I'm new to off roading and wanted to clarify some general guidlines. In the New England area especially, there is a lot of talk about not getting the trails closed. What kinds of acts get the trails closed?

Would I generally be okay if I followed the following:
-Be courteous to other drivers/hikers in the area
-Vehicles going up have the right of way
-If someone is working an obstacle, give them room and be patient
-Don't act like a hooligan
-Don't destroy the trail ie: trees (obviously the ground will get torn up a bit from tire spin)
-Take any trash with you when you leave
-And of course, don't trespass

Are there any glaring holes in the list?

Now on to implementing these guidelines. I've heard about a "Top of the World" trail in Westfield MA. Could someone PM me the location of the trailhead for that?

 

I've heard great things about 'Top of the World' in Westfield and would be interested in going as well. Maybe we could get a few forum members together?

 

Old florida rd in western mass around Lee is another place a lot people go wheeling ( havnt done it yet) deffinatly should get some people off the forum to go. I dont see anything missing from your list other than the proper recovery equipment needed

 

Never been there but always down for wheeeeeelinnn!

 

Ineed. I'm currently aquiring my recovery gear list


Oh, and for the original topic, found this list of dos/don'ts from tread lightly:
www. treadlightly .org/page.php/responsible-four/Recreation-Tips.html?gclid=COqEu7q02q0CFegSNAodqz8Nnw

TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY
• Travel responsibly on designated roads, trails or areas.
• Travel only in areas open to four-wheel drive vehicles.
• For your safety, travel straight up or down hills.
• Drive over, not around obstacles to avoid widening the trail.
• Straddle ruts, gullies and washouts even if they are wider than your vehicle.
• Cross streams only at designated fording points, where the road crosses the stream.
• When possible, avoid mud. In soft terrain, go easy on the gas to avoid wheel spin, which can cause rutting.
• Don’t turn around on narrow roads, steep terrain or unstable ground. Back up until you find a safe place to turn around.
• Stop frequently and scout ahead on foot. To help with traction, balance your load and lower tire pressure to where you see a bulge (typically not less than 20 pounds).
• Know where the differential or the lowest point on your vehicle is. This will help in negotiating terrain and prevent vehicle damage resulting in oil and fluid spills on the trail.
• Maintain a reasonable distance between vehicles.
• Comply with all signs and respect barriers.
• Travel with a group of two or more vehicles. Driving solo can leave you vulnerable if you have an accident or breakdown. Designate meeting areas in case of separation.
• Choose the appropriate winch for your vehicle size.
• Attach towing cable, tree strap, or chain as low as possible to the object being winched. Let the winch do the work; never drive the winch.
• When winching always inspect your equipment, use the right winch for the situation, find a good secure anchor and never winch with less than five wraps of wire rope around the drum.
• When using a tree as an anchor, use a wide tree strap to avoid damaging the trunk of the tree.
• Don’t mix driving with alcohol or drugs.

RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS
• Respect the rights of others, including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed.
• Be considerate of others on the road or trail.
• Leave gates as you find them. If crossing private property, be sure to ask permission from the landowner(s).
• Yield the right of way to those passing you traveling uphill. Yield to mountain bikers, hikers and horses.
• When encountering horses on the trail, move to the side of the trail, stop, turn off your engine, remove your helmet and speak—you want the horse to know you are human. Ask the rider the best way to proceed.
• Proceed with caution around horses and pack animals. Sudden, unfamiliar activity may spook animals—possibly causing injury to animals, handlers and others on the trail.
• Do not idly ride around in camping, picnicking, trailhead or residential areas.
• Keep speeds low around crowds and in camping areas.
• Keep the noise and dust down.

EDUCATE YOURSELF
• Educate yourself prior to your trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies, planning for your trip, taking recreation skills classes and knowing how to operate your equipment safely.
• Obtain a map, otor vehicle use map where appropriate) of your destination and determine which areas are open to off-highway vehicles.
• Make a realistic plan and stick to it. Always tell someone of your travel plans.
• Contact the land manager for area restrictions, closures and permit requirements.
• Check the weather forecast before you go. Prepare for the unexpected by packing necessary emergency items.
• Buckle-up! Seat belts are mandatory. Know your limitations. Watch your time, your fuel and your energy.
• Take an off-highway drivers course to learn more about negotiating terrain in a four-wheel drive vehicle.
• Make sure your vehicle is mechanically up to task. Be prepared with tools, supplies, spares and a spill kit for trailside repairs.

AVOID SENSITIVE AREAS
• Avoid sensitive areas such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams. Stay on designated routes.
• Other sensitive habitats to avoid include living desert soils, tundra, and seasonal nesting or breeding areas.
• Do not disturb historical, archeological or paleontological sites.
• Avoid “spooking” livestock and wildlife you encounter and keep your distance.
• Motorized and mechanized vehicles are not allowed in designated Wilderness Areas.

