small non-interventionist government AND create and enforce ADA rules at the same time. Pick one not both.
People in general, which means ALL people, need to understand, when 'they' talk about land closers of government land, please understand that government land is OUR land!!! WE are the government, as set up by the founding fathers! People that sit back and say " well, this is a shame" are part of the problem. WE THE PEOPLE need to take back what is ours. NO ONE should be able to take it away from us... unless we let them. Which seems to be what is happening! EVERYONE should be upset about this! But that doesn't seem to be happening! Kudo's to those who are getting involved and posting video's such as this.
The alternative is to allow Big Business to take over for Big Government. Instead of losing a few hundred acres you'll lose it all. Unless of course, you can afford to pay the fees that will surely follow. Oh, the people are not the government, we are who over sees government. Big difference.
WARNING, controversial comment! There’s a lot to unpack here, esp if you’re NOT JUST an off- roader. Let me start by saying that I am an overlander and use plenty of trails. I just did 33 days/3500 miles from Arizona all the way up to Big Sky, Montana and back again, staying in the first gen Tundra the whole time. I’ll try to make this quick. To say that you could never see this land again because of the trail closures is extremely misleading. You’re completely discounting all the mountain bikers, backpackers, bushwackers and the like. As backpackers and bushwackers, we have a saying called “going through the asshole filter.” That basically refers to getting to those beautiful places where people in vehicles can’t get to. Those are the magical places where you can experience nature as it was meant to be, untouched, relatively speaking. If you think these areas are great sitting in the seat of your vehicle , park at the gate that will be closed, strap a backpack on and get down there and witness it without jeeps and side-by-sides rumbling past you. The author stated how he’s not gonna act like people in vehicles don’t destroy trails and vegetation and leave litter etc., well it only takes a few people to ruin the natural environment for the people who want to see it untouched. And I know people are going to say that that’s exclusive but it’s not. You can get down there and check it out as well, you just have to be a little less lazy about it. As for people who are handicapped, that is unfortunate, but I guess even with vehicles there’s plenty they won’t be able to see. I don’t think every corner of our beautiful lands should be accessible to people who want to simply drive there. Get your boots on and see the true badass-ness of the American West, it’ll do you some good. I applaud the foresight to keep as much land vehicle free as possible, God knows there are trails everywhere. We need our untouched magical places. Be open and adventurous enough to go through the asshole filter people!.
I have hiked on areas around Moab that are "closed forever, that nobody will ever be able to see again." The experience was quiet and peaceful. One can still see the road and damage to the area. Maybe now I'll consider making these "closed" trails part of my next visit to Moab.
@@shadsluiter Putting hikers on a moral high ground and saying they get get access use priority (hike it or stay out) while feeding the lie of vehicle causes excess damage to the area so environmental groups can hand fist their agenda. 😢 You sir are tool, enjoy your Coal powered Tesla 😮
I don't think that you are speaking the truth when you say, "You will never be able to see these areas again" they are closing to vehicle traffic, not to people. You will still be able to walk there. While I am sure that some people that might drive there would never walk, doesn't mean that it's closed forever and will never be seen again.
These trails aren’t overused and the OHV community members pick up more trash and help out more people than any other group. When I hit trails in the Angeles NF I actually can’t pick up enough trash from the weekend partiers. Bad apples, not responsible off-roaders, are to blame. The spray paint mess they leave in old mines and on the old, remaining structures is shocking. So they are to blame and we all suffer and pay the price. 19:07
I like that Backcountry Beagles is driving your everyday mans rig.... we see all too often these really expensive rigs 100K plus driving the land and making video.... this is true to life and realistic... take your rig, build it up and go explore.... very authentic!
Can’t go wrong with a well built and reliable Cherokee! This old jeep has gotten us to 30+ states all over the country with “minimal” problems here and there.
This was the result of a Federal Law that the BLM was not strictly following or enforcing. Some citizens groups sued the Federal Government to enforce the law as written. The law has been on the books for many years. The Government lost the lawsuit and was forced to rework the travel plans for all the areas covered in the suit. You are now seeing Government enact the compliance measures due to the rulings. This isn't the agencies fault it is the citizens fault. We elect the legislators but we then "set and forget". We send them to govern but we don't follow what they are crafting, then it takes years before you see the fallout. We don't actively seek out and heavily participate in the BLM public comment periods, so others get overweighted influence. One happy group of camping citizens and another mad group of OHV citizens. Welcome to our late to the table apathetic involvement in just in time world
These areas will still be accessible but only to foot travel. That is how they are best visited anyway. If you were there on a holiday week you would see dozens of off road vehicles. Too much of Utah has way too many vehicles visiting the once quiet beautiful back country. Get out and hike!
