Del Albright: access

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THE LONG HISTORY OF MINIMIZATION IN PUBLIC LAND ACCESS

The long history of "minimization."

Nothing in OHV/Motorized Recreation Happens by Accident.

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

As a former Executive Director and Ambassador for the BlueRibbon Coalition, I was on the ground floor of developing the minimization concept and working with special interest groups to find common ground for OHV management on public lands. Back in the 1990s, countless hours spent “at the table” by Paul Turcke, Don Amador, and the entire BRC legal team helped build an unequaled foundation at the time. There is far more to this story than many people realize today.

USFS/USDA NEPA Update - What It Means for Public Lands & Access

Bottom Line:

The National Environmental Policy Act process at USDA (which includes the U.S. Forest Service) just got a major overhaul aimed at speeding things up and cutting red tape.

America the Beautiful Starts with You

By Del Albright

Somewhere in the American West – where adventure meets stewardship.

There’s nothing quite like venturing into the backcountry, especially in places where the land still echoes with the raw beauty of America's wilderness. These mountains, ridgelines, and alpine trails are more than just playgrounds for Jeeps, side-by-sides, hikers, and campers — they are sacred spaces that tell the story of a wild, free America.

EARTH DAY April 22nd - THE THREE A'S OF STEWARDSHIP IN MOTORIZED RECREATION

Action, Awareness, and Appreciation

By Del Albright

🌎 Earth Day: The 3 A’s of Stewardship – A Roadmap to Keeping Public Lands Open

Every year, Earth Day gives us a chance to celebrate the incredible beauty and value of the natural world. But for those of us who live and breathe outdoor adventure—whether it’s exploring backcountry trails, camping under the stars, or kicking up sand in the dunes—Earth Day is more than just a date on the calendar.

NEPA Explained: What the National Environmental Policy Act Means for Motorized Recreation

If you've ever wondered why land use decisions on public trails seem to move at a snail’s pace—or why some routes get closed altogether—the answer often points to one law: NEPA.

Let’s break it down.

What is NEPA?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970. It’s one of America’s foundational environmental laws, and it requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions before making decisions.

In plain terms, NEPA is about “look before you leap” when it comes to projects on public lands.

Key Highlights of NEPA

Environmental Reviews Are Required: Before a federal agency builds a road, approves a new trail system, or changes how land is used, NEPA requires them to evaluate how it might affect the environment.
Three Levels of Review:
- Categorical Exclusion (CE): For small projects with little impact.
- Environmental Assessment (EA): For moderate projects that might affect land, wildlife, or water.
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): For big, complex projects with likely significant impacts.
Public Involvement is Key: NEPA gives you and me a voice. Public comment periods allow local users, advocates, and stakeholders to weigh in before a decision is finalized.
Alternatives Must Be Considered: Agencies must consider a range of alternatives to their proposed action, including a “no action” option.

How Does NEPA Affect Motorized Recreation?

Now for the nitty-gritty: how does NEPA impact our ability to enjoy trails with Jeeps, SxSs, dirt bikes, or overland rigs?

1. Trail Designation and Closures

Every time a new motorized trail is proposed—or even an existing one needs to be maintained or reopened—a NEPA review is triggered. This can delay approvals and sometimes lead to closures, especially if environmental impacts (real or perceived) are flagged.

2. Maintenance and Access

Even simple things like grading a road, replacing a culvert, or brushing a trail can require NEPA review on federal land. If funding or staff is limited, this means delays or closures happen by default.

3. Recreation Planning and Travel Management

NEPA is at the heart of how the Forest Service and BLM create their Travel Management Plans—which define where motorized vehicles are allowed. These plans take years and are based heavily on NEPA documents, public input, and environmental data.

4. It’s a Tool—Use It!

NEPA isn’t just a roadblock—it’s also a tool for advocacy. Motorized recreationists can:

Submit comments during public review periods.
Work with agencies to propose sustainable trail solutions.
Partner with volunteer programs to help monitor and maintain access.

Why You Should Care

Whether you're a Jeep rock crawler, a dual-sport rider, or an overland explorer, NEPA shapes the landscape of your access. Understanding how it works—and how to engage with it—helps you protect the places you love to ride.

Motorized use often gets painted as harmful by those who don't understand or value our style of recreation. By participating in the NEPA process, we can defend responsible use, support trail stewardship, and ensure future generations can explore our public lands by motor.

