Feed aggregator

National Strategy Proposed to Respond to Climate Change’s Impacts on Fish, Wildlife, Plants

MuirNet - Thu, 02/02/2012 - 13:34

Public encouraged to review and provide comments

WASHINGTON (Jan 19, 2012) – In partnership with state, tribal, and federal agency partners, the Obama Administration today released the first draft national strategy to help decision makers and resource managers prepare for and help reduce the impacts of climate change on species, ecosystems, and the people and economies that depend on them.

The strategy represents a draft framework for unified action to safeguard fish, wildlife and plants, as well as the important benefits and services the natural world provides the nation every day, including jobs, food, clean water, clean air, building materials, storm protection, and recreation.

Categories: Legislation

UNITED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATIONS TO LOBBY for RTP IN WASHINGTON DC

4x4 Wire - Mon, 01/30/2012 - 09:14

The United Four Wheel Drive Associations are sending their Legislative Advocate to Washington DC in early February to discuss the pending Surface Transportation bill that eliminates the dedicated funding mechanism, upon which the entire Recreational Trails Program (RTP) relies.  Without dedicated funding, administrating entities do not have to fund the RTP Program.  While the Program would still exist in name, it is extremely doubtful that adequate funding would be supplied without Federal direction.

Categories: Legislation

Yet Another Lawsuit Threatens Colorado Trail Access - Recreation Groups Respond

4x4 Wire - Thu, 01/19/2012 - 13:10

DENVER, CO (January 19) -- Recreation advocates today filed papers to join a lawsuit about motorized vehicle access to the Rico-West Dolores area in southwest Colorado managed by the San Juan National Forest.  The lawsuit, filed in December 2011 by the Colorado Chapter of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, seeks to have specific trails declared off limits to motorized use.  The Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO), Trails Preservation Alliance, San Juan Trail Riders, Public Access Preservation Association and BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) today filed a motion to intervene and attain formal party status in the case.  The Colorado groups and the BlueRibbon Coalition have previously worked together in responding to similar threats in Colorado and Utah.  Collectively, the Recreation Groups have defended recreational access in dozens of lawsuits filed by preservationists across the country.

Categories: Legislation

BLUERIBBON SEEKS ROLE IN SNOWMOBILE LAWSUIT

4x4 Wire - Tue, 01/17/2012 - 13:00

BOISE, ID (Jan 17, 2012) -- The BlueRibbon Coalition today filed papers seeking to enter a lawsuit threatening snowmobiling on lands throughout the National Forest System. The suit claims that numerous Idaho Forests have illegally relied on a "snowmobile exemption" in the 2005 Forest Service Travel Management Rule in allowing continuing snowmobile access.  BlueRibbon Coalition is a nonprofit, grassroots organization headquartered in Pocatello, Idaho, which has participated for more than two decades on the administrative, legislative and legal fronts defending reasonable access to public lands.

Categories: Legislation

Nitto Tire Kicks Up Dirt at KING OF THE HAMMERS: The Ultimate Desert Race

4x4 Wire - Tue, 01/17/2012 - 12:14

Nitto Tire Expects Great Results at This Year’s Ultra4 Sanctioned King of the Hammers Race by Showcasing Specially Designed Trail Grappler® Race Tires and Six Sponsored Race Teams

Cypress, Calif. – Jan. 17, 2011 – Nitto Tire, a leading producer of high performance tires is prepping for a big win at this year’s toughest desert race, King of the Hammers: The Ultimate Desert Race (KOH).  Nitto Tire has put together some of the top winning drivers into six officially sponsored teams to tackle this extreme test of strategy, speed and guts.  To further their edge in this competition, Nitto Tire has also developed a new, non-DOT tire specifically for this event called the 40x13.50R17 Trail Grappler K-spec®.  The first tire designed for speed and rock climbing – two essential tests known in the KOH – the 40x13.50R17 Trail Grappler K-spec combines these two attributes in one performance package making it an industry first.

