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The View
from the Presidents Handlebars Being Canadian means having to tolerate the winter blues and remaining creative as how to pass time during those dark months. There comes a time when the snow pack forces one to put the wheels away and bring out the skis. In our house that also involves those skis without a motor. Yes, the cross country skis. Still being in close contact with my friends from the years of invincible youth, when we did countless trips into the mountain backcountry, it is again time to strap on the old Norwegian Hickories. A trip up into the Sovereign Lake ski trails outside of Vernon is in order during a midwinter visit with high school buddy, Ken Francis. Equipped with mostly the equipment we grew up with, Ken’s brother Dave and Paul Brown, an other old friend, we were able to cause a stir in the parking lot as folks marveled at skis made of wood, poles of bamboo and boots of leather. The 10 kilometers we skied on perfectly groomed trails were nothing compared to what can be covered with snowmobiles or quads, but the physical after effects were just as noticeable. Winter isn’t over and more choices will be made on how to occupy ones time during winter. The annual event known as the January thaw has settled in and the Chinook winds are killing the snow pack. The choice of taking out the quad or the sled can be a daunting task. Such was the decision to be made when packing to head down to the Alberta Snowmobile Association 2005 Jamboree in Crowsnest Pass. Reports coming from the Pass are there is no snow around town and ice at elevation. The weather forecast is for mega snow to arrive in time. The gamble is a sled. Outfitted with a 2005 Yamaha RX-1 from my local dealer, Phil Wilde of Mountains Edge Yamaha in Sundre, I’m putting much faith in the weather prognosticator. My trip starts out promising enough, with a healthy snow fall happening at my home in Sundre when I leave. This slowly changes to rain as I pass around Calgary and gives way to the rolling snowless grasslands of the southeast slopes heading into the Pass. No Snow. Did I make the wrong choice of machine? A snow dance was in order. As the Jamboree festivities began Friday night the snow began to fall and continued through the next day. Our guide for the weekend, Trevor French, selected the ‘Pipeline’ through Corbin as our ride. The hope is the Pipeline will be the best snow and we were not disappointed. Day One with heavy snowfall presenting all the challenges he land trust) becomes the full owner of the property, both the land and development rights (use). Presto, this non-profit, non-tax paying entity is now legally free to develop subdivisions, timber harvesting, lumber mills, mining, oil drilling, and on and on. All of this under their non-profit status, paying no taxes. Or it may be sold to the federal government for a nifty, usually exorbitant, sum thus funneling more tax dollars into further such operations. Sadly the idealistic, worthy causes you had envisioned through the land trust, such as environmental protection, habitat for wildlife, open space, rural living, protection against urban sprawl, will no longer exist except as required and enforced by federal restrictions and regulations. It is imperative that you read the core contract terms established by your land trust and compare that with others. Note any open ended language leaving room for question of meaning and interpretation. Do you feel secure covering all expenses on the land itself: taxes, insurance, maintenance, and including costs of complying with environmental regulations, existing and future, known and unknown? Will revenues from restricted land uses specified in your agreement be sufficient to meet ongoing expenses? Will your heirs be able to handle them whether or not they live on the land, and in spite of changing financial and economic conditions? Note also, that the only obligation of the land trust is that of monitoring, managing and supervising the land owner, to assure adherence to commitments. Differences of opinion concerning interpretation of contract terms may lead you to consider settlement in court. Unfortunately you, the owner of the land, are committed to bearing all court costs if you lose, which in all likelihood you will. The opposition is assured of very high priced attorneys. Furthermore, if they decide you are not adequately meeting your specified obligations they can take you to court, with the monetary backing to outspend you and your defense. You and your successors are "stuck" . . forever. And if your current friendly land trust shows too much leniency, another more demanding third party agency can buy out their development rights and rule with a firmer hand. Financing thus generated re-circulates into buyouts of other non-suspecting property owners. The term, "perpetuity", is difficult to comprehend. You may be thinking in terms of living on your place until you die, then the "kids" can do with it what they