CORVA

[Socaldualer 0]

Have not been here in a while and just looking for some input.

Im a recent life time member of CORVA and i was wondering if anyone had some honest feedback about them. I am well aware the constant fight against the incessant regulations is very demanding of ones time and efforts and i have tremendous respect for all of those that try and keep our land-trails-gates open.

I have had very few dealings with them and i have no axe to grind. Ive spoken to Ed Stovin and a few others and was just looking for some opinions concerning CORVA's effectiveness-communication with them-just an overall opinion of how you feel they are doing and if you are a member etc..

Background- i mainly ride up Hwy 74 in Orange County in the Cleveland National Forest area up on Divide Trail-Maple Springs-Silverado Canyon as far north to Sierra Peak overlooking the 91 into Chino. Came across an infamous gate/trail called Skyline in a neighberhood in Corona and it pissed me off enough to at least become a member and look into the matter to support our riding/access rights. Im looking into whose gate is it etc... My local USFS ranger gave me the brushoff-shocking as it were-and basically said its not their gate its Riverside County. Calls to Riverside county pointed the finger right back to USFS. I can see you smiling and nodding your heads from here-sounds like standard operating procedure....

Anyway thanks for taking the time to read and i look forward to your comments and opinions.

Jon

 

 

[Bp619 104]

No idea about corva but the gate situation sounds exactly like all the locked gates down here everyone points fingers or a prive property or business owns 50yards of trail conveniently blocks off tons of trails, plus the border patrol makes them shuts gates for illegal activity and call it close for public safety

[Sneeker 29]

Too many people man...  urban encroachment, knuckleheads, partiers.  The last paragraph on the page sums it up.

http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/Skyline_Drive_(Cleveland_National_Forest)

[KTMrad 508]

CORVA is a great group to support, I and SDAR have supported them for years, gone to seminars and events with them, a protest years ago up in Idyllwild against the CBD, etc...Amy Granat and the folks at CORVA do so much to fight for us.

I recommend you join them, get their newsletter and stay informed about issues...not enough people do.

[Socaldualer 0]

Thanks for the input gents.

I agree Randy, Amy seems like a great lady and a great source of info-i particularly liked her no nonsense reply to my locked Skyline Gate dilemna "well, if its nobodys gate just cut the lock and open it, if its no-ones than it must be illegal!..."  HAHA!

We had a long conversation and its seems to me CORVA is like so many other great groups out there that are for great causes and basically run on donations, are under-funded but just keep plugging away in a David vs. Goliath way except i dont see any heads being lopped off. She actually said something that was very insightful and really smart about CORVA keeping up with the times especially with social media (Spoiler alert-look for a CORVA Instagram account soon...) She said, " everyone posts pics of their vehicles, and unfortunately not always in the best way",  ie...in front of a locked gate proclaiming how they went around it, or on top of bushes or in just a way that shows a little too much trampling of the environment, and she continued,"we need to show more of the incredible environment our vehicles take us to..." I thought that was pretty smart. In other words no we dont have to be a bunch of ass-kissers submissively bowing to the likes of Sierra Clubbers or NRDC zealots, but if we change our message to reflect how much we enjoy, protect,and value these spaces instead of our apparent glee in allegedly destroying them, we may be more successful in our goal of preserving access to those places.

Its a different world out there than back in the 70's when i was shredding all over the desert with friends and family, and if we want a seat at the legislative table, as much as id have to restrain myself from leaping over it and slapping the Feinsteins and Browns etc.., we have to get an invitation.

Its of course a much more nuanced and complicated issue and im speaking in generalities but i think most of us older guys/gals on here know its true.

I also unfortunately have to agree with your last line-ive gotten in the habit of riding with a few CORVA stickers in my bag and as i chat with new people i meet on the trails i drop a quick mention. It dosent take a whole lot to support and you can donate on their website, snag a cool Cal-Trans Orange shirt and slap a sticker on your ride(s). Much like surfing being out on the trails and riding is like therapy and unlike the Psycho/couch kind, its cheaper and a helluva lot more fun...

Ill try to hop on once in a while and provide some updates on the Skyline gate issue, i know Randy and some others are well known and rightfully respected here at SDAR and are more knowledeable about CORVA and related issues and ill leave the big updates to them, theres another gate called Blackstar Canyone here in the OC that, with any Skyline gate success, i may tackle next.

Hope everyone has a great weekend of riding.

 

[Socaldualer 0]

FYI-just launched for those on Instagram is a new CORVA account-check it out and follow and tag corva and please consider becoming a member.

c.o.r.v.a is the name of the account-tried to get all capital or just corva with no periods but it was taken.