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AN EXTREMELY RARE EVENT IN OFF ROADING!

Jan 07, 2010

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The whole sport of off roading is all about conquering obstacles. As a club we have challenged and conquered some of the great trails but one of the largest obstacles facing us as off roaders is trail closures. I’m happy to say that our club had the honor in helping to open some new ones. I’m not going to suggest that we were responsible for any of the legal or environmental mountains that had to be overcome to make this happen. We found out yesterday the planned trail expansion in Corral Canyon was actually a twenty year process. The red tape is almost old enough to drink. Let’s face it, we are all threatened by trail closures but how often do you get the chance to open new ones. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this. I wanted to be involved because we use this area often and any expansion of this already great off road resource would be welcome. It’s important to be part of the solution and this was a golden opportunity to make difference. I am a firm believer that you must enter and enjoy the environment to truly respect it and if you don’t respect it you won’t protect it. Environmental radicalism is an obstacle worth conquering and with organizations such as ours coming together with others we can accomplish big things. The trail expansion project in Corral Canyon is a big fat win for the off road community and a big middle finger to those who would build walls around this area so no one could enjoy it.

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There were many rewards to be had for taking part in this process. Yes, there was physical labor involved but it was nothing in light of the experience. We spent the day with some really great people and they made it more fun than work. Knowing that you’re entering areas that have never been accessed by vehicles and that you’re determining the course of all others that will follow makes for a very cool experience. We were given total control of how we wanted the trail to traverse a 100 foot wide predetermined path. Trust me there are many natural obstacles to make this trail a challenge. We didn’t do all the work necessary to complete this trail but we did enough to give us a good idea of the fun it would offer. This was a very rewarding undertaking. It will be a great resource for those who love the sport as well as great addition to Corral Canyon. My hat’s off to all the volunteers that helped work on the trail and a huge thanks to Richard Tull and those that made it all possible. This is truly a rare event in off roading.

Ron Baker on Jan 10, 2010 10:00pm

This was a great experience and to be one of the first Jeeps ever to run it as well as have a big hand in figuring what the obstacles will be was awesome. We gotta go out and run it this weekend maybe.

Mike Lunt on Jan 10, 2010 10:44pm

oh man this was a blast. it was awesome to be apart of something so rare. i just hope that there isnt a few bad apples that ruin it for all of us. its definately going to take a lot of effort to keep this heading on the right track. im pumped!!

Daniel Miller on Jan 11, 2010 9:38am

It was a phenomenally good time! It really was an honor to know that we were plowing the road for generations to come....what a privilege. There is a lot of work left, but the basic trail is there, and passable!!!

HOOYAH!!!
Dan

Travis Schellpeper on Jan 17, 2010 9:06am

I second Dan's comments! This was a terrific time! Thanks agian for the invite and I hope to see all of you again on the Bullfrog run! As the "New" kid on the block - I thank you all for making me feel right at home!

see ya soon,

-Travis