Off Road Ethical Question

[ksneubec]

So I've got an ethical question for you-

I have an unimproved road in town which, while too short, makes for a fun, muddy off-roading. It ends by merging into a trail underneath high-power lines.
Now, I can only assume it is technically illegal to go wheelin' on the high power line trail, especially since other sections are closed off from maintained roads by locked gates. I guess the first part of the question is, should I even be using this power-company trail?

Second part, and really what I am concerned with, is this: I can travel about 3/4 mile down the trail with minimal problem (once I get my rock sliders installed- see the photos in the gallery section ), but once I reach this point in the trail it considerably narrows down, although it keeps going. It is certainly driveable, but the shrubbery and branches on the sides of the trail would clearly leave many deep scratches. At this point in the power-line trail it has actually doubled back so it has an unimproved road a few hundred yards away on one side (without any houses on it) and open fields on the other side. In other words, it is well-isolated, away from anyone who would potentially be bothered by me off roading back there, or anyone who would notice if I took a hedge cutter or a small saw back there to trim things up so I could keep going. I bet that snowmobiles and ATVs go back there, but I doubt a truck has been back there in many years. The only other locals I know who go wheelin' told me, before I tried going back there, that no one could ever do it (nice to see my 4Runner can go where there Jeeps can't ). So if I were to widen the trail, I doubt anyone else would go back there and really tear up the area.

So what do you guys think? East Coast off roading is limited where I am, and it would be nice to be able to expand this area since it is so close to home. All I really want to do is just a little trimming- the trail is already there . . . . what do you guys think?

 

[Boaz]

My rule of thumb on wheelin spots..

If a local told you about it, than its probably a cool place to wheel.

Anytime I have had contact with the law while wheeling in spots like you described, I was just told to move it along. If they don't post signs how are you supposed to know? If the land owner doesnt' put up signs and maintain the land ... who cares?
I know it sounds kinda dick, but if they cared about the land there would be gates and no trespassing signs cleary lining the property.

But if the locals are wheelin it, its more than likely been reconned and no signs of law around to bust you.

I have delt with police in wheelin spots before. I just tell them what I was doing. "Officer, I saw this trail and I wanted to check it out... you know get a little mud on my new tires." I was always honest with them. They always just tell me to go somewhere else. I usually point out that I didn' t see any clearly marked no tresspassing signs.

As far as triming the trees... that might be a bit anal!! I am pretty proud of my wheelin scars on my rig. I have a few long scratches from trail side brush. They buff out , no biggie.. but thats just me.

Boaz...

 

[fourwd1]

If you don't have permission from the OWNER, you don't belong there, PERIOD.

It's the trespassing, I probably won't get caught, everyone else does it attitude that gets the bad publicity for the rest of the responsible 4wheelers and gets legit trails closed down. Just because there are no No Trespassing signs doesn't mean it's OK.

Just by asking this question you know you don't belong there.

 

[HuntRunner]

Every situation is different but generaly one should always get permission to use private property! Just because there are no signs up does not mean it is ok. A lot of times, signs could have been posted; then people get mad and tear them down.
Asking goes a long ways.....It is just a matter of respect.

 

[ksneubec]

If you don't have permission from the OWNER, you don't belong there, PERIOD.

It's the trespassing, I probably won't get caught, everyone else does it attitude that gets the bad publicity for the rest of the responsible 4wheelers and gets legit trails closed down. Just because there are no No Trespassing signs doesn't mean it's OK.

Just by asking this question you know you don't belong there.

Good point. Its not "private" property, though, it is land owned by the power company.

 

[MDT4RNR]

Come on down to Rausch Creek

Dude, forget about trespassing, come on down to Rausch Creek Off road Park on SAT 03/04/06 for some green trail riding. I am getting 4 of my friends (a Jeep, GMC truck, 2 Runners + mine.)

We will depart Columbia MD at 6:30 and be there a bit after 8am.

I'll post this invite on the Maryland forum with more details.

Later

Dax

 

[fourwd1]

Good point. Its not "private" property, though, it is land owned by the power company.

If it is "owned" by the power company, it is not public property, so therefore it is private property.

ALL land is owned by some one, whether it's a federal, state, or local government, an individual, or a company.

Unless you have their written permission, you're trespassing. How it's enforced is another issue, they may or may not have it posted, they may or may not care, etc.

There's a place near me people have gone wheeling for years. People do it cause they see/hear others doing it. And they still don't understand why the police arrest them and confiscate their trucks. They're trespassing ! (And they stop buying Coca Cola too
)

However, you can do what ever you want, asking us if it's OK won't help.

 

[crashtd]

Re: Come on down to Rausch Creek

Dude, forget about trespassing, come on down to Rausch Creek Off road Park on SAT 03/04/06 for some green trail riding. I am getting 4 of my friends (a Jeep, GMC truck, 2 Runners + mine.)

We will depart Columbia MD at 6:30 and be there a bit after 8am.

I'll post this invite on the Maryland forum with more details.

Later

Dax

how far is that from carlisle, pa?

-uncle crash

 

[MDT4RNR]

Come on down to Rausch Creek

how far is that from carlisle, pa?

-uncle crash

Here is the link to the thread where we are lining up about 10 SUV's for the ride.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16083

Here is the link to a map, click on the Rausch Creek link on the right side of the page.

http://www.frappr.com/?a=sharemap&id=35292&h=023770

Carlisle is maybe 1/2 hour ride to Rausch Creek O.R.P.

You can meet us there.

PM me if you are coming.

Later

Dax

 

[Solice]

Re: Re: Come on down to Rausch Creek

how far is that from carlisle, pa?

-uncle crash

We could just meet up if you're interested in going. As of now I'm not working that weekend so I'll be going. I'm in Mechanicsburg, about 15-20 mins from you.

-Joe