January 1998   Newsletter for The San Luis Obispo County Four Wheel Drive Club
Editor Debbie K.

WELCOME! NEW MEMBER!

Jerry H.     81 Jeep

OOOOOOPPS!!! Department
� Brian & Constance R.
A major bumble on my part (Mark B.). I had Brians name listed as "Randy".
Brain & Constance joined back in March

FOREST FEES FALL FLAT

ADVENTURE PASS PROGRAM GENERATES MORE FRUSTRATION THAN REVENUES

Despite promises that the newly instituted Us Forest service Adventure Pass program would generate a wealth of revenues and that tit would "allow 80% of the budget of the National Forest were collected". newly released Los Padres Forest Adventure Pass program figures demonstrate the overwhelming unpopularity and incredible overhead associated with the program.

Out of a total Los Padres national forest income of 866,300 from the sale of Adventure Passes over the busiest summer months (July, August, & September) an average of only $1,600 was available for distribution for site-specific improvements in each of the five Los Padres Forest Ranger Districts. Enforcement staffing for the Los Padres National Forest, however, required just short of $42,000.

"Los Padres Ranger Districts could raise more funds for their recreation facilities by each holding a big garage sale than by this highly unpopular program "states Alasdair Coyne, Keep the Seape Wild Committee's Conservation Director of. "How can the Forest Service justify continued the Adventure Pass program in light of this dismal performance?"

Funds collected from the sale of Adventure Passes are tallied each three months, for distribution over the following three month time period.. While Adventure Pass sales are expected to shrink dramatically over the winter months, the costs of Adventure Pass enforcement staff will remain unchanged. leading to substantial losses ahead for Los Padres Forest's Adventure Pass program.

The $66,300 raised in Los Padres Forest is less than 30% of the $223,267 anticipated by Forest planners.

According to internal Us Forest Service documents obtained by KSWC, a mere 12% of Adventure Pass revenues generated in Los Padres this summer are available to meet the promised facility improvements. ($87,950 out of $66,300)

"Reversing a hundred years of free access to our Forests surrenders a principle that shouldn't be sold at any price," says KSWC Director Kevin Looper. "The most important point here is not the unpopularity of Adventure Pass enforcement, but the failed commitment of our Congress to protect our National Forests."

"The Adventure Pass has proved wildly unpopular with Forest Service user," added Jeff Pine, a long\time outdoor enthusiast from Santa Barbara. "I have always believed the Forest Service lands belong to all Americans. How meaningful is the land of the free when they're charging us just to walk in our National Forests?"

The Adventure Pass was instituted as an experimental program to replenish Forest recreation budgets that have been cut back by Congress in recent years. The Ojai-based Keep the Sespe Wild Committee urges Forest users to write to Congress both to scrap the Adventure Pass program and to double the US Forest Service Recreation Budget, so as to maintain our deteriorating Forest facilities without imposing parking fees on visitors to our National Forests.12/3/97

Contact: Alasdair Coyne, KSWC, 805-646-5960 Keep the Sespe Wild, P.O. Box 715, Ojai, California, CA 93023
Article submitted by Jenny B.

WOULD YOU STEAL FROM SANTA?

Oh my! What a question. Why would anyone steal from Santa Well believe it or not this newsletter editor, and many others (including kids) were witnesses to Jesse H stealing from Santa. Could not believe what our eyes were seeing..

Our December Meeting trail boss, Kathy P., and assistants put on a great Christmas Party for the SLO County 4WD Club at Pozo Saloon on Sunday Dec. 14, 1997. Thanks everyone who helped for the great time.

Pozo provided a buffet style tri-tip dinner, members brought cake and cookies, the Croon Dogs played for us, and all those who wanted to participate in the gift exchange brought gifts. Joe D was the winner of the tow rope raffle.

