Politics : politics@vcmc.info

Upper Snake BLM Area in Idaho Slated for Numerous Road Closures

The largest Bureau of Land Management field office in Idaho, the Upper Snake Field Office on the east side of Idaho, is starting the Travel Management Process. Travel Management always affects which roads are opened and closed, and this will impact all who ride around Rexburg and Idaho Falls areas. While the St. Anthony Dunes aren’t included in the planning area, they are right on the boundary of some of the areas included in the plan. So this will affect riding in the area of the dunes.

Scoping and route inventory was held in 2016. The BLM is accepting public comment on the draft environmental assessment which proposed three alternatives to the current management.

Alternative C proposes human closure areas on over 8,000 acres in the winters. There are also areas that would restrict motorized and non-motorized use throughout the winters including activities that are often considered “low impact” such as snowshoeing unless on a designated route.

All alternatives are unacceptable and close too many miles. Alternative D which is the “recreation friendly” alternative still closes 254.4 miles of routes. Alternative B would close 500 miles of routes!

With all alternatives there is substantially more non-motorized route construction proposed than motorized. Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis indicates that motorized outdoor recreation has grown more than non-motorized recreation on public lands. At a minimum, the BLM should analyze and consider the same amount of motorized new construction routes as non-motorized if not more. The EA notes, “Year-round OHV and non-motorized recreation is expected to increase in and around the TMA independent of the network alternative selected for the TMP”, and “It is highly likely that recreation visitor numbers in the TMA would continue to increase in the future.”

Please support us by adding your voice to this plan.

Congrats to Bill and Claudia Newark for winning our Yellowstone Snowmobile Adventure sweepstakes!

Last week we announced that Bill and Claudia Newark are the winners of our Yellowstone Sweepstakes! We would like to thank everyone who supported us through the sweepstakes, and we’re incredibly grateful to The Three Bears Lodge for their offer of this spectacular prize package! Thank you!

Marketing Director Update: Easter Jeep Safari

The Red Rock 4-Wheelers club in Moab Utah put on another great event last week: Easter Jeep Safari 2023. Owning a Jeep myself, this is one of my favorite events to attend. This year, as the new Marketing Director for BlueRibbon Coalition, I took the time to document some trails for the second volume of our Lost Trails Guidebook. Spending time on the trail and seeing the vast and beautiful views reminded me why it is so important to fight for our public access.

I came across a group of Jeepers while I was out one day documenting a proposed trail closure at Dead Man Point. I spoke with several individuals about the trail closure- not a single one knew the trail could potentially close. Once they knew about the proposed closure, they were all ready to fight! How could the BLM close such a beautiful and iconic trail in Moab?

Look at those views!! With the current fight of 437 miles of proposed closures happening right now in Labyrinth Rim / Gemini Bridges area, it is important for us to stay informed about the next steps, read more HERE.

How can you help? SPREAD THE WORD! Post on social media, share with your friends, and most importantly: responsibly drive these trails! You can also donate and receive a copy of our Vol. 1 Lost Trails Guidebook by clicking HERE.

Thank You Red Rock 4-wheelers for another awesome event!

Together, I know we can Defend Our Ground and fight for our public access to these beautiful trails.

Sincerely,

Chelsey Gregory

Marketing Director

Business and Club Supporter Spotlight: Stuck Nutz Threadlocker

Stuck Nutz Threadlocker, a leading provider of off-road capable threadlocker, announced today its partnership with the BlueRibbon Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and expanding access to public lands and trails.

As a new business partner, Stuck Nutz Threadlocker will provide financial support and resources to the BlueRibbon Coalition's efforts to preserve and expand access to outdoor recreation opportunities across the United States. The company's commitment to quality and durability aligns with the Coalition's mission to promote responsible land use and protect shared public land use.

"We are pleased to welcome Stuck Nutz Threadlocker as our newest business partner," said Ben Burr, Executive Director of the BlueRibbon Coalition. "Their dedication to excellence and commitment to sustainability make them an ideal partner for our organization. We look forward to working with them to promote responsible outdoor recreation and preserve access to public lands and trails for future generations."

Stuck Nutz Threadlocker offers a wide range of threadlocker products designed to withstand extreme temperatures and harsh environments. Their products are trusted by professionals in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and construction.

"We are excited to partner with the BlueRibbon Coalition and support their important work to protect public lands and promote responsible outdoor recreation," said Sean Nichols of Stuck Nutz Threadlocker. "Our company is committed to keeping trails open for recreational use, and we believe in the Coalition's mission to preserve access to public lands and trails for generations to come."

For more information about Stuck Nutz Threadlocker and their products, please visit their website at www.stuck-nutz.com.

Official Clubs and Organizations Have Been Our Backbone Since the Beginning

If you belong to a club or organization that isn’t yet a member of BRC, we hope you encourage them to join us in our fight to protect your adventures.