Back in 2008, my buddy Del Albright and I were attempting to do an all-dirt Jeep trip from the Mexican border to the 49th parallel, the Canadian border. We deemed it Border 2 Border, and while searching for an old mining road that led into Joshua Tree National Park, we came face-to-face with tactile evidence of a crime scene. Before us were the desiccated remains of dreams … campers, dogs, campfires, bicycles, and Jeeps unceremoniously expunged from the future. We stared at a locked gate with an oxidized sheet of metal welded to it. There were graphics of the aforementioned victims, alone with a tent and rifle, each with a big red slash line across them.
In the previous issue (Tread January/February 2021), “Backcountry Conservation” discussed the importance of proper trail protocol and being responsible stewards of our natural resources. But during the last 40 years, millions of acres of public lands have been closed to OHV use and millions more are in the crosshairs of the anti-access crowd (AAC). So, the question begs, how do we combat a well-organized, well-funded, and legislatively connected foe? How do we ensure access for our kids, for future generations?