The gift stealing game was the hit of the party. Poor Santa got the worst of it all with Jesse H. and Cathy A. stealing mercifully from him..but in the end Santa won and got his fire extinguisher. Many gifts were passed back and forth, many gifts were hid under the tables in hopes of being able to keep their prizes from being stolen. The kids had their own gift exchange and all seemed happy with their gifts.

Laughs and fun were had by all that attended. The club will need a report from Jesse H... How many lumps of coal did you get in your stocking this Christmas Jesse? DON'T YOU KNOW..NEVER STEAL FROM SANTA

SLO County 4WD Club General Meeting January, 1998 Summary

There was a pretty good turnout for our meeting on Wednesday, January 7th,1998. Thirty adults came out to vote for their favorite candidates.
• Outgoing President, David H thanked everyone for their support for the past year. Secretary, Kathy P, read a summary of the Christmas Party which served as minutes of the last meeting and Christmas party report. Treasurer,Tom C, reported our income and we are getting membership renewals in daily. Membership Director, Mark B, was instrumental in getting most of the membership renewals by this election meeting. (By the end of the meeting, there were approximately 44 member families registered.

• The President moved right into elections. They went quite smoothly since there was only one nominee for most of the offices. The election results were as follows:

  1998 Officers

  President	Ray M.	Vice President	Tom C.
  Secretary	Kathy P.	Treasurer	Brian E.
  Ways & Means Director	Jennell T.	Membership Director	Dave H.
  Events Director	Randy P.	Land Use Director	Will H.
  CA4WDC Liaison	Mark B .	Newsletter Editor	Debbie K.

• President Elect, Ray M was not present so Vice President Elect, Tom C. took the gavel and immediately stepped up to the job by setting a date for the first board meeting of the year. Board meetings will be held regularly on the third Thursday of the month. The first board meeting this year will be Thursday, January 15th at 6:00 PM at the Graduate in SLO. The meeting place will be discussed at the first meeting. All members are welcome to attend the board meetings.

• Events Chairman Elect, Randy P, suggested that this month's weekend after run be a Pine Mountain Trail Check run. After brief discussion it was concluded that most of the members who wanted to participate could go on Sunday afternoon. The departure place for the Pine Mountain Trail run is Pintor's Station in Santa Margarita at 2:00 PM. For those coming from south county, meet at 3:00 PM in Pozo. Some trail maintenance may be necessary. Cindy reported that the Pozo Summit Road is undermined and therefore closed, but we will go over 5 points to Navajo Flats and up La Panza Road. You will not need an Adventure pass, as the rangers have indicated that one will not be needed if you are participating in an Adopt-A-Trail activity.

  Randy also asked for members' input on future runs after the meeting, but many did not want to wait till after the meeting to input! Tom C. indicated that a snow run should be in order. After discussing the Sierras, Mt. Abel, Big Bear and Hume, a tentative Bass Lake-Fish Camp area excursion was planned for February 21 & 22 with 10 people interested. Communicate with Tom on that one. Darlene suggested we go to Hunter Liggett and a tentative date of April 18th was set. Communicate with Darlene for Hunter Liggett. Several members are already signing up for the big Rubicon Jamboree on July 24, 25 & 26th of 1998. They are Mike & Sharon, Ray & Darlene, and Todd.

  Randy would like to see that we have at least one run a month planned two months ahead, so that we can have better turnout. If we have lead time, perhaps some of our newer and less active members will be able to participate more. Randy also indicated that we need to plan runs ahead so that no one is left out.

• Substitute Land Use Liaison, Randy P went to last month's CCORE meeting and reported that our two off-road rangers (who double as wilderness rangers) intend to keep our local trails open as much as possible. In the past the trails were closed most of the winter because they said they didn't have the staff or time to go out and open the gates. Mike B indicated that he intended to close the trails only when necessary. Watch for the signs posted on access roads. (There is one in Santa Margarita where 58 makes a 90 to the left going out of town.) You can also call the Santa Lucia Ranger District office at 805-925- 9538 for a 24 hour trail status report.