My wife and I visited Moab in September. We were able to explore the area and see some great scenery and experience being away from town. We were even able to camp at several very remote locations because the roads were open for us to access them. The only way we were able to do this was by motor vehicle. I'm going in for hip replacement surgery next month and have not been able to walk well for quite some time, and even after surgery I'll be very limited. Hiking or mountain biking is out of the question. Limiting back country access to only the very physically fit or people without physical disabilities is not only unfair, but violates the ADA.
We went through this on a smaller scale here in the East. They divided the users and used each groups complaints against the other. The erosion issues, rutting, speeding and vegetation damage. Then for those reasons given, they started to close the trails to all the users. We united, held meetings on the pro's and con's, and we got signatures. One of the best positive presentations we gave was, the trails cost the park nothing since there were volunteer groups repairing and cleaning up the trails. We presented pictures before and after the closures. Things had gone down hill since they closed them. The accessibility of the trails, also opens up the park for all users to include park services for free, due to the volunteer groups. The trails attract people to the park, which is proportional to the amount of trails offered. This still seamed to fall on the wrong ears. Then one day at the Pro Philadelphia Bike Race, I just happened to find our mayor. I told him we weren't asking for a penny and it wouldn't cost a penny. That this recreational feature was already in place. No over head, no clearing for a parking lot. He just needed to allow it. And he did! I so hope your efforts work to reopen these trails. They are scenic, they are historical and allow us, the tax payer to see what we are paying for, rather then those few BLM trying to justify their jobs.
Thanks for helping to raise awareness of the catastrophic government overreach that is taking place. Oh, and nice xj man! Anyone wanna trade a zj for an xj?
The United States Forest Road Closing Service does that out west as well. Can't have any of us having too much fun. They have all kinds of excuses as to why, but really, it's just to justify administrators' jobs and then the whole power thing.
Sweet XJ! Love my 99...This is just the beginning in this governments efforts to keep people from using public lands. We pay over 50% of our income in taxes while they take and take and take from us. If we don't wake up and start using what we have always been using and just accept everything as a loss than we will continue in that direction. Time for us to take back what this government has taken from us since we have the numbers and power to do so. Don't let them bully us into submission with everything.
oh stfu with your vengeful, hate rhetoric. I am sooo sick of people who hate the government yet have no offer on what could be a positive, productive replacement
Repubs in Utah have wanted to trash their public lands, by drilling, for years. Iwould not be surprised if this area is opened to drilling after it is closed
I'm from England but visited Utah and it is the most amazing place I've ever seen. To close these sites is nothing to do with preservation, it's to do with a mindset. It was my understanding that these are "public lands" and therefore available to the public. This is so wrong to my way of thinking. Best wishes to all in your quest to stop this nonsense.
Investigate further my friend. It is a very complex issue. Trail closures are the last resort to protect the land. Think about hiking, biking and riding a horse as needed.
@@geraldhenrickson7472 I'm really interested as we don't have "public land" in England. I'm not sure how you hike, bike or ride in some of these areas, they extend for miles. I'm sure some damage is done by vehicles. The worst we saw was rubbish, mostly gun cartridge cases & plastic left on the floor. Your public lands are a wonderful asset and something to be cherished. You're very lucky.
@@simonbroddle754 It is public land and the public is allowed access. Nowhere, however, does it say you have the right to easy unrestricted access. We are indeed lucky to have so much space left for the public, but that doesn't give the public the right to do whatever they want and in this case the restrictions for offroad vehicles. The Wilderness Act holds much of it "in trust" for the public good, but restricts mechanical access to large swaths of it. You still have access to it, but you basically have to either walk or ride a horse or by human powered boat to do so. A few wilderness areas allow for airstrips, like the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho. BLM and Forest Service land may have similar restrictions in certain areas and have the right to restrict access, usually after a public comment period and environmental impact studies and with oversight, when public land is abused. Basically, because it is being held in trust, restricting access can be seen as keeping that land restricted so that future generations can have access to it in as natural a state as their predecessors.
That’s insane, and ominous. In crazy times when we all need to get outdoors and recreate in the midst of natural beauty, Big Brother takes away (or minimizes) that necessary activity.
