Bishop Area Singletrack - No Friend of mine

Just a heads up to everyone who actually uses offroad motorcycles for recreation: This Saturday, June 1st, “Friends” of the Inyo (the local non-motorized hiking club) will be holding a dirt bike singletrack “maintenance event” in the Black Canyon area (“woodcutters trail” I assume).

Unfortunately, it’s been our experience that this group is NOT interested in preserving motorcycle single-track – They’re an extension of the Sierra Club with the same anti-motorized agenda (financed by greensticker cash of course). As most of you know, during the so-called “Travel Management Implementation” process, the “friends” took it upon themselves to relieve the greensticker fund of over $600,000; using said funds to close/barricade 99% of ALL local Mammoth area singletrack and ATV trails, and over 900 miles of Jeep roads. FOI made no improvements to dirtbike trails in this area, and considered motorcycle Singletrack to be unsustainable and without benefit (to us of course).

The “friends” have temporarily (and unsuccessfully) changed the way we access our favorite trails, and it’s our responsibility to prevent any further “management” (aka: damage and trail destruction) from taking place.

I realize it’s hard for any of us to compete with a “for profit” & “paid by taxpayers” organization, but if you have free time this Saturday, head down to bishop (Black Cyn) to provide supervision and authority to this overzealous (non-motorized) work party - our local Forest Service is without resource or ambition at this time.

Below is the FOI press release with details. Also, we’ll be discussing this situation further at our meeting tomorrow night.

FYI: I will blast this email to: Mammoth M/C email list & website, Thumpertalk.com, Sneakers M/C, as well as the “Friends” of the Inyo group. Feel free to spread the word.

Nat'l Trails Day: Black Canyon Single Track Maintenance

DATE:

Jun 1 2013

Volunteers will cut back brush and limbs and clean up the trail tread on this winding multi-use bike, hike, and motorcycle trail connecting the White Mountain Road to Black Canyon. Meet at 8:30am at the 395 and 168 Junction just north of Big Pine at 8:30am. Snacks, drinks and tools provided. Please dress for warm, dirty work: closed-toed shoes, long-sleeves, hat and sunglasses.

Call Andrew (andrew at Friendsoftheinyo.org) at 760-873-6500 for more details. andrew@friendsoftheinyo.org paulmc@friendsoftheinyo.org