DO YOUR PART
• Do your part by modeling appropriate behavior, leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species and restoring degraded areas.
• Carry a trash bag on your vehicle and pick up litter left by others.
• Pack out what you pack in. Practice minimum impact camping by using established sites, camping 200 feet from water resources and trails.
• Observe proper sanitary waste disposal or pack your waste out.
• Protect the soundscape by preventing unnecessary noise created by a poorly tuned vehicle or revving your engine.
• Before and after a ride, wash your vehicle to reduce the spread of invasive species.
• Build a trail community. Get to know other types of recreationists that share your favorite trail.

 

Damn! I was afraid of that. Oh, and thanks for the info about OFR's rating. I won't be attempting that anytime soon.

 

Matt, I also heard that TOTW is not legal to run. Another thing to add to the list is that MA now requires you to purchase and display an OHV sticker from the RMV in order to recreate off road. If caught you could face fines up to $300. There's a thread here about that but don't remember where. Also, if you run OFR, you have to stay on the trail. There are no bypasses. Anything off the the trail is private property so you basically have to go over all the ledge obstacles unassisted or assisted. At the end there is a water crossing with some controversy. You're not supposed to use the go around (private) and now they say that since the water is a permanent feature, it houses life so it is not environmentally friendly to cross. So you would have to decide what rule to break or turnaround. Hope this helps.

 

This is a post I made on another forum that might be helpful in this thread.


Trail courtesy & best practices
Okay, I'll start a thread in this section. I belong to an off-road club and have learned many of the do's and don'ts of wheeling on the trail with others. This is what I know and what my club practices but I encourage you guys to add to this thread with your own practices. Here goes.

1. Never wheel alone, if you do, make sure someone knows where you are and you have a way to communicate from the trail (cb, 2-way, sat phone, cell, SPOT GPS, Ham radio).
2. Make sure you carry the appropriate recovery equipment and first aid kit. Water and food is recommended on long rides.
*recovery items may include the following: quality tow strap (the ones with loops on the ends DO NOT get the ones with metal hooks on the ends! And don't use chains either.), d-ring shackles (2), hi-lift jack, standard or bottle jack (for lifting axles), winch, work gloves, tree saver strap, snatch block, cable drape for steel lines, various ratchet straps. Make sure all equipment is rated for at least twice the weight of your rig.
3. Make sure your rig has properly secured tow points front and rear.
*if your rig does not come mounted with recovery hooks from the factory and you will add them yourself, please mount them to a secure location such as the frame or solidly mounted steel bumper. Do not bolt them onto the flimsy plastic stock bumper or body sheet metal. If you tug on a hook like this, it will become a projectile and could injure or kill somebody.
4. Make sure to carry a full size spare. (other spare parts can also be a good idea, ie spare axles, u-joints, drive shaft, various hardware, etc.)
5. When in a group, there should be a trail guide and tail gunner (1st and last position in the line) who should be in constant communication. (Basically the trail guide is the accelerator and the tail gunner is the brake).
6. When in a line, always keep the rig behind you in your rear view mirror at all times. If no one is there, stop and wait and let the trail guide know you stopped. This will keep anyone stuck or in trouble in close proximity and not left behind.
*Note: if possible identify if someone in the group has any medical or first aid training in case of medical emergencies.
7. When stopped at an obstacle, there should only be one spotter communicating to the driver. Other bystanders can communicate to the spotter to communicate to the driver.
8. If an extraction is needed, decide the best course of action. For the most part a tug from a strap is adequate. If winching is required, please take careful measures. Don't winch off a dead tree and stay clear of a steel cable. Check equipment before use for worn parts. Safety is paramount when using a winch. (Winching needs a separate thread).
9. Tread lightly and stay on designated trails. Do not wheel where you do not have permission. Help to keep our trails open.
10. Come out with more than you brought in. Pick up cans and garbage even if not yours. Let's keep the lawless off roader stereotype minimized.
11. Be aware of local laws and permit requirements.
12. Join a club! That's the best way to access legal trails and gain valuable knowledge and experience.
13. Pass it on and have fun!
Added:
14. Tools! Carry enough tools to at least replace a tire. Carry the basics and always, ALWAYS, carry a BFH! (Big F'n Hammer)
15. Carry extra fluids. (engine oil, diff oil, steering fluid, coolant, gas, water)


That's all I have for now. We'll edit as needed.

 

I know it can be a bit confusing and frustrating. Others will say it is not legal and others that say its okay and better than disturbing the water hole even though technically it IS on top of the actual legal road. I think you can argue either way if challenged.

 

If your going to pull over to allow an oncoming vehicle to pass before you continue, turn off the solar flares you've attached to roof and grill so they can see the trail they are trying to navigate! Rant! Nothing like being blinded into a tree or better yet into the creek.