They closed trails where I live and everyone just ripped the gates down and went anyways. They eventually quit putting up gates and no trespassing signs.
Where do you live and why do you think vandalism is a good idea? Was it the BLM? Was it a private ranch? Are people vandalizing a National Park? What was closed down and why--where you live.
@@johnseidel8971 putting up signs and gates on public land is vandalism... The land is not for criminals with badges to control... It's public land and this is supposed to be a free nation.
Ash and Ron, keep doing what you are doing! Enjoy it, be in love. Awesome video! The government (including local, city, county, state) does not like NOT making some kind of revenue from its land. BLM is public land and does not fit the plan of making revenue wherever possible. State taxes are increased, wildlife management areas increase the cost of licenses, etc. Eventually, if not already in some cases, your will not be able to freely do what you want on your own property. (is it really yours? has it been in your family for generations?). I am hopeful but skeptical about what we own and how free we really are.
So how will these areas be accessible to anyone if they are closing 300+ miles of trails to motorized vehicles of any kind? This seems like step #1 in denying the public access to "public" lands.
@@taivo55 Well that's going to be one hell of a walk. I wonder how many people will actually be out there hiking around now that the trails are closed...
@@rangerrecon That's the point, reduce human impact on the environment and let it rest. People think that the "environment" is just the rocks and river, but it's also the fragile desert patina on the ground, delicate plant species that are easily crushed by tires and too many feet, animals that need privacy for eating and breeding, etc. All that is affected by human traffic, especially noisy human traffic with the associated vehicle exhaust and digestive waste products.
@@rangerrecon It is indeed going to be a one hell of a walk.... but you still have access. What most ORV folks are failing to admit, is that you have the right to access...but not to easy effortless access and especially not access to be destructive of a public resource.
I have traveled many trails in Moab, but I can get behind this because Moab is out of control these days , maybe one day we can get a hotel for 100 again some day, and biking or 4 wheeling without a bunch damn side by sides everywhere
Who would want to be camping when you can be in a 100 dollar hotel...and 4 wheeling is OK as long as you're not sitting next to each other while you're doing it.... Stupid side by sides.
They just need to ban side by sides and reopen the trails to all street legal vehicles, which drive slower, don't damage trails, and show respect for other vehicles. The side by sides are going to be the downfall to the offroading community.
@@jlm3303 Yes sir I have never been the jamboree, I always avoid that time of year because of the crowds, plus I mainly go for the mountain bike trails and light overlanding to get good vibes from that remote nature experience. I don't know how crazy it gets in town and on the popular trails. Sorry to hear that it is so bad even with the hardcore jeep guys. Every town has it's peak season of hustle and bustle but that's what brings in the big bucks for business, and floats them through the off season.
We’ve got to spread the word and support the legal groups fighting for the rights of the people to enjoy the people’s land. The lands our forefathers won with their blood are being taken from us by lawyers. We have to fight back with lawyers and by voting for a president that supports the rights of the people vs. the rights of government.
I've visited Utah several times, been off-roading there, it's the best. I've met Benjamin Burr, became a member of BlueRibbon Coalition . . . that's the easy stuff. Trying to convince the people in North East Pennsylvania is like talking to the walls of a mental institution. I'm going to post your video on my FB page but, these people here are ignorant AF here.
I was off roading 4 times in Utah this past season, so my move next month out of the lower 48 has had me already missing what the Moab area has to offer. But then I heard about this shutdown, can't say I like this trend. It's sad to think where things are heading. 248,573 miles
You can still visit just not in a vehicle. It’s not “closed” that’s just hyperbole. Get out of your rig, throw on a backpack and enjoy these trails by foot!
Its very unfortunate of those trails being closed and that there are people that cant respect the land. Im also very concerned about the effects that this could have on the other trails in Moab. This will most likey cause the usable trails to become even more traveled facing the same result.
Road closures throughout Utah and the West are rampant right now. No new roads are being opened, and roads are closing faster than I've ever seen before. There's a Substack blog about what's happening here in the West -- I believe it's called, "The Fleeting West." The great irony is that the closures are occurring in part due to the explosive population growth throughout the West, entirely driven by migration, and the land management agencies are primarily headed by coastal, urban transplants who don't understand our historic land uses in the West. I appreciate that you're bringing light to the issue. The closures are also being driven by over-use and over-use due to exposure on social media. The destruction of access for those of us rooted here is a sign of colonization of the West by new, exurbanites who can't understand anything but infrastructure and parks. Keep up exposing the BLM's taking of our lands ... it's a dirty job, but somebody has got to do it.
