I was out crawling around Forrest Rd 199 above Estes Park, CO and came across some illegal barriers, erected by residents. I called the Rangers on the CB and gave them the location, and gained permission to remove them.

The Rangers said that they had a good idea who, there was a yuppie that summered in a house he had built up in the mountains that keps trying to get the trails up there closed, as he has become immensely offended at easement laws. Seems he did not know about them, bought a large parcel of land, and proceeded to gate the forrest roads that crossed the land. When fined, he fought in court, only to be introduced to federal and state easement laws. This made him unhappy, to say the least.

Now he booby traps the roads, erects barriers (This one was a felled tree wrapped in barbed wire, and the wire staked to the ground), and leaves his H2 parked across the road "accidentally" when away. (It seems to have been repeatedly keyed, probably "accidentally" as well.) Easement laws don't allow for passing a stalled vehicle... you have to stay on the road.

So, the rangers are going to watch, and try to catch him replacing the barriers, and fine him in to oblivion. Seems the judge is a mite ticked at seeing this guy repeatedly on the same issue. Another fine will likely result in injuction and contempt charges.

There's a$$hats on both sides of the issue. We can police our own, while convincing the opposition to play nice too.

 

consider yourself lucky wear i ride i've had people put up a single strand of barbwire between trees neck high [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

It is sad to see a lot of animosity on both sides, but after seeing a couple of websites posted by " environmentalists ", it makes me sick to think of what some of those people are willing to do. I have seen detailed pictures and instructions on how to set pit traps that catch wheels, flipping the bike or quad over, very possibly causing great injury or death to the rider, also ways to hide wire at about neck level to basically decapitate anyone unlucky enough to get caught not looking. I have yet to see ANY atv related website or group promote destruction and violence to combat these so called " friends of nature ". Yes, there are bad elements on both sides, thoughtless ATV riders giving the rest of us a bad name, and whacko tree huggers willing to maim or kill to protect " their " forest areas. Instead of taking pot shots at each other, why don't the leaders try to get together to see just what makes each side so unwilling to work together, and try to come to some kind of compromise. With well established, maintained trails, there is no need to go " off roading " just to find a place to ride, and more forest and natural areas could be preserved for everyone to enjoy. No one side is completely right, both need to work to get this straightened out, instead of finding ways to force lawmakers pass unfair laws that anger one side or the other. It is up to BOTH sides to patrol their own, and not let radical members do stupid things to get the public hostile to their cause. Staying within the law is the best thing to do for long term problems, that way enforcement is on your side, not your enemy.

 

I'm an Environmental Engineer and live in the mountain community. I love to hike, run rivers, and just plain enjoy the diversity and beauty that God has bestowed upon us. I also grew up on a cattle ranch, and love to camp and ride my 4-wheelers, but I don't go tearing everything up in the process of having fun on a motorized toy. I just don't understand why we just can't share the land and get along?

Yesterday, as I was out riding my ATV (looking at the fall colors), I came upon a group of mountain bikers. I said hello and waived to them, but they looked at me like I was the biggest POS they had ever seen. Again...why can't we share?

How can someone put a punji pit on the trail for a law abiding citizen (out on a stroll through the mountains, etc.) that mames or kills? Isn't this a form of terrorism?

 

That guy is lucky. If I would have come across booby traps like that and then find the guys hummer parked in the trail blocking it, especially if it were in a position that myself or someone else were coming around a corner and could have hit it. There would have been more than just key marks on it. Trust me. That kind of stuff is BS!!!

 

Who knows what drives people. there is a trail out here, I forget which, where the landowner put up a gate and sign that says in big letters:

Private property, keep out!! trespassers will be shot!! Survivors will be prosecuted!!

And in small print, you almost have to get out of the jeep to read it:
Please close gate behind you, stay on trail while crossing private property

He is technically complying with easement laws, but is trying to scare off people before they see the small print. Must be a lawyer.

 

As much as we would like to retaliate we must not, unless it is done through the legal system.