Categories: Legislation

MUIRNet Land Use Resources Updated

4x4 Wire - Fri, 01/13/2012 - 18:28

Ever wonder what that acronym means??  When reading the various news reports about issues affecting motorized recreation and public lands, a number of terms and letter combinations are used.  If you need to know the meaning of ACEC, NEPA, or WSA, MUIRNet Glossaries is now on-line and provides a definition of those and many other terms.

Categories: Legislation

Third Circuit Weighs in on Clean Water Act Jurisdiction under Rapanos

MuirNet - Tue, 01/10/2012 - 02:29

The Third Circuit is the latest federal appeals court to attempt to decipher the U.S. Supreme Court’s Rapanos v. United States[1] decision. Rapanos is the 4:1:4 decision from 2006 – famous in Clean Water Act (“CWA”) circles – in which the Supreme Court announced differing standards for delineating the reach of federal jurisdiction over wetlands and other “isolated waters.” In United States v. Donovan,[2] the Third Circuit, joining two other circuits, holds that a wetland falls within CWA jurisdiction if it satisfies either test announced in the fractured Rapanos decision. Specifically, the court held that a wetland falls within CWA jurisdiction if: (1) Justice Scalia’s plurality test is met – i.e., there is a “continuous surface connection” between a wetland and a water of the United States in its own right, “so that there is no clear demarcation between ‘waters’ and ‘wetlands’”; or (2) Justice Kennedy’s “significant nexus” test is met – i.e., there is “a significant nexus to waters that are or were navigable in fact or that could reasonably be so made” so that, “either alone or in combination with similarly situated lands in the region,” the wetlands “significantly affect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the covered waters more readily understood as ‘navigable.’”

Donovan follows on the heels of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (“Corps”) recently released draft guidance regarding CWA jurisdiction.[3] The draft guidance relies heavily on Justice Kennedy’s concurring opinion in Rapanos, and replaces the Corps’ previous 2008 guidance interpreting CWA jurisdiction under Rapanos. Since recent congressional efforts to clarify the CWA following Rapanos have failed and the Supreme Court appears unwilling to revisit the issue anytime soon, lower court decisions and agency guidance will continue to guide CWA jurisdiction for the foreseeable future.

Statutory Background

The CWA prohibits the unpermitted discharge of pollutants into “navigable waters” from any point source.

Read more at: http://www.martenlaw.com/newsletter/20111206-clean-water-act-jurisdiction

Categories: Legislation

Recreation advocate article to appear in Law Book

4x4 Wire - Mon, 01/09/2012 - 13:09

Lakeside, CA (Jan 4, 2012) - An article advocating recreation inclusion in public lands management policy will be published in law book designed for classroom use in U.S. Law schools. The article, written by John Stewart, Managing Editor of 4x4Wire.com,  will appear in the Natural Resources Law 2nd Edition, authored by Jan Laitos, University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Categories: Legislation

BLM Seeks Comments on Development of Regulations for Competitive Leasing of Solar and Wind Energy on Public Lands

MuirNet - Sat, 01/07/2012 - 14:30

(Jan 7, 2012) - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to give the public background information about the BLM’s interest in establishing an efficient, competitive process for issuing right-of-way (ROW) leases for solar and wind energy development on the public lands. The BLM believes such a process would help ensure fair access to leasing opportunities for renewable energy development and capture fair market value for the use of public lands, as required under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Existing regulations limit the competitive process to procedures for responding to overlapping right-of-way applications. The BLM is seeking input on how best to offer public lands through a nomination and competitive process instead of just by right-of-way application.

Categories: Legislation

FWS To Review Petition To List Sierra Nevada Red Fox

MuirNet - Sat, 01/07/2012 - 14:12

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announced a 90-day finding on a petition to list Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to designate critical habitat. Based on review, they find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing this subspecies may be warranted. The publication of this notice, initiates a review of the status of the subspecies to determine if listing Sierra Nevada red fox is warranted.