@@jmadsen6118 I was recently in multiple of the areas set for shutdown, and a tour company was running a group of 10 hired-guide filled Ford Broncos through a couple of the areas, and they were running multiple tours per day. I've been visiting these areas since before I could walk, as have my parents and grandparents, and the increases in use and abuse by inconsiderate social-media influenced tourists is off the rails. But so are all of the hiking trails, rock climbing routes, mountain bike trails, and even the towns themselves. Notice they're not shutting those down, despite many of the trails looking like a Target on Black Friday. It's Manifest Destiny, with explosive population growth working hand in hand with the Federal land agencies to make sure the destiny is manifested as domesticated, controlled, and overrun places. Central Park, New York, everywhere you look. It's time to vote out everyone who supported / voted YES on these new closures.
@@oldboater ... and every person elected to local, State, and Federal office who had a hand in supporting or commenting on the motions to close these areas. And, every land agency involved, including the specific regional land managers at the BLM. Biden couldn't tell you what he signed, for a variety of reasons ... it was the whole chain of custody that made this and others like it possible.
@@dixonbuttes6564It’s the same in Alaska. The land is being loved to death. Up by Denali Park entrance there used to be nothing, now it is a small town with huge hotels. Most of those people go into the park.
I appreciate your message and your feelings. I live in southern Nevada and go into Southern Utah often to photograph it. Before, when I was younger and not handicapped, I used to do what you are doing with my 4X4 but since I have become handicapped, I got rid of my off-road vehicle and now drive an all-wheel Subaru which takes me to a lot of places but not like a 4x4. Yes, out in the Southwest we have it made with miles and miles of land to explore. I have lived in Rhode Island, and I ran away from there because back East is just too crowded with people and cities. Keep seeking out trails and having fun with your dogs. Oh, thanks for posting this.
Go watch Matt’s Off-road recovery if you want to know why this is happening. He just had a recovery where some idiot in a jeep drove down a river bed and got stuck. So Matt had to drive down that river bed to get his dumb ass out. Idiots like that are what is ruining these places for everyone. Just because you can’t drive down them doesn’t mean they are “closed”. That’s simply hyperbolic and a lie.
Not here. These were stock friendly trails with no off trail marks, no trash, no major environmental impact. You’re believing a lie… first they take away the unproblematic trails like these 317 miles. Then that forces more people on the problematic trails. Next those trails go or an all out ban happens.
We are loving our public lands to death. The Moab area is over run with sxs and mountain bikers who show no respect at all for the wild places. Not everyone is an ass, but there are enough of them to make preservation a serious issue.
You keep mispronouncing BLM its bureau of land mismanagement. Great video and photography. Oh do the Beagles come back when you call them? Cause I have never seen that happen before with those dogs.
We have the same problem in Alberta Canada. Offroad user groups are working to volunteer to do road trail maintenance and advocate for access. Common sense should prevail.
Not everyone can walk or bike.. Have you heard of the Americans with disabilities act?? The local 4x4 club helped the bikers lay out their trails now the bikers think they own the place.. Long standing saying in Moab: sprocket heads show up with one $20 bill and one pair of speedos and change neither!
A lot of it is even closed to bikes with this action. Also, hiking in Utah can be quite dangerous. To get to these places you’re talking about 20 miles of hiking in the desert.
Great Video. We just came from Moab last week, did a video. But man this is so dumb hearing this. It's amazing place to explore, I was there first time this year! Just wow! Very sad that they closed some trails down!
It started when I was still a kid, with Wilderness Areas. I thought they were a good idea at my young age, but my father warned it was the first step to the government locking up all public land. He was right.
My family has been vacationing in Moab for going on two decades now. We have an immense amount of amazing memories together enjoying these breathtaking areas. We always tread lightly, stay on existing trails, pick up other people’s garbage every time we’re out, stay courteous to the various other trail users, and we make as little noise as possible. All of the areas we’ve always enjoyed are now closed. Not being able to make more memories there makes us all sick to our stomachs.
