I haven't had a lot of time to follow up with this stewardship stuff but I plan to when work slows down. In the meantime, I found this article on the Forest Service website - an interesting example of a FS approved and sanctioned event. Food for future thought.
The Black Dog Dual Sport Riders kicked off there two-day 20th annual ride around the Mt. Hood and Gifford Pinchot forests on the weekend of June 4th with over 300 riders participating. The ride is a national event drawing riders from throughout the Northwest and surrounding states. And although this ride may appear as being simply another ride on the American Motorcycling Association’s (AMA) circuit, this ride is unique because of at least one difference: riders get points not just for their riding skills, but also for the amount of trash they gather up along their way.
The combined efforts of all the riders filled a larger dumpster over the two days. But the riders did a lot more than pick up garbage. The course the riders followed was established beforehand and sanctioned by the Mt. Hood National Forest and led riders on paved and gravel roads and even some trails. The special mechanics of these street legal, dual sport motorcycles allow riders to handle different types of terrain, which allows a different view of the forest and a way of seeing more forestlands in less time—the route around Mt. Hood on the first day of the event alone covered nearly 300 miles. The varied terrain also lends added challenge, which appealed to the participants.
The ride brought participants ranging from 16 to 70 years old, women and men, and from an array of backgrounds. The event was made possible by the partnership of AMA, the Northern Oregon Motorcycle and ATV Club (NOMAC) who staffed food stations, the Food Services of America who donated food, and the forest service who staffed informational pit meetings both mornings outlining the route and rules of utilizing forest roads. Tom Niemela has promoted this annual event throughout its 20-year history, and, through his efforts, the race has developed into what it has become today: an event that gives motorcyclists the chance to experience the beautiful forestlands while doing their part to protect and improve the surrounding environment at the same time.
The Black Dog Dual Sport Riders kicked off there two-day 20th annual ride around the Mt. Hood and Gifford Pinchot forests on the weekend of June 4th with over 300 riders participating. The ride is a national event drawing riders from throughout the Northwest and surrounding states. And although this ride may appear as being simply another ride on the American Motorcycling Association’s (AMA) circuit, this ride is unique because of at least one difference: riders get points not just for their riding skills, but also for the amount of trash they gather up along their way.
The combined efforts of all the riders filled a larger dumpster over the two days. But the riders did a lot more than pick up garbage. The course the riders followed was established beforehand and sanctioned by the Mt. Hood National Forest and led riders on paved and gravel roads and even some trails. The special mechanics of these street legal, dual sport motorcycles allow riders to handle different types of terrain, which allows a different view of the forest and a way of seeing more forestlands in less time—the route around Mt. Hood on the first day of the event alone covered nearly 300 miles. The varied terrain also lends added challenge, which appealed to the participants.
The ride brought participants ranging from 16 to 70 years old, women and men, and from an array of backgrounds. The event was made possible by the partnership of AMA, the Northern Oregon Motorcycle and ATV Club (NOMAC) who staffed food stations, the Food Services of America who donated food, and the forest service who staffed informational pit meetings both mornings outlining the route and rules of utilizing forest roads. Tom Niemela has promoted this annual event throughout its 20-year history, and, through his efforts, the race has developed into what it has become today: an event that gives motorcyclists the chance to experience the beautiful forestlands while doing their part to protect and improve the surrounding environment at the same time.