Categories: Legislation

Make Outdoor Resolutions You Can keep

Badlands Off Road Adventures - Mon, 01/02/2012 - 00:00

Make Outdoor Resolutions You Can keep Photo by Frank at South Bay Truck
Well, it’s that time of year again. Time for handing out gifts, partying, stuffing our faces, having a jolly good time (too good, sometimes), and then the customary New Year’s resolutions. You know, that list of promises for the coming year that don’t last past Super Bowl weekend.

I’m here to add a new twist on that: a list of resolutions designed to get you more enthusiastic about outdoors and more involved in our exciting hobby. So while shedding pounds and cutting down on sweet are good for you, these steps are fun and have a higher probability of success!

As you know, we’re frequently under pressure by those who want to deny us access to public lands. By becoming more involved in our hobby, you help protect our privileges.

Please don’t be intimidated by the length. I don’t expect you to do all of them. Instead, pick three or four that you can accomplish. Some go quicker than others. Perhaps after accomplishing those you’ll want to add another one. Good for you. The more the merrier, as we say, and not just during the holiday season.

The key to accomplishing a goal is to make it “SMART”. A SMART goals is:

• Specific: It’s a well-defined task.
• Measurable: Results are quantifiable. For example, 10 camping nights completed, 25 geocahes found, new bumper installed. You did it or didn’t do it.
• Achievable: It’s good to set high expectations, but be sure you can accomplish the task. Otherwise, you will become unhappy and give up.
• Relevant: It is a worthwhile use of time; not some busy work. You need to accomplish this task, and you will benefit from it.
• Time-bound: The task is accomplished within a particular period of time. It has a deadline.

Here is an example of a SMART resolution: “I will update the expired meds in my first aid kit by the end of March, 2012.” It is very specific on what you will do, it is not hard and you know how to do it, therefore achievable, the result is an updated first aid kit. We know the deadline -by the end of March and it is easy to measure the results. It was done or not done

In no particular order, here are suggested resolutions for 2012:

1. Take more 4WD trips. Be specific – for example, schedule one day (or weekend) per month. Mark those on your calendar, so you commit yourself now.


2. Do one of the big adventures. Go on the Rubicon Trail or Moab trails.


3. Finish those vehicle upgrades. Pick one or two that are doable. Could be a new front bumper, swing-away rear bumper, roof rack, new axle, whatever you need.


4. Purchase necessary additional equipment for your vehicle. There are a lot of possibilities: navigation equipment, extra recovery gear, first aid kit, onboard air, a winch, and so on. What can you add this year?


5. Buy a new (or new to you) vehicle or another one you can take off road.


6. Become more disaster prepared. This applies to home and vehicle. Perhaps you could use a 72-hour kit for home or a go-bag for the vehicle. Refer to the FEMA website www.fema.org or these columns for more suggestions: Urban Disasters No Match For a Prepared 4-Wheeler and Your Gear Is Not Complete Without An Emergency Packet!


7. Obtain more training. Become a Tread Lightly! trainer. Take a first aid course or renew your accreditation if necessary. Sign up for one or two of my off-road skills courses. Find a course on GPS. The key is to schedule it now. Don’t put it off, or you’ll never do it.


8. Take your kids out. Commit to spending more outdoors time with your kids. Try to incorporate four-wheeling (they’ll enjoy it), but it’s important to enjoy more quality time with your kids.


9. Along those lines, teach your kids age-appropriate outdoor skills. These can include how to camp and start fires safely; how to use a map, compass, and GPS unit; knife safety; backpacking, tying knots; and so on.


10. Join all of these associations. Well at least one or two. These include
    • California Association of 4WD Clubs www.Cal4wheel.com,
    • California Off-road Vehicle Association www.corva.org ,
    • Blue Ribbon Coalition www.sharetrails.org ,
    • Tread Lightly! www.treadlightly.org,
    • United 4Wheel Drive Associations www.ufwda.org.
    