• As our new California Association of 4WD Clubs Inc. Liaison, Mark B indicated that he "will be hammering you to join." At the very least, you will know a lot more about it when he gets through. For your $40.00 membership fee, you receive a monthly copy of "IN GEAR" magazine which is packed full of great issues, run reports and sign ups, things for sale and land use stuff.

• Our Adopt-A-Trails were both found in good order this month.
  • Brian T reported some trees down on Pine Mountain Trail, and that there is a replacement table up near where the old one was, but farther down the road as the trees that shaded the old table were very unstable. Trail maintenance is planned on Sunday, January 11.
  • Jessie and Will reported that Garcia Ridge was in good shape, and the hard part by the rock was getting better. Jessie with his Marlin Crawler evidently made it look real easy. The trail is clean, but perhaps we could cut back the chaparral in some areas.

• Virtual Committee Co-Chair, Mark B said that the Web Page has been updated with new pictures and a few more links. He asked for a show of hands indicating how many had visited the site, and about half the members present raised their hands. Even some who don't own computers said they had seen it on friends' computers. Thank You to Jeff S. who is doing a great job maintaining the site. Great!

• Safety Clinic Chair, Randy P indicated that until we get incorporation and insurance we will put the safety clinic on the back burner and hope that we get enough support in the future to continue with plans.

• Tom C suggested that we set aside the Vehicle Show for the Board of Directors to discuss, and Todd P indicated that he would be interested in chairing that committee.

• Condor Representative, Cindy B will try to have information from the condor people by Friday so it will go in the newsletter.

• Avanette Z brought the big beautiful scrapbook for everyone to see. That is one of the highlights of the meeting for many of us. Ava thanked the contributors for labeling the pictures with names and dates and events and other details. It really helps make a tedious job a lot easier.

• Under Old Business, the check is written for incorporation, and the banner and answering system are both on the back burner.

• For the good of the club,
  • Will H has an annual Forest Adventure Pass for sale. He found out that you don't need to buy a second pass for your second vehicle.

  • Jessie said that Napa in Atascadero will give us a break on Optima batteries if we order together. So far, Jessie, Randy, David H and Dave D are interested. Get with Jessie if you want the best battery at a good price.

    Respectfully Submitted Kathleen P, Secretary

SLO 4-Wheeler Events '98

Randy P, Events Director

Events Goal: A minimum of one local run & one Club Run per month..

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As this info has been updated & expanded and has become its own page-Im referring you to the clubs on-line events calendar. Visit the Events page! ~yer webster

'89 Terry Tarus 26" trailer, '98 CA lic., good condition, includes hitch, 2 bunks, 2 twins, dbl sofa, self contained, separated bdrm and bath

'84 Yamaha 125 ATC Current Green Sticker Runs well

'81 Honda 70 ATC Current Green Sticker Runs well

'76 Honda 90 ATC Current Green Sticker, Runs well

Call Joe R or Cindy C for details or "look-see"

November's Beginner Run: (The South Park Loop, Panamint Valley,CA)
Inland Empire 4 Wheelers

Randy & Kathy, Frank, Hal did this loop about a month ago. The trail report below is from Inland Empire 4 Wheelers newsletter, and pretty much covers the South Park Loop. Randy P. would like to do this again early next year. Anyone interested please contact him for more info and details. A limited number of vehicles will be allowed, and advance commitment to this trek will be required. Randy P. SLO 4-Wheelers


Refer to your newsletter or Check out directly the trail report by Margie, Inland Empire 4 Wheelers for an idea of the suggested trip (and their cool web site).
https://www.off-road.com/~ie4w/panaminttrip.html , Inland Empire trip report

Edited for your web viewing pleasure.Omissions/errors due to editing happen. For actual content see The SLO 4-Wheeler newsletter and the Great job our new editor Debbie has done in its original format. As newsletters are added to this site note: they are for referral and interest - for actual notices/dates turn to your OFFICIAL SLO 4-Wheeler newsletter. Contact trailboss for event that your interested in. This has been a test.

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