want. Unfortunately with your signature they, and all future generations and any future buyers, will be locked into your decisions and the contract you have signed. Saddled with an encumbrance they cannot afford, along with meeting ongoing time-consuming commitments, your heirs may be forced to walk away, default on taxes or sell at a great loss to the land trust or the federal government. In essence, you have disposed of their inheritance. Even the County may consider it a liability should it fall back to them. Will it be worth the dollars you are offered to relinquish your full property rights: first the use and ultimately the land? You can accomplish noble causes in the interests of the environment, wildlife, and rural lifestyle, without succumbing to the emotional, idealistic sales pitch of land trust sales personnel. In spite of their claims, their interests undoubtedly go far beyond those being presented to you. Your perceived goals and objectives are not theirs. Do yourself a favor and carefully investigate what you are about to do. Our country is now experiencing a third major shift of land ownership, its uses, resources and wealth; transferring away from private property ownership and into the hands of government and large non-profit organizations. Only two other events in history were of equal significance: the railroad land acquisition of the nation’s early days and the Homestead Act. The current episode could constitute a complete change in our form of government which, through the Constitution, is founded upon private property rights of citizens. From this we derive our freedoms and our way of life. The current appeal is innocuous, the tactics subtle, the results inevitable, unless property owners awaken and resist the poison bait. Hopefully our government and legal system, in the interests of our citizens can, in sufficient time, develop protective measures to control and overcome this threatening land grab scheme. Meanwhile we must depend upon caution, restraint and common sense of informed property owners. Respectfully submitted, Clarice Ryan |
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Clearwater
Trail Initiative Continues Toward Success
One of the greatest challenges has been building a process on the fly. Since there has never been any program like this in the province, there is little experience to draw from. Governmental approval streams, planning processes, communications and education plans are all being defined. Most importantly the Initiative cannot get bogged down in process thus preventing real work getting to the ground. The volunteer is held in the highest regard and the most valuable asset. The process must work to enable volunteer success. Recent successes experienced to date include:
Plans for the upcoming year include:
Information on the Fall Creek Plan can be found at www.westcountryaccess.ca/projects.htm. The group remains enthusiastic and energetic. With the benefits of this initiative becoming more apparent, hopes are that other regions will follow the lead and seek out the opportunities that are ever present. C. Rakach CFRTI Chair |
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Dual-Sport Bikes Allowed in Bighorn During the initial phases of implementing the Bighorn Backcountry Management Plan, definitions for accepted vehicles where being put in place. The plan was very specific on the areas where ‘On-Highway’ vehicles were being permitted and definitions of what an ‘Off-Highway’ vehicle were being developed. Much of the focus was on what an OHV (ATV) was and the class of bikes known as Dual Sport bikes was over looked. A Dual Sport bike is one that is licensed to drive on the highways but has off road capabilities. Because the plan had extensive restrictions on ‘on-highway’ vehicles, technically this included Dual Sports. In the summer of 2004, Calvin Rakach, President of AOHVA made a presentation on behalf of Ben Wall, AOHVA Treasurer, request an administrative change to the regulation. The case presented brought forward that by the simple nature of Dual Sport Bikes already having insurance, registration, less intrusive universal tires, lights and other street legal equipment, these types of bikes would be more desirable then current accepted off-road vehicles. Despite fears that the backcountry will be over run with Harleys and Gold Wings, in February of 2005, the recommendation to change the regulation was accepted by the Steering Committee. Dual Sport bikes are now legally permitted in the Bighorn Backcountry. |
