It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:20 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Portion of Fins-n-Things to re-open
PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:25 am 
Offline
LOST Addict
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:54 am
Posts: 3865
Location: Draper, UT
From MOAB Times


A segment of the Fins ‘N Things Jeep Safari Trail that was closed at the end of 2008 will be reopened, following a unanimous vote by the Grand County Council this week.

The half-mile segment, on property owned by the state School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, was “inadvertently” excluded from the travel plan portion of the Bureau of Land Management’s new resource management plan adopted in late 2008, according to county council member Chris Baird.

Baird acknowledged that reopening the route “comes with several challenges.” Sand Flats Director Andrea Brand expressed reluctance about reopening the route during a discussion with council members on Tuesday.

The rationale for the council reversing its previous decision was that “all parties” working on the RMP had agreed that no historic Moab Jeep Safari routes would be closed, said Bill Hughes, president of Red Rock Four Wheelers, which sponsors the Jeep Safari.

By unanimous vote, council members supported that agreement and concurred with remarks made by Hughes.

According to Hughes, Dave Vaughn of the Grand County Road Department, Jerry McNeely, who represented the council during RMP preparation, and the BLM recreation director “have all concurred that the closure... was inadvertent and counter to the agreement.” Baird confirmed Hughes’ description of the agreement.

Red Rock Four Wheelers offered to perform the labor needed to reopen the trail. SITLA has not only agreed to allow the reopening, but has offered to pay for the materials needed to do so, Baird said.

“I can totally understand how a mistake like this could come up,” Hughes said. The Red Rock Four Wheelers would like to see the section reopened because it connects with another segment on the other side of the Sand Flats Road, Hughes said.

Brand said reopening the road segment would be “a bitter pill to swallow.”

“It was one of the best closures that we made up there for protecting the land, she said. She said that Sand Flats had “zero complaints” about the closure from the estimated 30,000 motorized users last year.

Much thought and research went into the closure, Brand said, as she addressed the challenges summarized by Baird. Those challenges include a need for fencing or other barricades, and “internal route maintenance” to protect several user-made pull-outs.

Another drawback is that a recently published Sand Flats map would be inaccurate, Baird said.

But the offer of free labor and materials carried the day. Council member Audrey Graham, who represents the council on the Sand Flats Stewardship Committee, said she hopes the move could portend a solution to problems on other parts of the Sand Flats Recreation Area.

Baird’s motion to reopen the Fins ‘N Things segmet stipulates that “internal route maintenance must be completed before the segment is opened to the public.”


Torches and pitchforks: protecting land access since 1776.

_________________
2006 CRD http://www.UtahPowderCoatings.com/ http://www.gorecon.com/ I'm kind of a big deal.
RL rear bumper, ARB front bumper, Mile Marker winch, Power Tank, Skids by Mopar & Skid Row, RL Super Skink Sliders, 235/85R16 MTR, Air Flow Snorkel, DTT, 4.10 gears, Frankenlift II, Katskin leather, JL Audio stereo, Rosen video.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Portion of Fins-n-Things to re-open
PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:31 pm 
Offline
Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:27 pm
Posts: 2003
Location: valley center, ks
Great news,I love that trail. :JEEPIN:

_________________
2003 KJ Renegade, 5 speed, frankenlifted,Al's a Arms 4.5,Moabs 245/75/16 BFG KM2's, custom rock rails, full Mopar skids, Hella ff220 lights,Hd cooling,Front DTT,Riddler diff cover,Rola safari rack,Cobra 29 peaked & tuned.

Pastafari Alum, Pink shovel recipient


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Portion of Fins-n-Things to re-open
PostPosted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 10:19 pm 
Offline
LOST Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:57 am
Posts: 496
Location: Monument, Colorado
kskj wrote:
Great news,I love that trail. :JEEPIN:


x2 That is one of the coolest trails in the MOAB area. :D

_________________
2010 Liberty 4x4 Limited
Trailer Tow Group, Sunroof, Skid Plates

1999 Wrangler Sahara
2" Teraflex lift with flexarms, ARB air lockers Front/Rear, Skid Plates, BFG 31x10.50 ATKOs


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group. Color scheme by ColorizeIt!
Logo by pixeldecals.com