Land of Many Uses

Off Season work is under way on the OHV trails system. NC Forest Supervisor Marisue Hilliard was in the Forest a few weeks ago to check out and approve plans and projects that Ranger Walker and her team at Uwharrie have in mind for this year and beyond.

Contract work funded by RTP funds (Recreational Trails Program, the RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund) is underway. Heavy equipment is being used to grade and fill some of the chronic problem areas such as the mud holes on Rock Mountain Loop closest to the double parking lot and the erosion taking place coming down to FS 553 from the Rocky Mountain Loop/Sawmill junction. The major erosion that has occurred in this latter section has caused several illegal bypasses to be created, which on that extremely steep slope is causing even more erosion. PLEASE. Stay on marked trails and practice Tread Lightly principles.

Off Season also provides an opportunity for Adopt-A-Trail clubs to do specific work on their trails such as repairing the corduroy (log) bridges, repairing fencing, erecting illegal bypass barricades and cleaning silt traps. CTB, C.O.R.E., Palmetto Jeep Club, CNC and other Adopt-A-Trail member clubs are hard at work, in conjunction with the Forest Service to repair and prepare the OHV trails for the 2010 season.

The OHV season workday schedule is now being firmed up. Ranger Walker is planning for the 3rd Saturday of the month, May thru October, to be general FS workdays. While some actual maintenance issues such as fence/guardrail repair, silt trap clean out may take place on these workdays, more often trash pickup and general maintenance will be on the schedule. The OHV season produces some of the heaviest traffic in the Forest and with that comes trash. Unfortunately too many of our fellow users of the OHV trails do not take out all they pack in and during heavy use months this can build up quickly. We can do our part in keeping Uwharrie clean by attending these workdays as well as by taking the time to fill a bag or two anytime we are on the Forest OHV trails.

The FS filed RTP requests this year (January 2010) for funding to EXPAND the OHV trail mileage at Uwharrie. This is a HUGE boost for the morale of NC 4wd enthusiasts, especially in light of the recent closure of the Upper Tellico OHV area. If funding is approved, the expansion process would probably be a 2-3 year project. 2010 – Funding request and approval, 2011 – Survey and trail layout, 2012 – Construction and opening.

Several of the trails in the OHV area are being surveyed during this off season for re-routing. Daniel Trail and Sawmill Trail have several areas where the trail is too close to sensitive environmental or archeological sites and re-routing options are being studied. Also, several illegal bypasses on Sawmill Trail are damaging sensitive environmental areas. These illegal bypasses are being closed by Sawmill Trail Adopt-A-Trail partner clubs Carolina Trail Blazers and Palmetto Jeep Club. Some re-routes on Daniel are also being looked at but will probably not take place until next year. Again, PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS and practice Tread Lightly principles. That one time that you “couldn’t make it”, “went around someone”, “just wanted to see if your rig could make it”, “it was too wet”, “it was too muddy”, etc, is just more ammunition for those intent on closing all or parts of our trails.

Badin Lake Group Camp, the site of CTBs Fun Caravan for years is being improved. Contracts have been let for the shower house which will add two showers as well as flush toilets to the facility. Funding for this project is coming directly from OHV trail user fees. When riding in the Forest, PLEASE make sure to purchase your permit. The more we ride and the more permits we buy; the more money is available for these types of improvements.

Plans are in place to construct two actual bridges in the OHV area. One is being planned for Dickey Bell Trail at the Green Gap Road creek crossing. The other is being planned for Dutch John Trail. While these bridges may be unsightly from the 4wd enthusiast perspective and will take some of the fun and challenge away from these two creek crossings, the district Ranger, who at this time is sympathetic to 4wd interests, feels that this is preferable to closure and or re-routes of these trails.

The 2010 OHV Season is almost on us. Trails will open Thursday, April 1st and will close Wednesday, December 15th. Trail permit fees will remain unchanged from 2009. Daily use fees are $5 and yearly permits are $30 and are available at The Eldorado Outpost as well as other local merchants.