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Basic Training for Life (Rules for Recreationists) By Del Albright, Blue-Ribbon Ambassador Does it seem to you that not all recreationists follow the same rules? Have you ever encountered an angry land owner upset with someone who did not close his gates? Have you ever had a loaned piece of equipment returned to you broken? Can you recall meeting an inconsiderate trail user? Are you tired of picking up after others? I'm sure you answered yes to most of these questions because these things are common in our sports. In my opinion, these things need to stop! Well, I have some suggestions that might help. In fact, I'd like to share with you these rules of life I found the other day posted in an RV park. I think if we all followed these, we might find our lives and our recreational pursuits in better shape. Check these out. Basic Training for Life: 1. If you open it, CLOSE IT. 2. If you turn it on, TURN IT OFF. 3. If you unlock it, LOCK IT. 4. If you break it, FIX IT. 5. If you can't fix it, CALL SOMEONE WHO CAN. 6. If you borrow it, RETURN IT. 7. If you use it, TAKE CARE OF IT 8. If you make a mess, CLEAN IT UP. 9. If you move it, PUT IT BACK. 10. If it belongs to someone else, GET PERMISSION TO USE IT. 12. If you don't know how to operate it, READ THE DIRECTIONS or DON’T MESS WITH IT. 13. If it doesn't concern you, DON'T MESS WITH IT. I don't know who made this list up, but I do know that many of these rules make sense to me. I can clearly remember my folks laying some of these rules on me as I was growing up. It had a lot to do with manners also. Seems like we spent more time learning manners in those days.... Some of my readers have complained to me about the need for rules on the trail. They ask: "what happened to the days of just going out in the woods to get away from it all and have a good time?" I answer: "They're gone." Yes, it's too bad that we've had to take more and more rules to the trails. But it's a fact. There are too many of us out there enjoying the great outdoors not to have rules. Besides, some folks just don't behave well unless there is a punishment for being bad. It takes rules to make that happen. You might ask, "What happened to common sense, Del?" I would answer, "It's mostly gone too." I say that because there seems to be little left of commonality in our busy lives these days. Diversity, freedom of choice, hundreds of cultural blendings, cyberspace, and so on have elevated our society into one of many choices and many different approaches to life -- which is good, right? Well, maybe not on our trails and lands... In order to keep our trails and lands open, we need to follow the rules that will keep our opponents off our backs and our friendly supporters (politicians) out of trouble. In order to do that, we have to develop the rules we can live by. We have to follow them; and we have to enforce them. So what else can we do? Here are my suggestions from what I've learned around the country in my BlueRibbon Ambassador travels. If your association or club has a code of ethics, learn them and live by them. If you don't have a code, develop one. Make up laminated cards of your code and make all members carry one, or post them on your rig where you can see them. Print out this list of Basic Training for Life and adapt it to your area. Make it part of your code. Put your code on the back of your business cards and club flyers. Post your code where you recreate. Make it part of your daily recreational life. If you have kids, teach them these or similar rules and make ethics part of the common sense you'd like them to have. Explain to them how this will help keep our lands and trails open in the future. In the leadership training course I offer, as well as in the Strategic Planning I help folks with, I emphasize the importance of having an organizational Mission, Vision and Values. Now I think I will add Code of Ethics to that list. I think we need more of them. I believe this will help us instill a feeling of stewardship towards our lands and trails, as well as our recreation. Heck, maybe it will just plain help re-instill those things we used to call common sense, courtesy, manners and respect for others. Hopefully, it will go a long ways towards keeping our lands and trails open well into the future for all of us to enjoy. Here's a final Basic Training for Life rule I made up myself that I'll leave you with: 14. If you want something to change, ACT NOW -- CHANGE IT! |
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Here is a good news story Can we make this happen in Alberta? "Sports Club Forms Ontario’s First ATV Assisted Search and Rescue Organization in Ontario" A tiny hamlet in Caledon Ontario is home to Ontario’s first civilian ATV assisted search and rescue organization. Its inception began with a local sports group, the Hills Riders, which is located in Palgrave. It is a quaint area surrounded by the beauty of mystic landscape of natural habitat, a rich heritage of early settlers, and is home to residents that appreciate living in rural solidarity. Hills Riders is comprised of neighbors in this tightly woven community, who own ATV machines and formed an official group in order to spend their leisure time outdoors enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the area. It was under this premise that the inception of the Ontario ATV Search and Rescue federation (O-ATV-SARF) came to fruition. A single missing person’s case, the