Tread Lightly
As a youngster, when you first sit behind the wheel of a 4-wheel drive vehicle, this first thing you do is drive over a sidewalk. Then you drive your 4x4 truck/Jeep up the nearest mountain highway in search of dirt roads and the first thing you see on the side of the road is a small hill that doesn't go anywhere, but your first gut instinct is to try and climb it as high as you can with your 4x4...and oh yes, that first climb is most definitely exciting...HOWEVER....PLEASE KEEP READING!
4-Wheeling is a recreation to be enjoyed by many at all ages and it is up to us to spread the word on Treading Lightly to keep the trails open. Please pass this note along to anyone who is new to the sport or even if yourself, such as ourselves, sometimes need a reminder to Tread Lightly! This goes for all recreation in the outdoors including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, camping, boating etc.
TREAD PRINCIPLES
Travel Responsibly on land by staying on designated roads, trails and area. Go over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trails. Cross streams only at designated fords. when possible, avoid wet, muddy trails. On water, stay on designated waterways and launch your watercraft in designated areas.
Respect the Rights of Others including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undsiturbed. Leave gates as you found them. Yield rightof way to those passing your or going uphill. On water, respect anglers, swimmers, skiers, boaters, divers and those on or near shore.
Educate Yourself prior to your trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies. Plan for your trip, take recreation skills classes and know how to operate your equipment safely.
Avoid Sensitive Areas on land such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams. Stay on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitats and sensitive soils from damage. Don’t disturb historical, archeological or paleontological sites. On water, avoid operating your watercraft in shallow waters or near shorelines at high speeds.
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 repairing degraded areas.