In Summary:

NEPA is a federal law requiring agencies to evaluate environmental impacts before taking action.
It applies to roads, trails, and recreation management decisions on federal lands.
Motorized recreation is directly affected—both positively and negatively—by how NEPA is applied.
Public involvement is essential, and motorized users need to show up and speak up.

Want to keep your trails open? Know your NEPA.

Learn more about NEPA and how public lands are managed and what we can do about it here, in my book on Amazon.

MODERN LAND USE TERMS AND CONCEPTS

Understanding Modern Land Conservation:

Wildlands, Rewilding, and Wilderness

Public lands and conservation efforts in America come in many forms — and they often overlap in goals but differ in methods and philosophy. Here's a quick breakdown of four key ideas and initiatives you may have heard about:

🌲 The Wildlands Project (Now "Wildlands Network")
Launched in the 1990s by conservation biologists, The Wildlands Project aimed to create a connected system of protected lands across North America. Think of it as a "wildlife highway" — linking core habitats with corridors to help species migrate, thrive, and adapt to changing environments. It emphasized large-scale rewilding and limiting human development in key areas.

🐺 Rewilding America
More of a philosophy and movement than a single organization, Rewilding America builds on the Wildlands vision. It promotes restoring natural processes and reintroducing keystone species like wolves and bison. The goal is to bring back a wilder, more self-regulating ecosystem — even if that means scaling back roads, dams, or certain types of land use.

🗺 America the Beautiful Initiative
Started in 2021, this is a federal conservation plan aiming to protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 — often called "30x30." It's about collaboration: public lands, private working lands, and tribal stewardship all count. Unlike strict wilderness protection, this program supports recreation, ranching, and restoration — with a balance between use and preservation.

🏞 Wilderness Areas (National Wilderness Preservation System)
These are the gold standard of protected lands in the U.S. Created by the Wilderness Act of 1964, these areas are left "untrammeled by man" — no motorized vehicles, no roads, no development. They're permanently protected and require an act of Congress to be designated.

✅ Key Differences at a Glance:

Initiative/Term	Focus	Use Allowed	Type
Wildlands Project	Wildlife corridors	Limited human access	NGO-led vision
Rewilding America	Ecosystem restoration	Varies	Movement/ideology
America the Beautiful	30x30 conservation goal	Recreation, grazing OK	Federal initiative
Wilderness Areas	Permanent protection	No motors, no roads	Legal land designation

Why it matters to trail users and outdoor lovers:
Understanding these efforts helps us support smart conservation without losing access. Responsible recreation and stewardship can coexist — if we stay informed and involved. But do not let these terms sneak by you in your local area. Know what is being talked about and how it will affect your club and your access.

#PublicLands #Conservation #Rewilding #AccessMatters #OutdoorStewardship #Wilderness #AmericaTheBeautiful #landuse #access

TRUMP BRINGS BACK LOGGING IN AMERICA

How Forest Policy Changes Could Impact

Your Access to Public Lands

By Del Albright

The Trump Administration made sweeping changes to how our national forests are logged and managed. While these changes aim to speed up forest projects and reduce wildfire risks, they also carry consequences for those of us who love the outdoors and motorized recreation.

Let’s break down what these changes mean and what we, as outdoor enthusiasts, need to know.

Less Red Tape, Fewer Safeguards The U.S. Forest Service revised how it applies the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which traditionally required thorough environmental reviews and public input. Now, more projects can move forward under “categorical exclusions,” meaning they don’t need full environmental assessments or public comment periods.

These exclusions apply to things like:

Road construction and maintenance
Logging and fuel reduction
Special use permits

What This Means for Motorized Recreation

Potential Upsides:

Faster trail and road repairs due to simplified approvals
New routes could open as part of fire prevention or access projects
Local forest managers may have more say, offering a chance for better community relationships
Better Fuel reduction and wildfire prevention projects
Fewer Mega-Fire infernos and loss of lives and property

Potential Downsides:

Projects might happen without your input or even your knowledge
Recreational trails could be temporarily or permanently closed during forest management activities
Long-term environmental degradation could threaten access and sustainability

What You Can Do

With less federal oversight, it’s more important than ever for motorized and outdoor recreationists to stay informed and involved:

Get to know your local federal land managers
Track forest project announcements and ask questions
Engage in public comment opportunities when available
Join or support recreation advocacy groups

We all want healthy, fire-resilient forests, but it shouldn't come at the cost of losing access or damaging the places we love. Let’s stay informed, stay involved, and ensure our voices are heard.

