These guys are not military, but they are involved in a government exercise. They are not used to seeing someone riding around a remote area with weapons and not being allowed to point theirs back at you! They sure didn't expect to meet anyone out there, so they weren't sure how to respond to someone riding around on closed land with all the weaponry.
Much of that area is in fact off limits to motorized vehicles, that's why everyone you met was walking (so to speak).
Please check your guidelines for restrictions to motorized vehicles out there, I know that they are somewhat confusing.
Have you ever had the chance to check out Towell Falls this time of year?

 

TurtleTrax;
None of these folks I saw had any weapons. No rifles, no pistols, no shotguns. I think they were playing games with their gps. If what they were doing is sooo secret, why are you discussing it in a public forum? That would be a breach of security[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Also, the road I was on was not off limits, the ones that are are clearly marked closed. I was on public BLM land adjacent to Randy Spencer's ranch. I in fact picked up some of the garbage that had been thrown down on that road. Not sure if those folks put it there or not, but I am sure they saw me stop and pick it up so I hope they got the hint.
Maybe we are talking about two different groups eh?

 

Had a great time yesterday. It was really nice seeing you all again, and meeting a couple of new faces too. Now if I can just remember all the names. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] The ride was a huge success, unofficial total of 240 quads. There were some that didn't get counted. Sounds like everybody had a good time. Cda Polaris handed out a lot of great prizes. Gas packs, quad covers, bags, over 20 helmets, lots of hats, ect... A big THANKS to Mike and his crew. They really made this event.
Ron, Roger, and the folks at the Happy Hermit, thanks for the great burgers and putting up with all of us. All you guys ROCK, thanks for showing up and showing support for the sport!


oh and yes we we're able to ride out through one of the gulches, and the guys on the trail said we'd never make it..... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Again I got more vid than pics, but here's a couple to get things started.
Hermit Pics

2.4mb vid of quads rolling into the Happy Hermit.
Hermit Ride

 

Same group, no secrets, no security breeches, these guys just didn't know how to react to someone that they obviously didn't expect to encounter in that area riding around openly displaying weapons.
We should get together sometime, and look over a map. I was under the impression that all the BLM land was closed unless marked. I'd like to play around out there.

 

So Rockman, any idea if the FS (Barney Fife) has the same attitude in the Shoshone district? They should probably get something up on the website if UTVs aren't going to be allowed on the ride next week. Sucks to have people drive all that way only to be turned around at the parking lot. I was thinking that they should apply for a parade permit, if that is allowed outside of town, that would allow people to drive pretty much anything during the event. Just a thought. The biggest thing that got me was the attitude. Clearly a power trip there. The Forest Service did nothing to improve their image yesterday. I don't think they know what side their bread is buttered on.

 

Had a great time ourselves, guys. Great views of Lake Pend O'reille & Bayview, ID. And then riding into the Happy Hermit & Lakeview, ID. was like going back about 100 yrs or more. Pretty sweet old brothel!

Pics from the Happy Hermit ride.

Oh, and I saw the sheriff at least a 1/2 dozen times & he never said a thing other than a polite wave. We have WA ORV tags & my wife's are not terribly visible from straight out back but the man never said a word to us.

 

Yup, great ride at Bunco yesterday Guys, neat pictures also.

Niskibum, I’m trying to learn that when life hands you a LEMON, just make LEMONADE. Although that Forest Service guy left quite a bitter taste in my mouth yesterday, it was my entire fault. This was advertised as an ATV ride after all. I knew there was a controversy over UTV’s in Idaho, but I’ve never had a problem with the USFS and expected yesterday to be no different. The guy was just doing his job, enforcing the law. I was about to break a law and he warned me. I believe he could have handled it better, like NOT spending an hour plus watching us pull into the parking lot, unloading the ATV’s off the trailer, unhooking the trailer, pushing it back enough to unload the Rhino outta the truck, hooking the trailer back up, loading supplies into the ATV’s and the UTV, waiting for friends to show up, finally putting our helmets on to head out and THEN sauntering over to inform me that my UTV wasn’t going to be allowed on any Forest Service Roads. That’s the part that ticked me off most of all.
At least now I know better than to try to ride a UTV on any IDAHO National Forest Service roads until laws have been amended to allow such activities.

Anyways, great ride yesterday, it was nice to have the wife snuggled up next to me all day long on the back of the ATV, it made me feel like a young kid again!!!!

More Bunco ride picture HERE

 

Niskibum and Wizonkiz, I agree he should of handled it better. Overall he seemed like a pleasant fellow. Again this was our first time dealing with the Sandpoint Ranger Distr. and it wasn't very pleasurable. But we're going to work on it. You'd think that with the law passing in this legislative session, he would have been a little more lenient, even though it's not in effect yet. I'm going to try and find out a little more info about it.

In the mean time. There's the all important FS travel plan meeting this Thursday. IMPORTANT MEETING!IMPORTANT MEETING
This is an email I received from GEM state ATV, this really sums it up.


I have provided a map to this extremely important Travel Plan meeting; it is probably the first of several. So, what? Well if you ride an ATV and want to ride in the forest on ATV trails with loops and express your concern about how Fish and Game restrict our usage to 3 months out of the year and you want to let the Forest Service know about your feelings, this is the meeting for you. Don’t let them talk you down (be courteous). Ask why the rest of the state does not have this restriction, or Utah embraces ATV’s, they have great hunting.

It’s not that our Forest Service will have answers nor should they, but begs the question why do we need to be restricted, I’ll tell you why, because they, Fish and Game have gotten away with it and convinced our Forest Service they need the restrictions to improve hunting opportunities. I wonder how many of you are hunters? Do you have the guts to say what you want? Well now is the time to get up, leave your favorite TV show, put away the paper, No excuses not to attend, be accountable for now and the next 15 years!!!

Your leadership has brought you as far as they can; the Forest Service is looking for public input, not club input!

Here is a map quest link on how to get there:

Map to Meeting

It is at the Fernan Elementary School Gymnasium

520 N. 21st Street

Coeur d’Alene ID 83814
Thursday, April 27, 2006 – 6:00 P.M.

PLEASE pass this along or make your own statement and get it to our folks.

Thank you,

Mike Mallory
President
Gem State ATV Association of Idaho
208.683.2856
Map to Meeting

 

Yep, his attitude was the whole problem. When I pulled up and parked I got out of the truck and he was walking by his first words to me were "You got a legal permit for this year for that?" instantly putting me on the defensive. Now I know my people skills are somewhat lacking, but even I know the first thing you say to a total stranger should be something like "Good morning", or "Nice day for a ride", not something that accuses you of lawbreaking. He could have diffused that whole situation with just a less offensive demeanor. Then he follows us all the way in and while people are having lunch he is walking around their quads with a note pad writting stuff down. That tells me that the FS (since he is representing them) considers us all to be criminals that have to be baby sat and are just itching for a chance to break the law. Granted there are some of us that fit that description, but I am getting a little tired of their attitude towards all of us. I plan on being at the meeting.

 

Niskibum and Wizonkiz- it was great to meet you at the Hermit on Sunday. What are the odds that out of that whole crowd we would be parked in the same corner? I really enjoyed the post lunch trail ride. We talked about the Smelterville Run, well I'm not going to MT so I'm thinking of coming over with my wife. maybe we can meet up, just let me know where and when. Then you can show me where the heck Smelterville is. I'm thinking of letting her ride the Atv and I'll ride my KLR (if 2 wheelers are welcome) any thoughts? either way I'll be there with or without her.