Stewards of the Seqouia National Forest Info

[KTMrad 508]

Here is some excellent news to start your New Year. The Sequoia National Forest Supervisor Tina Terrel recently released the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Greenhorn, Breckenridge and Lake Isabella route designation plan which has been in the works since 2005. I am pleased to say that she has chosen Modified Alternative 3, which her staff created due in large part to the efforts of Stewards of the Sequoia. Our substantive comments showed why more roads and trails need to be kept open.

The chosen Alternative designates most roads and trails, as well as allowing continued Lakeside Access for fishing, camping and boating, while still meeting the guidelines for species, habitat and watershed protection. I am truly pleased that Stewards has helped the Sequoia Forest staff to provide an excellent road and trail system while still meeting all the environmental requirements.

However there are still a number of problems with the ROD which will require filing an appeal, such as:

The Fixed Date Seasonal Snow Closure from 12/31 to 4/15 on mid and high elevation roads and trails, even though the frost season varies by 90 days a year. This means they want to close the trails even though there may not be any snow on them. The Seasonal Closure will discourage recreation at what is often the best time of the year with no dust, cool temperatures and excellent trail conditions.

A number of important roads will be closed due to Condor or other requirements and they will close two short single tracks Manzanita Trail U00421and the last part of Portuguese Pass 31E59.

Some of the Lake Isabella Recreation areas do not all go down to low water so those areas need to be extended to allow traditional lakeside access.

At this time over 81% of Stewards members have let their donation expire or have not yet made a donation. It is amazing what Stewards is accomplishing with almost no gas in the tank. Randy your membership donation of 40.0 expired on 2008-02-27. Please consider making a donation to help enable Stewards to file an appeal on these and other issues to protect your recreation interests.

TWO MINUTES TO HELP SAVE REMINGTON HOT SPRINGS

The Forest Service is considering demolishing Remington Hot Springs due to apparent misinformation. Please take two minutes to send a letter to the Forest Service voicing your support to keep the Hot Springs open.

http://www.savethetrails.us/Default.aspx?PetitionID=42

SSFTA TEAMS UP WITH STEWARDS ON KERN CANYON TRAIL

Do you love the Kern Canyon trail. Then come out as Stewards work alongside the Southern SIerra Fat Tire Association Mountain Bike Club on 1/9/2010. At this time we only have two volunteers from Stewards. Let's not let the SSFTA folks think we are slouches!! Come on out and help. The weather should be perfect.

http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/events-schedule.html

TRAIL APPRECIATION AWARD WINNERS

Every day you work on the trails earns you a ticket for great awards.

A Big Thank you to the great shops that provided $1200 in prizes:

Fred Cummings Motorsports $150 in Gift Certificates

CycleSmiths of Kernville $150 in Gift Certificates

Trail Tricks $900 in Suspension Service

RIDERS SEEK MORE RIDING THE WRONG WAY

There are a number of riders who want more trails, but instead of working within the current planning process they are just riding from a new camp spot they have found and created a maze of trails around the camp and up Mayan Peak next to Kelso Valley Road about 9/10's of a mile east of the junction of Piute Mountain Road and Kelso Valley Road. If you know the people who are doing this please ask them to stop. Their actions are only providing ammunition to the closure activists and harming our efforts to keep existing trails from being closed.

FOREST SERVICE PROPOSES ELIMINATION OF SENIOR/DISABLED DISCOUNT

That's right Senior Citizens and the Disabled may lose the 50% discount when camping on Forest Service Lands. Congress has been increasing funding to the National Forest almost every year, at the same time the Forest Service has instituted new fees and increased fees. Now they want to charge Seniors and the Disabled more too. Many of these folks are on fixed incomes and cannot afford to pay more to visit their public lands.

Stewards will be submitting a comment on behalf of our members opposing this. You can submit a comment too

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/hom...900006480a60f36

IMPORTANT ISSUES STEWARDS ARE WORKING ON:

STEWARDS TELLS THE FOREST SERVICE HOW TO MAKE A BETTER TRAIL PLAN

http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/ALERT-FEIS...lanComment.html

STEWARDS HELPS RESTORE TROUT STOCKING IN THE KERN RIVER

http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/ALERT-TroutStockingBan.html

PIUTE REFORESTATION PROPOSED CLOSURES

http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/ALERT-Piut...estoration.html

STATE WATER BOARD CONCERNS ABOUT OHV USE AND LAKE ISABELLA PUBLIC USE

http://www.stewardsofthesequoia.org/PDF/St...terPlan2009.pdf

TIPS FROM THE TRAIL

Pirelli MT43 with 600 miles

THE ULTIMATE TRAIL TIRE-MT43

These tires not only make everything easier to ride, they are also far easier on the trail compared to traditional knobbies. The Pirelli MT43 is also easy on your wallet since it lasts at least twice as long as a knobby. I have gotten over two thousand five hundred miles of hard riding on one and it is still going. Unlike other Trials tires they work as well on pavement as they do on trails. Try one out. You will not regret it and the trails will thank you.

Read More at http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/Ultimate_trail_tire.html

ARNICA MONTANA THE MIRACLE CURE

Whether trail riding, mountain biking or enjoying other activities someone inevitably gets a bit banged up. A long time ago I was turned onto the Arnica Montana pill, which vastly reduces swelling and bruising so the injury can heal more quickly. The pill is made from the tincture of Arnica Montana flowers and has no side effects I am aware of. They need to be taken as soon after the injury as possible for maximum effect. Better yet is to take them before the activity, although I never have. As soon as possible after an injury I take four of the little pills and let them dissolve under my tongue, then two pills fifteen minutes later, then two half hour later and then two every hour for the next couple of hours.

It has worked great for me. I carry them in my fanny pack. You can buy Arnica Montana pills at the health food store. They come in a very small tube like a chapstick for less than $10. The ones in the large bottle are softer like baby aspirin, and do not survive being taken along on the trail.

[dsfox 0]

got this email yesterday also, and was going to post (I do keep up with them because I love the kern river area)..I need to send them my membership $...but I always send the emails and letters they request..