For more tips and insights on sustainable motorized access, be sure to check out my blog at https://www.delalbright.com and follow me on social media.

Learn more about fuel reduction, wildfire prevention, reducing mega-fires, and managing our forests in my book on Amazon.

5 KEY TIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE OVERLANDING RECREATION

SUSTAINABLE OVERLANDING RECREATION

5 Ways to Keep Trails Open and Wild

By Del Albright

Subtitle: Sustainable Overlanding Recreation: Protecting Our Trails While Exploring the Wild

Intro: Overlanding is more than a trend — it's the fastest-growing component of the four-wheeling lifestyle. With its rise in popularity comes a greater responsibility: to recreate sustainably. As stewards of public lands, we must promote smart, responsible exploration so that future generations can enjoy the same freedom we do today.

TIPS, TRICKS, AND A FEW TAP DANCES ON HOW TO KEEP TRAILS OPEN

Stand Up for Our Trails: The Ultimate Guide to Land Use and Volunteerism

By Del Albright

If you're looking for a one-stop, practical guide on how to keep trails open and prevent closures, my book delivers. Based on over 40 years of volunteerism and landuse advocacy experience, I lay out proven tips, real-world strategies, and volunteerism shortcuts that make a difference.

Our motorized recreation groups, clubs, and associations are stretched thin and struggling with membership engagement. Without stronger grassroots action, our ability to fight back weakens.

Now is the time to act!

My book, Shortcuts to Land Use & Volunteerism: Creating a Sustainable Future for Motorized Recreation, offers solutions, motivation, and the roadmap we need to secure our trails for generations to come. If you are or going to be a club leader, you will learn how to inspire, motivate, and facilitate volunteers into action, leading them to victory!

Check it out today—and join the fight to keep access alive!.

EGOS AND PERSONALITIES IN CLUBS

"They" Are Killing Our Access!

How Egos and Personalities Could Be Our Downfall

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

Is your club ticked off at a neighboring club? Are you drifting away from your club because of the behavior of a few folks? Do you find yourself attending fewer club/group meetings these days? Do you feel like your opinion does not count? Are you ready to just say heck with it and walk away as a volunteer? Are you tired of the politics and clicks in your club? In other words, do egos and personalities rule your recreation?

In my travels around the country helping folks get organized and keep trails open, I have seen too many of the above problems. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of great clubs that are doing just fine. But I've seen my share of personalities driving folks away from organized recreation. There are ways to fix that.

In my opinion, our future lies in folks joining and staying active in organized recreation. The more we band together and stay tuned into what's happening with our trails, the better our chances of having a sport in the future. The more we separate or alienate from each other, the less chance we have of surviving as a recreational pursuit. We must be together at every opportunity.

This means that our local clubs/groups must be viable and effective. I am constantly reminded of the anti-access (radical environmental groups) slogan "think globally; act locally." They have got it figured out. They preach keeping the big picture in mind while taking baby steps locally towards achieving the big picture. It works!

Making Swiss Cheese

In large business corporations and management, there's a concept called the "Swiss Cheese" approach. Swiss cheese has a lot of holes in it to make the cheese what it is. When a manager faces a tremendously complex task, the Swiss cheese approach is to make one hole at a time until you have your block of cheese done. In other words, like a long hike in the backcountry, it's just one step at a time until you reach your destination.

This is where the local level involvement is so significant. If we're all taking baby steps, punching holes in the big block of Swiss cheese, eventually, we'll achieve the big picture – responsible and sustainable motorized access for all!

It starts with your local club or group. It begins with a few folks deciding to get past personalities and get something done for the greater good. It starts with not letting someone else control your feelings about your sport or club.

Expectations

If you have personality issues in your club or group, I suggest that before you give up, you confront them head-on. Let folks know how you feel and what you expect. Only then can a group or club decide if they want to make changes to accommodate your wishes. But to me, it is such a shame to see someone drop out of a group without letting folks know the reason why. It's similar to telling a boss at work what's wrong from your perspective so the problem can be fixed. Many times, bosses don't know what the employees know. So, by letting someone know there's a problem, at least you give them a chance to fix it.