disappearance of Randy Mogridge 46, who wandered from Oaklands Regional centre on October 24th 2004, prompted the group to respond. "We had all read about this case and got to talking amongst ourselves and wanted to do something to help," says John Penny team leader of O-ATV-SARF. Each of the members has collectively been riding and perfecting the use of ATV machines for many years and decided to contact law enforcement and volunteer their assistance. ATV’s are an invaluable tool that can be used in assisting with ground search and rescue operations. They can go into areas that are not easily accessed by foot searches alone and can cover vast areas in a short period of time. Randy Mogridge was eventually found in a creek not far from where he went missing. This initial search had a profound effect on this group. They met with family and friends of the missing man and came to realize that there is a real need to provide this service to all residents and law enforcement agencies throughout the province of Ontario. John Penny, one of the members of the original Hills Riders Club, legally formed the Ontario ATV Search and Rescue Federation as a not for profit organization. Its mission is to offer trained volunteers that are utilized by law enforcement agencies in ATV assisted search and rescue operations within the province of Ontario. Members of this organization are completing their training in standard first aid and basic rescuer CPR. These courses are recognized and approved by the Heart and Stroke foundation and WSIB. Some of its members are traveling to the United States to receive additional training in ATV search and rescue procedures. Maroun Ackkar, trainer for the group says "we are creating an environment that teaches successful delivery of care to missing persons. These programs offer our membership the confidence and tools to go on these searches fully equipped and educated as first aiders and we are the first search and rescue organization to have an automatic external defibrillator (AED) for use in the field." The group is comprised of several board members that assist the ground search teams by implementing policies, procedures, and protocols to allow them to deliver assistance to law enforcement agencies that require additional support in the field. "We are forming alliances with groups outside of our own that will enable us to fulfill our promise to every community in the province, "says John Penny. "We recently had a meeting with members of the Ontario Provincial Police, Field & Traffic Support Bureau to share our interest in providing ground support to search & rescue incidents managed by the OPP. As a result of the positive discussions, we will be following up our initiative with the Ontario Search & Rescue Volunteer Association which has a Memorandum of Understanding to provide ground search assistance to the OPP. We are also working closely with the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle clubs whose membership is comprised of 1000 ATV enthusiasts, who are strategically located throughout the Province. Many of these members are interested in volunteering their time in future ground searches." Two hundred and forty police officers are currently active in full time search and rescue with the Ontario Provincial Police. They require credible groups to assist them in ground search and rescue operations for the hundreds of citizens that go missing each year. Many of them are children and the elderly especially with an aging population and Alzheimer’s being one of the key components. "It is a job that cannot be compared to any other. Looking for a missing person is a classic mystery that ignites every police officers heart" says Don Webster Sergeant Field and Traffic Support Bureau – OPP. What job can you go to in this world where you can save a life? That is a strong motivator as a search practitioner and all we want in the end is to save a life." The Ontario ATV Search and Rescue Federation’s motto is "Lending Our Support" and it’s this statement that propels this group into their future endeavor of providing a level of care and commitment to making a difference to a life; a life that was lost and somehow will be found. It’s an epiphany that stems from a basic humanitarian need of extending ones self unto another in a world that is wrought with conflict but somehow and somewhere each of us can make a small difference. It is an instinctual humanitarian desire to aid a fellow man in need of assistance. It is a calling that must be answered, it’s innate, and it exists within us all. For further information on this group and to find out how you can lend your support you can contact Mr. John Penny at johnpenny@oatvsarf or visit their website at www.oatvsarf.org Lori Lecki |
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The Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association - Working to Keep You Riding Please support those who support the AOHVA. |
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