    Your support of and membership in helps keep public lands open to 4-wheelers.


11. Get a ham radio license. Ham radio gear is quite useful off-road. Plus, you can use it to participate in charity event and disaster training in your home community. Hamming is just plain fun - go to www.arrl.org. For a related column, see Communication Equipment is Critical for Off-Road Driving .


12. Once licensed, consider joining the Outdoor Adventure USA net www.oausa.net. We meet on VHF frequencies every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. PST to discuss outdoor related topics, including maintenance and repair, disaster preparedness, and useful gear, to name a few. Though we’re located in California, you can participate in our nets from anywhere in the country via IRLP (Connect to the Western Reflector node 9251).


13. Go geocaching; This is a great activity to get the kids involved. You can combine kids, 4-wheeling and navigation into every outing. Set a goal to find a certain number of geocaches. For example a SMART goal might be “With the kids, find and log 6 geocaches each quarter in 2012”. Start at the geocache web site http://www.geocaching.com/ and start with geocaches close to home.


14. Commit to bring back a full Trasharoo each outing. Pick up trash you see on the trails. http://www.trasharoo.com/iWeb/TRASHAROO%20/About.html


15. Give talks to area groups about 4-wheeling. Help dispel the myths, and encourage others to join the fun hobby (or at least support it). Talks to service clubs (Rotary, Lions, etc.), Chamber of Commerce meetings, and civic clubs.


16. Write about our hobby. Use blog posts, tweets, Facebook comments, letters to editor of local papers, and other venues.


17. Contact radio and TV stations and offer to be interviewed. This is especially important when negative stories break. Our hobby needs eloquent people to present a good side to four wheeling.

This may seem like a daunting task, but once you accomplish a few of these, you’ll find it’s a lot easier than shedding pounds and giving up doughnuts. Try it!



##########################
Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures

• The All-Time Best Family Adventures
• Four-Wheeling Good for Families, Easy on Environment
• Be A Good Sport: Tread Lightly
• Good Driving Ethics Help Keep Trails Open For All
• Tie Yourself In Knots
• Know How To Read A Map, And You May Stay Alive
• Urban Disasters No Match For a Prepared 4-Wheeler

Did you miss the previous articles?

• How To Survive Death Wobble
• Mojave Green Can Bite You In A Whole New Way

########################## Major Events Planned for 2012

While we are on the subject of planning, Badlands Off-Road adventures, Inc. has a number of significant events on the schedule for this year. If you wish to participate, you need to start making plans soon. Some events have early due dates, may require significant preparations, have limited positions and require time off from work.

1. Easter Safari April 2 - 6 (registration cutoff Feb 15)


2. Wilderness Advanced First aid June 28- July 1 (WAFA)


3. Rubicon Trail a week in August

And of course we will have our Mojave Road and Death Valley Adventure Trips.

########################## Tread Trainer Clinic January 7, 2012

You still have time - but not much - to get into the Tread Lightly! Tread Trainer Certification Clinic Jan 7, 2012. This year it will be held in Anaheim. You are encouraged to sign up for the Tread Lightly! Tread Trainer Certification Clinic. This is a one day course. There is a minimal fee of $25 to cover class materials and handouts. It requires a commitment to teaching and spreading the word about Tread Lightly! Principles and outdoor ethics.

You can find out more details on line at http://www.4x4training.com/TrainingClinics/Tread.html .

And register on line at http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Tread.

########################## GPS Adventure Weekend January 28th

This is a hands-on class combined with a weekend of camping and 4-Wheeling! You need to bring your own self-contained GPS receiver unit. The focus of the class is how to operate your GPS unit and how to use it for basic navigation in the field.
Check out the details and sign up on the website: GPS Adventure Weekend:


You can register directly at http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#GPSAdventure


########################## Getting Started Off-road Driving Clinic January 14, 2012

The clinic is held in Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area near Gorman CA. This clinic is specifically designed to meet the needs of novice off-highway drivers or someone with a bit of experience who is looking for a more complete understanding. This is a one-day session. The session includes classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. More Details...