There's an old saying I use a lot: "A complaint is never legitimate until it's voiced to someone who can fix it." If personalities rule your recreation, I suggest you speak up and clear the air. Get to the "peace table" and talk it out. Go face to face, and don't try to solve it on the forums. Find solutions or compromises that all the parties can live with. But whatever you do, give it a shot before you give up.

When I help folks get past personality issues, I always remind them that we are not out to change who someone is, only how they behave in our group. If a particular behavior alienates other club members, we must find a way to change that behavior. It can be done, but only through communications that are pretty open and honest.

In the leadership training I give folks, I drive home the point that we must let folks know our expectations -- those things that make us smile and enjoy our sport (or our job or anything else). The same holds true for a club or a volunteer committee. If you have expectations that are not being fulfilled, then let someone know. Doing so increases your chances of staying in the game and helping punch holes in that big block of cheese.

Here is the 3-step formula:

STEP 1: Find Out. The first thing to do is find out why clubs have problems -- to recognize and accept the fact that we are people and we have shortfalls, as well as personalities. Learn to accept the basic fact that we are not all poured from the same mold. In stead, find ways to understand and make better use of our differences. But that comes from first finding out (identifying) just what causes our club problems.

STEP 2: Focus. Next, focus on the issue or problem, not the personalities. Learn to separate a problem from the person who seems to be causing it. Lay the problem on the table, dissect it and figure out how to put it back together in better shape than when you started. Enlist the help of the person you think is responsible for the issue, if possible. Get them to become part of the solution. But whatever you do, learn to address the issue, not the person or personality. It’s not Joe that is causing the club to drift apart; it’s something Joe is doing – his behavior. That is what we must focus on – the behavior that needs changing.

STEP 3: Facilitate. Facilitation is a skill every leader or club activist should develop to some level. To facilitate means to make things easier – to lessen the resistance, to smooth the path. In clubs and groups, it means finding ways to help people help themselves.

Once you find out what the issue is really and focus on it, you can begin to facilitate a resolution. In volunteer organizations, there is seldom a rank structure (like in the military), so we must learn to ease the resistance and smooth the path with facilitation skills and techniques.

Before you walk away, please make sure you have done and tried all you can to fix the problem. We need clubs, groups, and associations fighting for our rights and freedoms.

Del

LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

2023 OUTLOOK FOR ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS AND DUNES

2023 LANDUSE AND ACCESS OUTLOOK

By Del Albright, ASA Social Media Manager, Supporter

Where will we be riding and exploring this new year? What effect will our recent political history have on our access to public lands and dunes? Are we going to see changes in our favorite duning areas? Allow me to give you some insight.

The mess we call 2020 is now mostly hindsight, with 2021 and 2022 rough but better years. But our riding, exploring, and adventures for 2023 are not by any means guaranteed.

The Administration’s policy changes, as is usual in a democracy, have flooded the world we live in. However, federal and state agencies are adapting to the “new” normal just like they did a few years ago with other agency/administration changes. Still, access to our public lands and dunes is tenuous at best.

Land closures and restrictions will get headlines in almost all states, especially in the west. New Monuments, new Wilderness, new Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), new this and new that. I predict we will not be able to keep up with the pages of reading to review and comment.

In 2022 the environmental movement worked with the Administration to orchestrate the 30 x 30 America the Beautiful initiative – proposing to conserve (some say lock up) 30% of America by 2030. Right now, about 12% of our American lands and waterways are “conserved” or protected (locked up). ASA is watching this one closely!

Then we can throw in the many things that distract us daily. Gun rights will be highlighted and in the news a lot. How our kids are taught in school (or should I say brainwashed) will bug parents daily. The war over “American-made” or foreign-made will hit the top of the charts. Insurance, bills, trying to recover from the pandemic, and many other financial bites will nibble at us all year.

So what?

So, what does this mean? Does it mean you probably aren’t thinking much about keeping dunes open or saving our sports? And does it suggest that this trend of not joining clubs and associations is the easier way to do things – virtually, if at all?

WRONG! I can’t say that strongly enough. If we do not unite, speak up, stay engaged, stay tuned into what is happening with our trails, and FIGHT BACK, we will end up parking our rigs in the garage to look at a few times a year. We cannot just be virtual, and we cannot let daily distractions numb us into apathy.

Exactly what do we do?

JOIN: Get your joining back on! Join ASA and your state and regional associations/organizations. They need our membership dues to make a difference and do what dedicated, knowledgeable riders MUST do.

