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Thursday, December 21, 2017

GRANT MONEY FOR TRAILS; EXTREME TERRAIN

ETREMETERRAIN OFFERS TRAIL MONEY TO CLUBS

CLEAN TRAIL INITIATIVE FOR YOUR TRAIL/CLUB

A great way for a supporting business to help keep our trails open and our sport alive.

ExtremeTerrain’s Clean Trail Grant Program

Get $250 for a Trail Improvement Project

ExtremeTerrain strongly advocates for the responsible recreational use of off-road trails and is happy to launch the Clean Trail Grant Program.
This program will provide eligible groups the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund their next trail improvement related project which could range from trail clean-up, trail restoration, trail expansion, to name a few. Various Wrangler and 4x4 groups and organizations as well as publicly and privately owned off-road trails are all invited to apply for the grant.

Along with the grant, ExtremeTerrain will provide industrial strength trash bags for collection of any debris.

Get more info and apply here:

https://www.extremeterrain.com/clean-trail-initiative-program.html

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Del

Thursday, December 7, 2017

PUBLIC LANDS EXPLAINED



SORTING OUT DEFINITIONS OF LAND DESIGNATIONS

The Various Names of our Public Lands

By Del Albright

 

 

Where can you camp?  Hike?  4x4?  All the above? 

When recreating on public lands (BLM, USFS, Park, State, Trust, whatever) it is imperative to know the rules and some of the jargon. Understanding how agencies define or designate public lands is the first step.  Check this out.


This is a great, sort explanation/definition of land designations like Wilderness, National Monuments and Parks, etc.  Worth a read and bookmarking for reference.

https://www.doi.gov/blog/americas-public-lands-explained

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Del

Monday, October 30, 2017

ACCESS TO RESPONSIBLE HUNTING

HUNTING ETHICS; SAVE OUR SPORT

RESPONSIBLE HUNTING AND SHOOTING ARE CRITICAL ELEMENTS TO THE FUTURE OF OUR SPORT.


By Del Albright


Hunting is like off-roading or four-wheeling sports, we must do it right if we want to continue to do it in the future.  Irresponsible behavior or lack of ethics will get us shut down by the people who do not like what we do anyway.  They do not try to hide their mission of shutting us out.

Here are some simple tips to keep our hunting/shooting sports alive.

FIRST: Be ethical; make clean kills and avoid stupid (long, or running) shots that you know you cannot make; and do not ruin someone else's hunt.

For more on Recreation Ethics visit BlueRibbon Coalition/Sharetrails.Org

SECOND: Be courteous of other hunters and other land users; think about where you park and how you drive/walk into the area where others are hunting.

THIRD: Be informed by reading about ethics and rules from places like the NRA or TreadLightly! etc.

Visit TreadLightly! for more ideas and educational posters.

FOURTH:  Be clean; always pick up your trash and pack it out, including shells and target trash.  Leave your campsite better than you found it.

FIFTH: Be safe; follow the gun rules; never point a weapon at anyone (even if you think it's unloaded); and properly store your weapon in your vehicle -- safely and legally.

Set the example for others; pass on the tradition, the right way!

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Del





Monday, September 25, 2017

STAND FOR THE FLAG; HONOR FREEDOM

I STAND FOR THE FLAG

I BELIEVE IN HONORING OUR FREEDOMS


By Del Albright

I have had too many bullets whiz by my head in combat, with patriotism flowing through my veins, to do anything but STAND for the flag, for the Anthem and for our country.  Respect. Period.

I will never support or condone anyone, sports team, advertisers, or entertainers who disrespect our flag.  Find some other way to protest; or find a country that better suits your lack of appreciation for freedom.  Period.
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Del

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

SAVING DEER VALLEY TRAIL

VOLUNTEERS STEP UP TO SAVE ANOTHER TRAIL.


Previously Closed; Now Open!


By Del Albright



We were lucky enough to get to help save the famous Deer Valley Trail of CA, closed a few years ago by court order.  The trail is OPEN!

Read more here on Modern Jeeper:
http://modernjeeper.com/
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Del

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

DO IT OUTSIDE

GET OUTSIDE AND RE-CREATE YOURSELF


And Do the Right Thing


By Del Albright



Summer time is get outside time, and that also means being thankful for the freedoms we have in this great country.  I try to never take anything for granted; especially time I get to spend outdoors, whether hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, taking pictures, hiking, biking, or just sitting on something besides my desk chair looking at something besides my computer screen or mobile device.

Teach your kids the same values.  They are the future.  And be SURE to join and support those groups and organizations that help keep your hobby alive and well, like BlueRibbon Coalition in my case, along with your state and regional associations.

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Del

Thursday, June 15, 2017

OREGON TIDE POOLS


LOW TIDE OCEANSIDE EXPLORING

Minus Tide Along the Oregon Coast with Incredible Tide Pools


By Del Albright, June 2017


Exploring the ocean beach during a minus (very low) tide is an amazing outdoor experience for all ages, from young to old.  The Oregon coast has a number of great places where this adventure can be had for a short walk.

It is important to remember that certain times of years there are nesting birds on the rocks offshore and they should not be disturbed by getting too close or causing them to fly off their nests.  Look for congregations and just stay back a respectable distance.





The kelp and grass growing attached to the rocks can be very slippery and hazardous to walking, but just take care and perhaps carry along a walking stick.















Barnacles and sea anemones are abundant in low tide areas, along with muscles. 















Sea stars, or star fish are one of my favorite finds on the coast if any ocean.  These guys living in a shallow tide pool with sea anemones make for a great photo.










