D37/BRP Fun Run to Save Johnson Valley

[Max7]

Looks like it will be Lila and I, looking forward to it!
Best, Max7

[hondatom]

You could use some optimism in your perspective. To bring you up to speed, there are enormous efforts from more than several well organized groups in full motion to find a solution to this issue. I am sure you will meet many well informed, solution oriented folk at this event. To Help Save Johnson Valley, write a letter and join a group like PFJV, FOJV, FOGR, Blue ribbon Coiltion, or Corva to name a few.
Happy Trails.
Best, Max7

I'm not trying to rain on the parade or be a pesamist Max. I'll be there in full force, and I send lot's of letters to state and federal entities to push for the rights of hunters and offroad enthusiasts. Rock On friend...

[Max7]

Keep on truckin'!

I'm not trying to rain on the parade or be a pesamist Max. I'll be there in full force, and I send lot's of letters to state and federal entities to push for the rights of hunters and offroad enthusiasts. Rock On friend...

Glad to hear it, and don't hesitate to share those great letters with MJR and others to continue to encourage folks to follow your leadership. See you on the trail!

Best, Maxwell

[Desert Jewel]

Hey Max...are you going Saturday or Sunday, or both?

[Max7]

Trying for both...I will have Lila and I am trying to decide weather to bring the Airstream and camp out Sat night... I am pretty sure that's what i am doing...LOL
Decisive, huh? Look forward to seeing you! Should be a lot of fun!
Best, Max7

[Desert Jewel]

Sounds good! I will be out there Sunday...probably around the W.E. Rock trailer.

[Ol Man]

Hopefully a lot of the MJR folks will join us for the weekend. Saturday will be the biggest day and will go on all day, into the night. Sunday will not have as much activity.

As far as wheeling goes, we will have an easy run and the Bullfrog trail. A number of the rockcrawling folk will be there doing their thing on the rocks around Cougar Buttes. If you can keep up, I am sure you will be invited.

For the other motorized side, there are five trails laid out for motorcycles, quads or Rhino types. I think the longest is 15 miles. There will be rider info sheets for these trails at the event. This is not a race, so riders should be traveling at slower speeds.

The key is to think about what you want to write on the forms that are submitted to the Marines so that we do not lose this jewel. We only have until Jan 31 and then the Marines go into the mode to answer all of our questions for the next period.....

Rich

[Max7]

Act now !!

Hopefully a lot of the MJR folks will join us for the weekend.
The key is to think about what you want to write on the forms that are submitted to the Marines so that we do not lose this jewel. We only have until Jan 31 and then the Marines go into the mode to answer all of our questions for the next period.....

Rich

Great point Rich, and even if you can not attend this event PLEASE take the time to write a letter. Here's a stolen list of talking points from Pirate4X4.com and a couple links. One of the links is a letter generator use it!
I think there is some valid stuff here to chew on maybe help you with that letter to the BLM & the USMC.Use what you want and add your own personal case points, keep it civil so that we are taken seriously.

Public comments to the BLM are due by Dec. 15, 2008.

Public comments to the USMC due by Jan 31, 2009.

Talking Points to be commented on by Off-Road enthusiasts

1. The land mass of Johnson Valley totals nearly 200,000 acres. It is the largest designated OHV area in the country. The impact of it’s closure would adversely impact the already limited resources available to off-road enthusiast in the region.
2. The closure would negatively impact remaining OHV areas both in regards to the environment as well as personal safety as a result of increased and heavily concentrated use. Injury and even death will likely increase from over population of other BLM and Forest Service managed lands in the future should the base extend into Johnson Valley.
3. Increased use of Federal, State, and Local public lands will put additional pressure on land managers resulting in greater restriction to motorized recreation. The result of concentrated use will create increased environmental concerns likely leading to further closures in the future, thus compounding the problem.
4. In the San Bernardino County portion of the Mojave desert the military currently utilizes areas of Federal land for China Lake Naval Weapons Center, Fort Irwin National Training Center, Twenty Nine Palms Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center, and a portion of Edwards Air Force Base. This in addition to countless Wilderness designated areas already severely restricts public motorized access on public lands. Other western States with similar topography should be studied.
5. The USMC should study cooperative use of existing military bases to accommodate their training goals. The USMC has indicated in the scoping meeting that training exercises would be held only once or twice each year. China Lake and Fort Irwin are directly adjacent to each other. It seems reasonable that cooperative use can be an option. After all mobilization is also a part of training.
6. Expansion to the east would only require de-designation of a small portion of the Sheephole Valley Wilderness. Although political leaders have shown resistance to the idea, military training is a benefit to the entire Nation and the responsibility should be shared equitably among all Americans, not just off-road enthusiast. The number of designated wilderness areas far outnumber designated OHV areas in the Mojave desert.
7. Once used for live military fire, Johnson Valley would become an area restricted and off-limits to future generations in perpetuity, regardless if the needs of the USMC change and diminish in the future.
8. The characteristics that define the Hammer trails in Johnson Valley exist nowhere else inside the state of California. For the countless off-road enthusiasts who have invested thousands into their vehicles for the specific purpose of traversing these trails there is no alternative available in other Federally managed lands within the Mojave desert. This represents a potential loss in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to families and individuals.
9. The film industry spends Millions of dollars a year on locations within Johnson Valley to have 360 unobstructed views unlike any where in this country, In addition the Film Industry by bringing it's entire crew supports the local economy and consistently creates temporary jobs.

Link to USMC comment form, print and send...http://pfjv.org/Mcom.pdf
Link to letter generator for the BLM...http://www.pirate4x4.com/letters/

Can we make the important parts a sticky!?
Best, Max7

[Mitch]

Max,

That list is very imformative. All ideas listed are of criticle importance, including the economic impact to the Town of Lucerne, which benifits from the Off-Road community. The loss of Gasoline and fuel sales, restuarant and market patronage, and even Ice sales will all hit this small town hard if we loose this battle.

Mitch

[hondatom]

Max, that was extreemly well written and filled with pertainant information. Great job! I would very much like to meet up with the MJR group this weekend. What chanel will your C.B.'s be on?

[tony m]

Me and the wife will be out there this Sat.and look forward to participate and enjoy the event.
Hope to see some of the MJR folks out there. Tom, hope to see and meet you, Since I haven't ran into you around the neighborhood yet.

[Max7]

Vivid thoughts!

Max,

That list is very imformative. All ideas listed are of criticle importance, including the economic impact to the Town of Lucerne, which benifits from the Off-Road community. The loss of Gasoline and fuel sales, restuarant and market patronage, and even Ice sales will all hit this small town hard if we loose this battle.

Mitch

You have the detailed insight that needs to reach the BLM,USMC and our Congressman. I hope your vivid thoughts help them visualize our perspective through your letter!
Best, Max7

[Max7]

Channel four

Max, that was extreemly well written and filled with pertainant information. Great job! I would very much like to meet up with the MJR group this weekend. What chanel will your C.B.'s be on?

I'll be hanging around on 4. Stop by our camp anytime, look for our Airstream and a cowboy hat.
Best, Max7

[hondatom]

I'll be hanging around on 4. Stop by our camp anytime, look for our Airstream and a cowboy hat.
Best, Max7

I didn't know an airstreem could wear a cowboy hat..
I will be looking and searching for any and all MJR people..
Tony, I will be able to recognize your jeep, But look for me as well. I have a red f350 with a 5th wheel toy hauler.. hit me up on the c.b. and we will get together....

[tony m]

Thats a 10-4.