These miles are still accessible, you can walk them. I for one am grateful for the reduction in ohv mileage and am looking forward to floating labyrinth and hiking 10 mile canyon without the noise and damage caused by vehicles. I think this a great balance, there are still 700 miles east of Labrynth still available. It's a long term plan that will lead to better prtoected land and a better balance of uses. Again the area is still accessible, 10 mile canyon will be a great point for packrafting in and out now while preserving the majority of ohv use outside. Looking at the map this seems like a fair decision.
In other words, you're a selfish person who only cares about yourself, and what YOU want to do. You obviously do not care about other people's rights to land usage!
Remember people. Our grandparents, parents and we the people pay for and own these lands. The government works for us and when they don’t think they do any longer we fire them like any lousy employee. Vote for people that have freedom and protecting the constitution as a priority. Exercise your rights like your muscles. If you don’t they will disappear the same way.
I know that area very very well and it's constantly being destroyed by bad behavior. This video has only a few truths but mostly aligns with the false narrative of Blue Ribbon Coalition. I'm getting sick of this crap.
As a local of the area this is nothing new for the BLM and federal government. They always take, it's the special interest groups that seem to get the what they want. Also if the BLM loses land and control they're out of a job so think of it that way too.
Disagree! BLM is the government. They will always have a job. If they manage to get all the trails closed to vehicles, they will still manage the land for the environmentalists! They will NOT go away. Only your freedom of land use will!!! Take that to the bank!
People who drive Off Road Vehicles are a "special interest group" you know. If they always take, who installed all the pit toilets, trash collection, and trail markers? Who is performing maintenance and enforcement with small budgets and insufficient staff?
Trail braiding can easily get out of hand. The mentality is, "this part is kinda hard so lets go around it" or "there is something cool over there...lets go look" so now there are two trails. That trail degrades or there is another cool thing someone wants to look at...so they add another braid and now there are 3 trails to the same place. Even worse, people see it happen and then feel more justified doing it themselves and next thing you know there 20 trails going all over the place when there could be one.
@Hakudog5 and in the end 2 or 3 trails don't hurt nature in the least bit. This mentality that trails and people accessing cooling things in nature is inherently bad is insane.
@@mrfst450 No one is saying it is inherently bad to have trails to go check out cool things. This isn't 2 or 3 trails.... its hundreds across the area and if each of those has areas of trail abuse then it all adds up.
has the sierra club also been band from walking there? as here in ca the sierra club got many 4X4 trails closed down just for there usage. heck they even got long standing horse trails closed to horses. it will take a bit longer in that area but in time no 4X4 will ever be able to go through no mater what. and as these anti multi use people get millions of acres closed to the public. only card caring member of “special” groups can get there.we as a nation lose. but in X number of years more trails and public land will face the same fate. they are never satisfied with this area. no they want it all closed for YOUR usage.
How are you blaming side x side over bad behavior. People like you ruin it for people like me! Knee jerk reaction . And feel entitled to restrict access to our own land. Try a little critical thinking before you touch your key pad and make uneducated dumb statements. Most people don't understand how sensitive the environment is in the desert. It takes decades to recover a simple. " Oh, I will just take my buggy over here because it can". Education goes a long way. Fyi , I use my sxs over a full-size vehicle. Just because it's lighter and has a smaller footprint. It's only a tool. It's how they are used.
@SegoMan their water bottles ,tool bags, and all kinds of crap come from this group . I've pick up Keys and key fobs. Even found a cell phone on porkeypine trail.They really should secure their stuff a little better. Still no reason to close trails. Hafe the time I'm out on these tails . Is to do a trash run. I'm not the only one who does it. Most of the trash is mostly someone drop something accident. I do see cigarette but time to time. That one gets me. Go ahead and smoke. Just take your but home with you. Strip it and put it in your pocket.
ive got a motorcycle and a couple mini bikes and love traversing trails like these. but on the other hand side by side people are not very nice, respectful, or quiet. its just too common to have them burn by people at high speeds and arrive in packs with loud music blaring even though other people are trying to enjoy the environment. they seem to have no respect or maturity or empathy for other people. i hate to say it but the side by side community has brought this upon themselves unfortunately.... its a loss because i love using these and other trails but even i am bothered by the way the side by side, motorcycle community behaves and you do see way too many tracks from people who have gone off trail....
We went this same thing in Colorado 50 years ago when they started picking areas for wilderness areas. I went to several meetings and quickly found out that had already made up their minds 14:03
What happened to public comment on these closures ? How about a limited number of peolpe getting a lottery ticket chance to use said trails for short durations of the year so you can actually see these areas. With rules of course... These alaphabet soup agencies need to be reigned in.
