Dishpan Re-Opening

[FishPOET]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/conditions/

[GrimJeeper91]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/conditions/

Thanks FishPOET...

[sarah]

Hey if we can really submit hours for this, then mark me down for 8 hours.

You got it. Thanks for heading out in the snow to help open the trail - you guys rock!

[Mike]

Official Announcement

From the OHV Newsletter:

Very good NEWS!!!
Posted by: "Greg Hoffman" ohv3@yahoo.com

With the help of 48 eager off-road Enthusiasts, we accomplished a big goal yesterday. Working together, we removed over 14 trees obstructing forest road 3N34. As a result of our efforts, 3N34 (Dishpan) from Deep Creek to Crab Flats Campground, is now OPEN to the public!

Despite the blustery, snowy conditions, we banded together and safely completed our projects. We opened the locked gate, removed the closure tape, barricades and once again connected Lake Arrowhead to Big Bear for off-highway vehicle use!!

Special thanks to everyone that pitched in to make this a safe and successful reopening!
Yummy thanks to Rick Roberts and the H1 Psycho Squad for providing hot, Bar-B-cued Tri-Tip, corn on the cob and baked rolls for lunch!! All of this below the infamous Waterfall....Wow!
Thanks again for all that you do as Volunteers!

YOU'RE THE BEST!!!
Sincerely,
Greg.

[Shadly1]

Good job guys! That looks like so much fun! I want to do something like that. This may sound like a stupid question, but what is a certified chainsaw operator and why is one required? I've never heard of a certification.

[Kodiak Spirit]

chainsaw certification is something you get when you dont want to pay the $30- permit for firewood gathering I think... ?

[Russ Chung]

Good job guys! That looks like so much fun! I want to do something like that. This may sound like a stupid question, but what is a certified chainsaw operator and why is one required? I've never heard of a certification.

When we do official Adopt-a-trail work, we are covered by insurance in case we get injured. The insurance carrier (in this case, the federal government) requires chain-saw safety certification before we are allowed to use one when clearing the trails. There are three levels of chain saw certificates, based on the size of the chain saw the operator is allowed to use. Not enough AAT volunteers have chainsaw certificates because the Forest Service hasn't had a certification class in a long time, but our fearless training coordinator, Jeff (aka Old Fart) is trying to get a chainsaw class scheduled.

[Old Fart]

Pretty good Russ!

Yep, pretty much what Russ said. AAT and OHV volunteers would be using the chainsaw under "color of authority" (and as he stated, under the SBNF "umbrella"), hence the need for certification.

Woodcutting requires a permit - and the Forest tells the permittee when and where (it's not "open season" as far as location)

We're still working on a "limb and buck" type certification (we still want the big boys out there actually cutting _down_ the trees!), but to date I haven't got anyone lined up.

[RAT]

We're still working on a "limb and buck" type certification (we still want the big boys out there actually cutting _down_ the trees!), but to date I haven't got anyone lined up.

Line me up. I'm still wanting to get certified, so whatever I need to do...

[Kodiak Spirit]

oh, yeah, I know it's not open season... and I didn't think about the insurance aspect of things.

[Old Fart]

Line me up. I'm still wanting to get certified, so whatever I need to do...

Talk to Sarah, we're collecting (2) names per club, and will pick from that list once we know how many slots we'll have.

[Materdaddy]

Talk to Sarah, we're collecting (2) names per club, and will pick from that list once we know how many slots we'll have.

What happened with the bulldozer cert? I didn't recognize any names as being from MJR. Were we even offered that training?

[Old Fart]

All clubs were asked for names, we only had (3) slots available - we picked the 3 from the list.

[mizedog]

Former Dirt Devil, here. I know the club has worked it's butts off over the years to keep this trail open. I'm absolutely blown away by the great inter-club coordination (if that's what this actually is). I know Dirt Devil Roger Mauer has probably put more hours on this trail in the last five years than anyone except Greg himself. He's tireless. He's also the one who did the restoration/welding work on Greg's little 1/4 ton trailer and got most of the donations (tires, toungue jack, etc.).

I hope the Dirt Devils made a good showing. I think I saw Sheldon in the background in one of those.

Keep this trail open for OHV use. Otherwise, the pressure from the residents up there will have it graded for 2wd use. They keep trying.

Regarding the chain saw cert. I think one reason we don't see many certified is that it's easy to get people to show up for a mid-week all-day class. Hopefully the three chosen has that flexibility.

Awsome work.
Kurt
Former Dirt Devil, currently clubless in CO

[Old Fart]

Uh, Kurt - this was bulldozer class