You can register directly here


########################## Advanced Beginner Clinic January 15, 2012

The clinic is held in the El Paso Mountains near Mojave CA. The goal is to help you get a "better feel" for tire placement and to visualize the obstacles as they move into your blind zone. You will gain more behind the wheel experience combined with picking lines. The difficulty level is one step higher than the basic class and you can expect some pin striping. More Details...


You can register directly here


########################## Tire Repair & Hi-lift Jack Mini Clinic February 4, 2012

This 3 hour clinic will provide you with the knowledge and skills to repair the most common tire problems and to use a Hi-lift jack safely to aid you in the process. To drive confidently off-road learn how to:

• Fix a bead
• Plug a puncture
• Break a bead
• Replace a valve stem

You can find out more details on line at Tire Repair & Hi-Lift Mini Clinic:.

And register on line at http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#TireRepair.

########################## Additional February Clinics

1. Sands Clinic Feb 18
2. Winch Clinic Feb 19
3. Rocks Clinic Feb 25

########################## 4 Wheel Drive Radio Shows
These 2 four wheel drive radio shows you can listen to on-line or download as a podcast.

• 
  
  http://ernlive.com/shows/4-wheel-and-off-road-radio.html
  On the left find a drop down called SHOWTIMES to select the podcast you want to listen to or down load.



• 
  
  http://www.the4x4podcast.com

########################## The Badlands Off-road Adventures Store Click here if you cannot see the full store



##########################

I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-374-8047
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
#####
If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. You can forward them the email. If you received a forwarded copy of this newsletter and would like to subscribe for yourself, go to: www.4x4training.com/contacts.html and follow the instructions to join our mail list.
Want To Use This Article In Your Magazine, E-Zine, Club Newsletter Or Web Site? You are welcome to use it anytime, just be sure to include the following author/copyright information: Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse driving conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.

Copyright 2012, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.

Categories: Badlands Off Road Adventures

BLM Issues Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Guidance

MuirNet - Tue, 12/27/2011 - 12:59

The Bureau of Land Management today issued two Instructional Memorandums (IMs) that will help guide both immediate and longer-term conservation actions aimed at conserving the greater sage-grouse and its sagebrush habitat in 10 western states – aimed at benefitting the species while maintaining a robust economy in the West:

Categories: Legislation

BLM Issues Guidance on Carbon Sequestration Studies

MuirNet - Tue, 12/27/2011 - 12:37

The BLM recently issued guidance on processing land use proposals and permit applications for exploration and site characterization studies for potential subsurface carbon sequestration projects on BLM lands.

Categories: Legislation

Public Meetings Scheduled to Address West Mojave Desert Routes of Travel Designations

4x4 Wire - Tue, 12/27/2011 - 12:30

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California Desert District has scheduled eight public scoping meetings to gather public comments and recommendations on the preparation of environmental assessments for eight travel management areas within the West Mojave Planning Area.  These eight travel management areas are identified on the attached map, and each one will be a focus of one of the eight meetings.  This information will be used to compile travel management area information and develop preliminary route network alternatives for the West Mojave planning area.

Categories: Legislation

Spending Bill Reaffirms Restriction on “Wild Lands” Designations

4x4 Wire - Tue, 12/27/2011 - 11:48

WASHINGTON, D.C.(Dec 16, 2011) – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today unveiled language included in the 2012 Interior spending bill that blocks federal land management agencies from creating new wilderness areas without first getting Congressional approval.

Categories: Legislation

How to Survive Death Wobble

Badlands Off Road Adventures - Thu, 12/15/2011 - 00:00

How to Survive Death Wobble Caked on mud
It’s one of the more frightening experiences you’ll encounter behind the wheel. The vehicle is shaking so badly you think it’ll far apart and that you’re going to die. That’s why it’s called Death Wobble.

