ATVsToday.net
05-05-2009, 01:35 AM
©2009 by Del Albright, Use freely given by Permission Only, All Rights Reserved. Page 1
View from the Locked Gate
A bit of sarcasm about an access lesson
By Del & Stacie Albright, BlueRibbon Coalition
The gal in uniform with the big gun on her hip smiled and waved as she installed the recessed
pad lock on the gate. I guess she thought we were happy about the road being closed. Her
rugged 4x4 government‐bought pickup truck that was kinda parked in our view had all sorts of
signs and decals declaring she was a public servant. We figured it must be true.
She had sent us an official‐looking letter a while back asking for comments, but the fish were
a’bitin’ so we missed out on the letter‐writin’. We figured someone else would write those
darn letters. We figured wrong on all accounts.
It was a heck of a view we had – trees, rocks, trails, roads, wildlife, mountains, creeks, and vast
open areas beckoning to the adventurer in all of us. It’s easy to recall my Dad, Elmer, telling
stories of roaming this kind of back country area 40 years ago with the freedom of a jack rabbit
in the Mojave Desert. He always told us to get outdoors and have fun while taking care of the
land. He figured we would all have the same freedom. He figured wrong.
The ability, and most importantly the opportunity that my dad had to take his kids out and
teach us how to fish, hunt, hike, play and breathe in the fresh air is all but gone now. My mind
wanders off and I think of what can happen if we continue down this dangerous path of
management by closure.
Soon it will be just a happy memory of our nine year old when she was able to see nature, hike,
take pictures and jump in and out of our 4 wheel drive while we were on the hunt for a new
camp spot. Soon she will not have the opportunity to teach them the same lessons and family
traditions that came naturally and innocently in her youth to her tots.
Our view now is tainted, to say the least. Padlocks, iron pipe, closed signs, reinforced hinges,
and small‐print letting us know under no uncertain circumstances that the land beyond the gate
is CLOSED to access – unless of course you want to haul your buns in there via boot rubber.
Now, as I stand here watching that same gal in uniform jump back into her four wheel drive
(that I paid for) and drive on down my old favorite trail I get a lump in my throat and I get a
little teary eyed just thinking about the view our kids are going to have from this same locked
gate that’s in my backyard. I don’t think I’m figuring wrong anymore.
Article: View from Locked Gate
Back to the future: in reality, there are things we can all do to prevent this (sarcastic) scenario
from happening. You’ve read tons of articles on getting involved, joining groups like
BlueRibbon Coalition, and ensuring your family and friends have a place to ride. Just do it. Visit
www.delalbright.com and www.sharetrails.org for more things you can do right now. Make a
difference and help prevent closures from blocking our “view” any more. Join up, donate and
get in the game. Please, before we have nothing left to figure on...
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public lands
and waters, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual
members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000
recreationists nationwide. 1‐800‐258‐3742. http://www.sharetrails.org
View from the Locked Gate
A bit of sarcasm about an access lesson
By Del & Stacie Albright, BlueRibbon Coalition
The gal in uniform with the big gun on her hip smiled and waved as she installed the recessed
pad lock on the gate. I guess she thought we were happy about the road being closed. Her
rugged 4x4 government‐bought pickup truck that was kinda parked in our view had all sorts of
signs and decals declaring she was a public servant. We figured it must be true.
She had sent us an official‐looking letter a while back asking for comments, but the fish were
a’bitin’ so we missed out on the letter‐writin’. We figured someone else would write those
darn letters. We figured wrong on all accounts.
It was a heck of a view we had – trees, rocks, trails, roads, wildlife, mountains, creeks, and vast
open areas beckoning to the adventurer in all of us. It’s easy to recall my Dad, Elmer, telling
stories of roaming this kind of back country area 40 years ago with the freedom of a jack rabbit
in the Mojave Desert. He always told us to get outdoors and have fun while taking care of the
land. He figured we would all have the same freedom. He figured wrong.
The ability, and most importantly the opportunity that my dad had to take his kids out and
teach us how to fish, hunt, hike, play and breathe in the fresh air is all but gone now. My mind
wanders off and I think of what can happen if we continue down this dangerous path of
management by closure.
Soon it will be just a happy memory of our nine year old when she was able to see nature, hike,
take pictures and jump in and out of our 4 wheel drive while we were on the hunt for a new
camp spot. Soon she will not have the opportunity to teach them the same lessons and family
traditions that came naturally and innocently in her youth to her tots.
Our view now is tainted, to say the least. Padlocks, iron pipe, closed signs, reinforced hinges,
and small‐print letting us know under no uncertain circumstances that the land beyond the gate
is CLOSED to access – unless of course you want to haul your buns in there via boot rubber.
Now, as I stand here watching that same gal in uniform jump back into her four wheel drive
(that I paid for) and drive on down my old favorite trail I get a lump in my throat and I get a
little teary eyed just thinking about the view our kids are going to have from this same locked
gate that’s in my backyard. I don’t think I’m figuring wrong anymore.
Article: View from Locked Gate
Back to the future: in reality, there are things we can all do to prevent this (sarcastic) scenario
from happening. You’ve read tons of articles on getting involved, joining groups like
BlueRibbon Coalition, and ensuring your family and friends have a place to ride. Just do it. Visit
www.delalbright.com and www.sharetrails.org for more things you can do right now. Make a
difference and help prevent closures from blocking our “view” any more. Join up, donate and
get in the game. Please, before we have nothing left to figure on...
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public lands
and waters, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual
members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000
recreationists nationwide. 1‐800‐258‐3742. http://www.sharetrails.org