I'll post this again for those who say "the ADA doesn't cover BLM or offroad trails", please note that there are federal laws that guide the BLM's accessibility program including the ADA since 1990. Of course it's not entirely expected that there will be 4' wide, well-graded paths and sidewalks in the backcountry, BUT the guiding principles are founded in equal opportunity, independence, and integration to provide for the inclusion of people of all abilities... stated on both the BLM and ADA websites. Those who contradict this shouldn't take the stance of YOU'RE WRONG or YOU'RE STUPID. They should consider what it would be like to not be able to access these trails except by "walking or biking".
Title V Section 508 of the ADA.... (1) In general. - Congress reaffirms that nothing in the Wilderness Act [16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.] is to be construed as prohibiting the use of a wheelchair in a wilderness area by an individual whose disability requires use of a wheelchair, and consistent with the Wilderness Act no agency is required to provide any form of special treatment or accommodation, or to construct any facilities or modify any conditions of lands within a wilderness area in order to facilitate such use. So....they can't restrict access to wheelchairs, but they don't have to provide special access to them. It still remains that there is only a right to access, but not easy access, to wilderness areas. Using the ADA to try and justify closures due to trail abuse by those who are largely not disabled is, IMHO, largely disingenuous. I absolutely think every should get to utilize public lands regardless of a disability, but not ALL public lands and especially not at the sake of the resource.
BLM land closures are mainly for one reason and that is so the BLM no longer has to expend the resources required for them to do their job which is manage public land, it's much easier and cheaper to just close public land then you don't have to manage it, even though it's public land it actually is government land which for the most part was obtained with money provided by the tax paying citizen, fighting the BLM in legality battles in court is an almost impossible task, the Blue Ribbon Coalition fights for the public to actually be able to access and use the land that actually belongs to the public which sounds totally screwed up because that's exactly what it is, the BLM is a Bully part of the federal government and they can do whatever they want and that's exactly what they do.
More likely.... it is less about not wanting to and being lazy and more that they don't have the resources or budget to do so. Each area has their own localized Ranger District that is allocated a certain amount of resources, usually insufficient to adequately do the job they have mandated. They attempted to allow the public to regulate themselves and cease bad behaviour, but when that happens and they don't have the resources to do anything further then the only choice is to restrict access. I'm sure there is corruption in the BLM, but my experience interacting with dealing with "the boots on the ground" has been quite reasonable with agencies like the BLM, Forest Service and National Park Service.
Too many people, too much impact on our wilderness. You CAN still see that canyon, you just have to walk to it. "Public" doesn't mean that getting to anywhere you want is good for the environment.
We went there on Easter Jeep Safari. Up that canyon, there is more interesting equipment plus the mine, although access to the entrance is blocked. I'm going to be sad to lose access to it. Love your video!
That is truly sad. Moab is like no other place on earth. I'm definitely joining the Blue Ribbon Coalition after seeing this. I hope a lawsuit is successful in reversing the decision. Alabama Hills in California is also on the verge of being shut down by BLM. There used to be a ton of dispersed camping there, but now it's down to something like 27 campsites, and most of the land is completely off limits for camping, with the exception of the campgrounds. If people can't access the land, who are they conserving it for?
Crank up the violins & cry me a goddamned river. It's being closed to motor vehicles, not hiking ya liar, and it's waaaay past due. Don't F'ing abuse it & ya won't lose it! This bs wholesale destruction started with ATV's & the yahoo's who go partying & tearing up all the resources. Now the rental operators take ZERO responsibility for their ignorant clients. It's a MuthaF'ing amateur hour @Disneyland out there nowadays. Our rights to use the public lands doesn't give ANYONE the rights to destroy them. Hopefully it will wake up the communities that are able to respect & protect our public lands. WTF people?!?!?!?
One more thing....if the 100's of thousands of off roaders left Moab for 1 year...the city/businesses would join the push to keep trails open. Be cognizant of what and where you put your money
Exactly! We spend SO much money near the towns of where we disperse camp. Often these are small towns, mom and pop businesses… This is who this will hurt.
@@MannyWC... That's exactly what the criminals in power want... They work for corporations that care nothing about mom and pop or anything else that doesn't support their despicable levels of GREED AND CORRUPTION
Has nothing to do with trails right next to each other. This has been going on for decades with them trying to take the land. They try to use the excuse that people kayaking the river should not be interfered with by any motor vehicle. If we don't stand up as a community and go out there on these trails anyways, regardless of their decision, nothing will ever change. I will ride these trails anyways.