Sure, if you want to stay with your virtual group, ok. But do not make that your go-to. Virtual groups do not go to state capitals or Washington, DC, to fight for us (unless I missed something). But, on the other hand, brick-and-mortar groups do show up where it counts – in person, face to face.

DONATE: Send somebody some gas money! Donate to a group so they can send someone to those meetings where decisions are made about YOUR trails. Buy raffle tickets to organization raffle vehicles. If we are not at the tables, ALL of them, the head of the table will make decisions without us and not necessarily in our favor.

VOLUNTEER: Put a trash bag to work in your favorite duning area! Donate your time and volunteer to help keep dunes open. Help your association/groups on a project that needs time and effort (strong backs). Show up! Yes, I’ll be trite – the world is run by those who show up.

BUY SMART: Support businesses that support our sport. Buy from those outfits who do something for land use, such as donating to raffles, joining associations as a business, and contributing in some way to keep dunes open or helping a club doing just that.

Join, donate, volunteer, and buy smart. If you start doing those things with all your heart and ability, we can turn the tide in 2023 into a year we can be proud of and keep our right to ride alive and well.

START by joining (or renewing your membership in) the American Sand Association here: https://americansandassociation.org

NIBBLING AWAY AT YOUR FREEDOMS

THE TRUE STORY OF NIBBLERS

A Sad Commentary on California Land Use Groups and Efforts

By Del Albright

(a version of this first published by Calif. 4WDrive Association, In-Gear, Oct-Nov 2022)

The "nibblers" are after your freedoms. They want to nibble away at everything you hold precious – from guns, access, how your kids are educated, what bible you follow, how you recreate, and more. "They" have many names, but more importantly, they have influence and are instituting daily changes in your life.

Let's take landuse and access to our motorized trails as an example. If "they" don't like a trail we're doing, they will find an endangered species, an invasive species, or some archeological site to use against us. And they nibble. One bite at a time is all it takes.

Read entire article here.

LET'S SCHOOL UP AND SWIM TOGETHER!

Whatever happens over the next Presidency, our trails and the motorized sports we love will need our attention more than ever. We are small fish in a big pond, so to make our selves "bigger," we have to school up and swim together (united we stand!).

Join that groups and associations that make sense to you.

Volunteer for work days on your trails and riding areas.

Write letters to your elected officials telling them to keep our trails open.

Set the example and do it right when in the backcountry.

Obey the law and follow the rules.

Be part of the solution.

They Are Killing Our Access

They Are Killing Our Access!

How Egos and Personalities Could Be Our Downfall

By Del Albright, BlueRibbon Ambassador

Is your club ticked off at a neighboring club? Are you drifting away from your club because of the behavior of a few folks? Do you find yourself attending fewer club/group meetings these days? Do you feel like your opinion does not count? Are you ready to just say to heck with it and walk away as a volunteer? Are you tired of the politics and clicks in your club? In other words, do egos and personalities ruin your recreation?

In my travels around the country helping folks to get organized and keep trails open, I have seen too much of the above problems. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of great clubs that are doing just fine. But I've seen my share of egos and personalities driving folks away from organized recreation. There are ways to fix that.

I am convinced that our future lies in folks joining and staying active in organized recreation. The more we band together and stay tuned into what's happening with our trails, the better our chances of having a sport in the future. The more we separate or alienate from each other – as in not joining groups -- the less chance we have of surviving as a recreational pursuit. We must be together at every opportunity.

This means that our local clubs/groups must be viable and effective. I am always reminded of the anti-access (radical environmental groups) slogan of “think globally; act locally.” They have got it figured out. They preach keeping the big picture in mind, while taking baby steps at the local level towards achieving the big picture. It works!

In large business corporations and management, there's a concept called the “Swiss Cheese” approach. Swiss cheese has a lot of holes in it to make the cheese what it is. When a manager is faced with a tremendously complex task, the Swiss cheese approach is to make one hole at a time until you have your block of cheese done. In other words, like a long hike in the back country, it's just one step at a time until you reach your destination.

This is where the local level involvement is so important. If we're all taking baby steps, punching holes in the big block of Swiss cheese, eventually we'll achieve the big global picture -- responsible access for all!

It starts with your local club or group. It starts with a few folks deciding to get past personalities and get something done for the greater good. It starts with a commitment to not let someone else control how you feel about your sport or your club. It starts with you making sure “they” don’t kill our access!

