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[RC] Cherokee NF Issues - Roger RittenhouseLindia M wrote:: From: "Linda B. Merims" <lbm@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [RC] Restrictions in SE National Forests This just came through on the Blue Ride Trail Riders' newsletter:Cherokee National Forest: those who live near or ride in the Cherokee, =north or south, need to >sit up and take notice! The Management Plan = calls for limiting horses to classified roads and >designated trails = which will concentrate all the traffic in just a few areas. Many of the = customary ->use areas will be off-limits, and trails crossing streams = and passing through wildlife openings will >be closed. Equestrian access = to wilderness areas could be drastically curtailed. Riders first of all =need to do an inventory of the trails they ride: which are designated =and which are not? Linda et all.. well now I have and gone and done it. After reading this email I called the Mgr at the forest office in Cleveland TN --45 min from home. I am now on the horse use committee to review the polices being proposed for horse use in this forest. We are going to meet tomorrow and take a trip to Star Mtn in the rain to talk and go over issues and what ever comes up This person is the Trail Rec Use mgr for this Forest in TN. I also know the Trail Supervisor in this district and will be working with him. There is a major false impression - as from what I was told,.. this mgr is a 'local TN GOB' He and the upper management in the Cherokee Nat Forest are NOT trying to shut down the horse trail system we now have, The proposed wording is to try and STOP user installed trails system - that basiclly wreck the forest. They cannot maintain user trails PLUS the current suite of LEGAL trails. I believe this mgr is not BSing me. He did not blow me off.. He and the staff want input. The problem comes up - like this posting from the BRTrail Riders. - that lead riders to believe they are shutting us down and closing trails. The plan in my district is to open MORE legal managed trails, place a horse camp at Gee Creek area called LOST CORRAL. While this is 'talk' - there is a real plan on the table that passed the initial phases. It may never happen but it shows commitment to at least maintain what we have. There are no plans to take any action on this Roadless mess from years ago. Turns out there never was 'real' plans for action in this area, just paper tiger policy. The midlevel and grass root mgrs in this district have been pro use active- and geared toward horse use. I will admit - I am looking at this for my own personal agenda, to keep the trails I ride on open and to offer user input for these trails and the proposed and PLANNED camp area. I have a trail clearing permit- certificate to run a chainsaw in the NF. I do my part to cut dead fall and blocked trails.Last year due to recover time I did nothing - this year I will get back at it. So my focus will be to encourage the FS to open trails that they can with funds available and then to work (me) on trails that I ride. I will attend meetings for planning and user policy in the other areas. From the initial conversation, there is NO plan to close any trails in the areas where I live or ride. I do not believe the manager was feeding me any BS. He indicated they want us to use the 'designated trails' That is no problem for me since there are over 50 miles of good trails where I ride. There have been a few Endurance rides up here. He indicated they want more to be run. Once the camp ground is completed we will have a good base camp. I will find out the time table for this improvement. The bottom line while the Management Plan for horse use in this forest MAY look to some as reduction of current trails, I did not get that opinion. Wilderness access ON designated trails is not eliminated from this plan. I was not informed of the public comment period for this plan, seems the ranger who was on this project was moved and the links to the assorted users was not passed on to the new manager. This new manager is willing to get me involved as a user advisor. He asked me to work with the FS. I can attend sessions and meeting during the day, anytime they want me there. I will give it a try. If it was all a front then at least I will have tried. While I do believe there are those eco radicals in the NFS who want ALL users out, they are now under new direction forn the new boss. (Gail Norton) It will take years to correct the damaged done by 8 yrs of the 'no use best use' policy. I believe, in this area, the managers are locals, want us to use the trails systems -and are willing to listen and work with us. There may be other areas out side of my back yard, where there are problems with a few mid level and local policy makers. That problem can resolved though other political channels. The problems with the forest in the Great Smokie Mtns Park is another whole mess, I am staying out of that. I believe just working with the district managers in my area is where I can obtain the best results. I think the big conferences are a waste of my time. I can do more for the cause, by keeping trails open and working with local staff in charge of these trails. A one ranger told me, a few years back they really do not have the desire nor time to shut down the use of these trails. Nor enforce limited restrictive use. We shall see how this plays out, I will go and listen and learn, then decide from there if there is a real problem. I have been riding these trails for the last 7 yrs during the biggest shutdown of rec use, I really do not see major problems in the near future. Roger Rittenhouse Tellico Plains/ Reliance TN ps Linda M - where you going to setup camp in TN?? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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