And no matter how fancy ocean-side luxury resorts build their swimming pools along the coast, nothing can match what Mamma Nature has to offer.  Remember to be respectful, stay back from nesting birds, walk carefully, and pick up after your pets.  The ocean is to be explored and enjoyed by all.  Tide pools are a special treat.
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Del


Wednesday, May 31, 2017

FISHING AND RESPONSIBLE RECREATION OUTDOORS

FISHING AND RESPONSIBLE LAKE BEHAVIOR

By Del Albright, May 2017



Fishing and boating of any type are busy, popular sports these days and we all must remember to share the water, like we share the trails.

No one sport has rights over another, other than boating laws governing navigation.  But when it comes to fishing, jet skiing, boating, wake boarding and you name it, we all must share the water and be polite in our pursuits.



Specialty boats like bass boats can travel at speeds in excess of 50mph.  Extra care should be given to both the passengers and other boaters.  Jet ski and PWC enthusiasts should take care to watch for slow moving fisherman possibly trolling for trout in open water where fast speed boating is also popular.

It's just a matter of courtesy and being polite to other users so we all can enjoy the water.

Visit the US Coast Guard website for more on boating, life vests and rules of the water:
https://www.uscgboating.org/

Be safe; have fun; and boat smart.

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Del

Monday, March 13, 2017

MAKE PUBLIC LANDS GREAT AGAIN

WE HAVE GONE TOO FAR WITH CLOSURES, RESTRICTIONS AND EXCESSIVE PROTECTION

Let's stop the silliness!


By Del Albright, March 2017

The decades of unchecked radical environmentalism have left us with a country bound-up in red tape, and restricted from common sense management.  It is silly what we have allowed to happen to ourselves.  It's time to Stop the Silliness!

Of course, I am NOT saying all regulations, Wilderness areas and land designations are silly or unnecessary -- but we have more than enough and it's time to unravel some red tape and make our access to public lands GREAT AGAIN.

We certainly do not need skyscrapers, mining operations or development on top of every mountain peak; but we also do not need these same mountain tops closed to responsible recreation, hunting, motorized access and public enjoyment.  The excessive restrictions  need to be turned around and stopped.

Here is how you can help Make Public Lands Great Again:

S = STOP creating unnecessary Wilderness areas, especially those that do not meet the criteria of the original 1964 Wilderness Act.  Ideally, we should ask Congress to undo many recent closures.  Let your voice be heard with your elected officials and tell our leaders to quit listening to exclusionary elitists who want to close everything.

T = TAKE BACK Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) that have been lingering on the books for decades and really do not fit the purpose of Wilderness.  Take back other unnecessary and restrictive closures. Support the halting of frivolous lawsuits that lead to more WSA's or other restrictions. Donate to those causes that are fighting for your access and your public lands.

O = OPPOSE silliness in government and bureaucracy; educate politicians and lawmakers; help unravel red tape like with the permit process; and make sure YOU are significant by being part of organized recreation groups.  Join, donate and volunteer are the three best things you can do to oppose more unnecessary closures and restrictions and make our public lands great again.

P  =  PRAISE good land managers and bureaucrats who are doing the right thing!  Write letters to officials in charge when you know of a good land manager doing good things for our lands.  This has to be a two-way street  -- and we have to also work hard to get rid of our own bad apples spoiling our image as responsible recreationists.

Now is the time to Stop the Silliness.  Please do your part and spread the word.  Take action before "they" take more away from us.
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Del



Sunday, January 8, 2017

DISASTER PLANNING AT HOME



DON'T BE LEFT IN THE DARK!

Plan, Prep and Practice.


by Del Albright

Disaster planning and prepping are key to surviving major messes in today's world. Fire, flood, hurricane, you name it, the lessons I learned in 30 years of fire service, including "strategic planning and responses to disaster management" are simple -- but usually neglected by most of us. It's never too late. Here are my (past Fire Chief) suggested 10 things to save your life (and help you recoup) in disasters:

1. PICS: Take pics; lots of them. Videos too. Of your house, your prepping, your current/before condition and save them for insurance purposes later, especially before a fire or flood evacuation.

2. INSURANCE: Make sure your insurance DOES in fact cover the messes you might face.

3. HOMEWORK: Talk to experts who have lived thru whatever disasters are common in your area -- or like floods that only happen once in several decades. Ask what lessons they learned. What about pets like horses, dogs, cats, etc. Where do they go?

4. GO-BAGS: Have go-bags that include medical supplies, water and food -- in every car/rig. Get a good first aid kit as part of this -- not a $20 blue light special. Get Water treatment kits that let you drink collected water without worrying about virus/bacteria -- cheap kits readily available nowadays. Learn to use the items that will save your life from infection, bleeding, etc.

5. TABLE TALKS: Discuss evacuation planning with your family and friends nearby. Especially with kids when it comes to fire. "Table Talk" scenarios and role playing are great ways to be ready for anything. you'd be surprised at what you come up with if you sit down, spouse to spouse and ask "what would you do if we were separated and a disaster of major proportions hit?"

6. COMMUNICATIONS: If you are a HAM radio person, carry it and a charger -- even if you don't use it (Go Bag) -- especially during fire season or flood season. But for sure, keep a charger with your phone in every car. And speaking of that, car batteries can be killers if they are in bad shape and don't do their job when you need them.

7. FEMA: Get the free material in your area from folks like FEMA, your fire department, OES, whatever. Read it and use it.

8. PLAN: Make a Plan! Red Cross has a sample template (there are others as well):http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/be-red-cross-ready/make-a-plan

9. WORST CASE:Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Your
"what if" planning should include worst case scenarios and what you would do. Hospital ER rooms might be full; evacuation centers may not be adequately organized; cell towers could be down; and you may lose contact with family members. Ouch. Now what?

10. COMMON SENSE: Never lose sight of your common sense, and STAY CALM. Like in the old days of the Boy Scouts -- BE PREPARED; be alive.

Hope this helps.
Del.