If you have personality issues in your club or group, I suggest that before you give up, you confront them head on. Let folks know how you feel and what you expect. Only then can a group or club decide if they want to make changes to accommodate your wishes. But to me, it is such a shame to see someone drop out of a group without letting people know the reason why. It's similar to telling a boss at work what's wrong from your perspective so the problem can be fixed. Many times bosses don't know what the employees know. So by letting someone know there's a problem, at least you give them a chance to fix it.

There's an old saying I use a lot: “A complaint is never legitimate until it's voiced to someone who can fix it.” If personalities are ruling your recreation, then I suggest you speak up and clear the air. Get to the “peace table” and talk it out. Go face to face and don’t try to solve in on the forums. Find solutions or compromises that all the parties can live with. But whatever you do, give it a shot before you give up.

When I help folks get past personality issues, I always remind them that we are not out to change who someone is, only how they behave in our group. If a certain behavior is alienating other club members, then we need to find a way to change that behavior. It can be done, but only through communications that are pretty open and honest.

In the leadership training I give folks, I drive home the point that we must let folks know our expectations -- those things that make us smile and enjoy our sport (or our job or anything else). The same holds true for a club or a volunteer committee. If you have expectations that are not being fulfilled, then let someone know. , By doing so you increase your chances of staying in the game and helping to punch holes in that big block of cheese.

Del
More articles on my website about landuse, personalities, clubs, and keeping our sports alive: http://www.delalbright.com/article_list.htm

RUN A BETTER MEETING

LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA

WRITE A LETTER

GIVE A SPEECH

LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS

WHY JOIN A CLUB

ORGANIZE A CONVOY

JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS

GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING

LEAD VOLUNTEERS

CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

GO BACK TO HOME MENU FOR THIS MOBILE PLATFORM

Jail-Break video; Keeping Public Lands Public

Four Top Tips for Keeping Public Lands Open to All -- the JAIL-BREAK.
Video By Del Albright and BlueRibbon Coalition.

Join or donate to BRC here: https://www.sharetrails.org/support/join-or-contribute

Please feel free to pass this around.
Del

SPORT-SPECIFIC OFF-ROAD GROUPS

I am writing to share my personal observations about the importance of a sport-specific state and regional associations like, for examples, the California Association of 4Wheel Drive Clubs (CA4WDC) in CA, or District 36 or 37 of the American Motorcyclist Association, or the Northeast 4WD Association, or the Colorado Association of 4WD Clubs, or the Arizona State Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, or whatever state and regional association might be available to you.

Since my first published article about landuse and public lands in 1982 (yea, 30 years ago since I got in the fight), I have always preached the critical need of clubs and individuals belonging to “everything they can afford and that makes sense to them.” Nothing has changed. The strength of our landuse fights lies in our clubs and organizations, supported by folks like you.

Now more than ever is the time to be in the game at the national, regional, AND state level.

Obviously I believe firmly in our national umbrella group for all sports, all trails – the BlueRibbon Coalition. But I also feel just as strongly about clubs being members of state (and regional) associations for their sport. It goes hand in hand with our successes in keeping the sport alive. For specifics, every four-wheeler in CA should belong to CA4WDC. I am not confused about that. If you want to add other groups to your lists of memberships (that you can afford and that make sense to you), then for sure I encourage that as well. It is all about memberships.

The bottom line of our successes in saving trails and keeping backcountry motorsports alive STARTS with you JOINING everything that makes sense to YOU.

I will add that my entire training course (the Recreational Leadership Training Course - RLTC at http://www.rltc.biz) is based in the fact that volunteer organizations, from churches to charities to clubs, always have “issues” and maybe even some “drama.” It just seems to be human nature. Many times the issues are driven by personalities, misunderstandings, lack of communication, or just plain ugliness of some sort.

No matter; the strength of volunteer associations/clubs lies in its members working together to a brighter future to serve the cause. It’s all about all of us being on the team, and getting past issues. It should never be about undermining the efforts of a good cause, but rather about shoring up the groups fighting for us. It’s about fixing things that are broken so we can all have a better off-road future.

I hope you will join me and be in the game, by being a solid member of BRC and your state and regional association. If you join other groups as well, I applaud you even more.