The only change that will happen by doing what you propose is further restrictions and closures. OHV's had plenty of opportunities to govern themselves and other users but failed to. Next time, if you see misbehaviour and destruction of a public resource, do something about it and maybe something will actually change.
If the Government doesn't keep their hands on it... then there will literally be no public lands. Keep your hands off MY and the rest of the citizenry's open spaces.
Thanks for publishing this; being from the East coast and a visitor to MOAB years ago, I feel the loss. I'll be in MOAB Nov 2023 again. You drone work and video is fab.. What Drone is being used? BTW.. Joined the Coalition after reading of this on Jeep Forums.
Enjoy your time there, such a great place with tons to see! Thank you, it’s a mavic air 2. Glad to hear, everyone should be supporting BRC if these closures upset you!
A wonderful video with excellent views! I rode Hey Joe Canyon on a mountain bike in 2019, all alone, no cars or people there - it was a great experience. 45 minutes both ways from the fence on the edge of the river. Unbelievable, that you can't go there any more.
Excellent info and video. I’m not a 4x4’er, but we did travel to Moab for mountain biking last year and will again this spring. We will be riding some of the canyon roads and it is extremely concerning that now that they have closed these roads, they will continue to push to close more of these roads and eventually leak into the mountain bike trails. These agencies are out of control and should be investigated for fraud and conflict of interest. I will research those pro-trail groups to get more familiar with the issue. Thanks for your work.
This summer we drove from Arizona to Alaska and back. You know how much rubish i collected at each camping site your jaw will drop if i tell that i ran out of whole pack of Home Depot garbage bags. If i start posting all the videos of me cleaning trash you will be shocked how much rubish these sack of wanks are throwing. Good video mate!
Im so disgusted bye this, i just now after my 3rd year traveling there. Started to really know the area. Its my favorite place to ride my bike. I pray we can fight this
Great video! I just subscribed to your channel. But I wonder if closing these roads is going to work as expected. Responsible off-roaders obey "road closed" signs. The BLM may need license plate cameras? Maybe officers or someone giving out tickets on the spot? They may need road blocks, rocks or berms, chains, gates or something to stop people, as well as road closed signs. Lets see how this closing works out. There may be unforeseen consequences because this seems like a heck of lot of road changes.
Thank you man! I agree with you on that one. I’m sure gates won’t keep everyone out. But like I said I think over the years these closed roads will slowly be forgotten about unfortunately.
You pay taxes correct?? Should BLM lands be closed to the public on a whim?? Why do we always obey the law when the government does't obey their own laws? Do you think this will be the last of the trails we see close? Im not for carless use of public lands when people don't respect it and I also understand the cause and effect of why trails get closed when people don't respect the land. Like Backcountry Beagles said in this video, he doesn't see rampant use of these trails. I agree with him and have been to Moab countless times and see most if not all respect the trails there. This is like every single thing we see with this government. They slowly take and take and take from us. Guess we will all just roll over and let them do what they want.....
Education goes a long way. Why not educate the public before they use public land. Most people don't know how fragile the environment is. How many people understand when a vehicle goes off trail. The tire track can stay there for decades.i don't think i will be going back to Moab.they can keep it to their selves. Closing trails sends a message.You know what else sends a message. No tourist! Mohab depends on tuoriusm. Colorado has an awesome trail network through the mountains. Looks like Silverton this year.
From what I heard, they are only closed to motorized vehicles because of overuse. They are still accessible to non motorized vehicles… and hiking,biking,horses. Ect., it is good land stewardship to close some of the far too many overused trails. So yes you can still see these places. You just have to work to get back to these areas now. This is of course my opinion and I am of course wrong. But that is okay. If you are part of the wheeling community you will say no trash ever. No over use. That every wheeler is also an angle and never leaves a trace. That’s awesome and we appreciate that. But not everyone appreciates the black tire tracks across the rocks. Or the leaked fluids….. Like I said. My opinion and I am of course wrong. Glad we got that out of the way. And….. go…
I'm torn on this. On one hand, I'm sad/angry that it is now going to be much more difficult to see and explore these areas. On the other hand, it will be nice in a few years to be able to see a beautiful landscape that doesn't have black tire marks up the face of every rock in sight.
