Mud Season

[MDSRACING398]

I know everyone is wanting to get out but:

Mud season is here! Please read! We know that everyone- no matter what type of motorized recreation you choose- is really excited to get out and ride. Please be patient and wait for the proper trail conditions. Riding too early is damaging to the environment and to our landowner relations.

Trails are very sensitive to damage until they dry out, and we encourage no use until then. In keeping with our policies, if you insist on trail use before they are dry, check with the local town offices to verify if a trail is open or closed. If you are on the trail, you are responsible for knowing the legal status of the trail, regardless of what a friend may have told you.

Please educate others who do not understand that trails are being closed at an alarming rate, and it is our own fault.

Members need to understand that we are very serious when it comes to illegal trail access. If you do not know if a trail is legal or if you have been instructed it is not legal, assume it is not unless you can obtain definitive proof that it is. This includes trail braiding, or making your own trail off of established public trails. Often the immediate property is privately owned. This, along with the overuse of popular trails, is the number one reason of trail closures. We aim to fight this and educate those less informed.

Be patient! Riding season will come! Thanks everyone!

[Hoodoo Man]

Just to add that the class VI roads we tend to hit are also for the most part closed and in the spirit of tread lightly you should NOT try and take a trip north to "check them out" My camp in ME just got 6" of snow as did a lot of NH so just because the ground is clear in MA or parts south does not mean the ground has dried out or the trails are ready in NH or VT. I would encourage you to check out Tread lightly website and strongly consider taking the free online classes they offer.

General info:
https://www.treadlightly.org/support/jo ... d-lightly/
Online awareness course:
https://tread-lightly.teachable.com/

the last link also has a class geared for younger kids.

As the Tread Lightly club rep, I want to remind you of two things; one always stay on the trail, do not go around mud puddles if they are a part of the trail system, skirting the puddles makes the trail wider and can lead to serious erosion issues if there is a mud hole on a Class VI and the trail leader made it there is very little chance you will not make it as well. Secondly, I have seen a tendency for newer members to "Send it" through mud puddles to get their Jeeps extra muddy creating a large spray around the puddle and over the Jeep. This is also bad for the trails and your Jeep. Mud can over time clog the radiator causing premature failure or overheating (Ask the Jeep Rally how many people overheated on the way home after they mud runs) also the splashing tosses mud and sediment into your undercarriage, frame, u-joints, and brake pads. It can put extra sediment into nearby water which could be drinking water for local homeowners and also can damage the trial. Also, overly muddy jeeps make us look irresponsible to the general public as they see us as tearing it up. So, slow and steady with minimum wheel slip is the proper way to go through a puddle.

One other issue is the rule of three and done. Anyone that has been to Field and Forrest or Brookridege in the past few years has seen the obstacles get harder. If you did not make it the first three times look for the go-around, give someone else a chance and/or pull cable. there is no shame in winching or being winched over something. It helps ensure your winch gets exercised and keeps the gears from locking up as decorative winches tend to do, it also keeps the trail from being dug up. Trail overuse and over-aggressive driving tend to make a harder spot harder and eventually green trails become blue trails shutting out entry-level drivers.

[Marky]

eventually green trails become blue trails shutting out entry-level drivers.

We drove over one of those trails at Brookridge the other week!

[MDSRACING398]

The rest of this discussion has been moved to the Members Section.