Thanks for listening,

Del Albright, concerned recreation advocate

STRATEGIES FOR ACCESS TO BACKCOUNTRY IN 2012

2012 STRATEGIES TO SAVE ACCESS INCLUDE A NEW LINEUP OF TIPS

While lining up my strategies to strengthen the fight for access in 2012, I see some new "lines" I wanted to share with you.

First of all, in the big picture of things, it still boils down to all of us belonging to those groups we believe in, whether they are perfect or not; join up.

Secondly, in the West, you should follow the progress of the Sage Grouse as it's the new Spotted Owl and sure will impact our recreational access, as well as other uses of the land.

Third, the Forest Planning Rule is still a big one affecting us nationally. Make sure you're on the BlueRibbon Coalition Alert list to keep up with this biggie.

Fourth, the overall strategies for 2012 have a new look, but simliar lineup. Go here for my article on the formula we need to follow to put access Job Number 1.
http://www.delalbright.com/Articles/strategies_war.html

thanks, Del

Del Albright Goes MOBILE

DelAlbright.com Goes MOBILE.

Del & Stacie Albright announce new MOBILE site for DelAlbright.com, your one stop research spot for landuse, access, Rubicon Trail, volunteer training and more on saving trails and keeping backcountry sports alive and well.

Whip out your phone and check out http://m.delalbright.com/

This BLOG is still going to be the best place for right now, current, del-a-gram stuff on landuse and access, but the MOBILE site will be easy for folks to remember so they can find essential links and information at your finger tips.

50 Years of Off-Roading (Article to use)

Dear Editor/Webmaster and friend of landuse:

Here is my latest article for your use on landuse and access. Feel free to post/share it in off-road friendly forums and newsletters. I would appreciate a link if you use it. Thanks, Del.

50 Years of Off-Roading

Reflecting on lessons learned and our outdoor future

By Del Albright, BlueRibbon Ambassador

The bikini clad Rock Zombie girls were all over my Jeep giving it the wash job of its life as I sat perched on my roof rack marveling at 50 years of off-roading. They were raising money for landuse, so I’m always in for a good cause. What really hurt, though was realizing the combined age of any two of the girls did not equal my number of years of trails and dirt roads!

I guess you could say I’ve seen it all. I’ve lived in 16 states and been shot at in 3 countries. I’ve logged 140,000 miles on my Jeep over the last 13 years of concentrated landuse wheeling; and it ain’t over yet!

With the sun shining and the suds a‘flying, I reflected on what I learned in those many years of backcountry adventures. From that, I’d like to offer you some tips that may help you prevent a stumble or misstep in your off-roading, and help us keep our outdoor sports healthy and alive.

Those five decades have included everything from dune buggies to dirt bikes to four-by-fours. I’ve used motors to do things like hunting, fishing, backpacking, exploring, geocaching, rock hounding, four-wheeling, and just plain relaxing. From those adventures over time, I have condensed those lessons into the 5 “M’s.”

Read and download the entire article here in WORD or Adobe .pdf: http://www.delalbright.com/Articles/50_years_offroading.html

Thanks, Del

Save your trails (SaveMyTrails)

BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC)

Cal4Wheel (CA4WDC)

Access Army (TAA)

DelAlbright.com (Del’s Site)

Omnibus Bill is an End Run Around Public

LAME DUCK OMNIBUS LAND BILL NEEDS OUR VOICE!

Please take a moment and MAKE A CALL to your Senators about the lame duck Omnibus Bill about to hit us.

I am asking for phone calls and not emails as this is THAT important (and time sensitive). Make a quick call and tell them NO Omnibus Bill – because:

1. There’s not been any real public debate or input and even if the bill has some good stuff in it, we, the public need time to digest and review it.

2. This is being shoved through (down our throats) in too big a hurry. It’s not the way government was intended to work.

3. The bill contains multiple land designations that merely CLOSE us out of our public lands – we need time to review, digest, comment, and CHANGE the language. It certainly does not represent the will of the public.

4. This thing contains vast spending measures that are not relevant to public land access.

5. Basically this is a unilateral agenda to close millions of acres of public lands – YOUR land.

My friends in the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) have a great Action Alert with more information here and a link where you can get the phone number for YOUR SENATOR here:

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/rapidresponse.asp

PLEASE make that call right now.

Thank you,

Del

Save your trails (SaveMyTrails)

BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC)

Cal4Wheel (CA4WDC)

Access Army