Defend Your Ground

The Inyo National Forest is beginning the process for developing an over-snow vehicle plan for winter recreation. In this episode we discuss our participation in this process, and how we see regulation of snowmobile recreation evolving in our national forests.

We also announce our sweepstakes where you can win an all-expense paid snowmobile adventure into Yellowstone National Park. You can lear more here: https://www.tapkat.org/blueribbon-coalition/a5NvK5

This episode is supported by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association.

This week BRC and Arizona Backcountry Explorers filed an administrative appeal of the Bouse and Cactus Plain Travel Plan, which closes over 1,000 miles of routes in Arizona. For those who commented recently on the Labyrinth Rims and Gemini Bridges plan in Moab, this appeal gives you insight into what the next steps of the process will look like. 

We also briefly discuss the approaching deadline for public comment on the Bears Ears National Monument plan, that will result in dramatic changes in how that area is managed: https://www.sharetrails.org/bears-ears-national-monument-updating-resource-management-plan/

We also invite everyone to enter our new sweepstakes to enter an exclusive vacation to go on a snowmobile adventure in Yellowstone National Park: https://www.tapkat.org/blueribbon-coalition/a5NvK5

In this episode we review several route reports that were submitted to the BLM by wilderness groups to advocate closures of the routes. We received the route reports from a document request, and by reviewing the reports the public can learn why wilderness groups want to close these routes - in their own words. 

In this installment of the "Last Known Position series" we are joined by Santiago Gonzalez, who is a helicopter pilot for Life Flight and Michael Davis, who is the Public Lands Director for the Utah Snowmobile Association. We discuss several Search and Rescue missions for snowmobile incidents that required rescue by helicopter. In this episode you will learn the things your helicopter rescue pilot wished you knew if you are ever in a situation where you need rescue by helicopter. We also discuss a wide range of safety and survival skills that every snowmobiler should know.

In this episode we are joined by Patrick McKay from Colorado Off-road Trail Defenders. He is a good friend and produces phenomenal field work that he shares freely to enable off-road advocacy organizations and their members to increase the effectiveness of their comments. If you're wanting to add your voice to prevent the closure of 437 miles of the most popular trails on earth in Moab, the discussion in this episode will give you multiple ideas for improving your comments. Since this issue will affect all off-road users, dirt bikers, and dispersed camping users, please help us share this information.

In the episode we discuss the GIS maps that Patrick made available to inform your comments.

We also discussed BRC's action alert tool that makes it easy to send your comment to the BLM. Don't forget to customize your comment with information learned from this podcast: https://www.sharetrails.org/dont-let-blm-close-437-miles-of-the-most-popular-trails-on-earth-in-moabs-labyrinth-rims-gemini-bridges-travel-management-plan/

If you've never been to Moab, you should consider entering our Moab Adventure Vacation Sweepstakes. By entering you will be supporting our efforts to keep Moab open for adventure: https://www.tapkat.org/blueribbon-coalition/y9AVw5

BRC recently announced a legal challenge to President Biden's designations of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments. In this episode we discuss this legal challenge by reviewing parts of the complaint. We discuss the unique coalition of partners we put together to make this challenge and the damage the monuments cause to the local communities.

Donate to our legal fund today: https://secure.anedot.com/blueribbon-coalition/legal-fund

Gordy's Hill is a popular destination for off-roading South of Albuquerque, New Mexico. New Mexico 4 Wheelers, and other groups have been working with BLM for years to develop this into a recreation area that can be a destination for all levels of off-roading experiences. Our members previously engaged in this project through the Scoping period. The BLM has now released the second part to the planing process which is the Environmental Assessment (EA), and the public can submit comments on it up until August 30, 2022. You can read our full analysis here. We invited Frank Whiston from New Mexico 4 Wheelers to be a guest on this episode and inform our listeners about several ways we can improve this plan.

Last fall the Bureau of Land Management withdrew a final plan for Arizona's Black Canyon Corridor. The withdrawn plan would have closed hundreds of miles of routes in the area, and it suffered from numerous technical flaws. Now they are back with an updated version of the plan. There is some improvement in the plan, but a lot that needs week. In this episode we discuss the plan with our allies from the American Mining Rights Association, Arizona Backcountry Explorers, Arizona State Association of 4WD Clubs, and the Undertakers 4x4 Club. 

You can also join the Arizona Adventure Alliance, which includes a promotional membership to four of the organizations featured in this podcast: 

• BlueRibbon Coalition

Emery County in Utah is home to the San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley, the San Rafael Desert, and it is encircled by towering mountain ranges. In this episode we sit down with three volunteers from the Emery County Search and Rescue team to discuss the wide range of rescue missions they've completed. From snowmobile rescues to slot canyon rescues, this crew has done it all.

This episode of our "Last Known Position series" was made possible by a generous grant from the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle Program, the International Snowmobile Manufacturer's Association, and the Ski-Doo Snow P.A.S.S. Program.

Chris Reed is one of Utah County's most experienced Search and Rescue volunteers. In this episode we share part 2 of his experiences that have left an impression on him. He also shares the most important pieces of gear that he wishes everyone who explores the backcountry would bring with them.

This episode of our "Last Known Position series" was made possible by a generous grant from the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle Program, the International Snowmobile Manufacturer's Association, and the Ski-Doo Snow P.A.S.S. Program.