I hope you never experience it, but if you do, this column may help you survive with your wits intact (though you may still need a change of underwear).

Typically occurring between 45 and 55 mph, death wobble is caused by one or more problems with the front end or tires. That’s part of the problem. Drive train and suspension systems are so complex nowadays, it can be tough to pinpoint what caused the death wobble.

What to do if death wobble occurs Before going into troubleshooting, we should review some of the steps to take in case you encounter death wobble and still need to get home.

The first step is to maintain your composure. Death wobble, as I mentioned above, is a terrifying experience. Slow down immediately and, if possible, pull off to the side of the road. Brake calipers will help slow down the death wobble too. Inspect your vehicle for any parts that are ready to fall off - tie rod ends, track bar, etc. You’re trying to determine if you can drive the vehicle home. If not, have it towed. Otherwise, you should be able to drive it, but keep your speed under 45 to prevent death wobble from reoccurring or try driving quickly thru the 45-55 trigger point. In most instances death wobble will not occur if you maintain a speed above the trigger point.

The tires deserve a quick check to see if you can solve the problem.

• Mud caked on the tire creates an unbalanced tire.
• Check that tire pressure is equal side to side on the front tires and that the tires are holding pressure. A loose valve stem can be leaking and is difficult to detect – so is a small stone wedged in the bead.
• Check for wheel weights that are missing.
• Check that the lug nuts are tight.

How to fix death wobble Talk about complex! In a 4WD vehicle, a contributing factor is the lift kit and large tires. They throw off the caster angle and other elements, thereby making the vehicle more prone to death wobble. There are ways to get around that, but first we need to thoroughly inspect the tires and front end.

We’ll assume first that you’ve had the lift kit on for some time with no problems. If death wobble occurs, it means something’s not right but we don’t suspect caster initially.

Determining the cause of death wobble requires a thorough inspection of the suspension and drive train, as well as the front tires.

1. Tires: Make sure there is no mud caked on them, especially on the inside. Mud causes a wheel to be unbalanced. If they’re relatively new and were balanced, you should be able to discount them. Also, check the tire pressure. Improper pressure side to side can cause a tire to wobble. Run through the same list above that you checked in the field
2. Steering links: Start the vehicle, and have someone roll the steering wheel back and forth about ¼ turn continually while you watch each joint one by one. There shouldn’t be any movement on one side of the joint before the other moves.
• Look at each end of the track bar. There should be no movement in either. (The track bar is one of the top suspects. Not only may the bushing be worn but also the bolts and the hole maybe elongated. All will need to be repaired)
• Check tie rod ends at each wheel and at the pitman arm.
• Look at each of the adjustment joints on the drag link and tie rod. There should be no movement where the rods are treaded into the joint. A telltale sign is if the joint lifts up and down as you rotate the steering.
3. Check the bolts that hold the steering gear box in place. Inspect the frame under the steering gear box for cracks.
4. Check the toe in. With a lift kit and big tires, you generally have almost no difference from front to back. In the absence of real specs, I would set the toe in to a maximum of 1/16 in.
5. Inspect the tires. Are they mounted properly? Is there any problem with the tire beads? Spin balance each tire even if you just had it done recently.
6. Check the caster angle. A lift kit tends to change the caster angle toward zero degrees, and sometimes even a positive angle position. Casters must be at a negative angle to operate properly. A minus 4 or 6 degree angle is generally required. Research the caster spec for your vehicle.

Dig deeper to solve a stubborn problem

1. Inspect the axle U-joints. They could be worn and have some play in them.
2. Check the wheel bearings. Lift each front wheel off the ground to check the wheel bearing. When you push and pull on the top and bottom of the tire you should have no play.
3. Check the ball joints. With a floor jack lift each end of the axle up at the steering knuckle. Just as the tire leaves the ground, the steering knuckle and the ball joint should move together.

The next steps in eliminating death wobble Centramatic If you have replaced all the bad parts, balanced your tires and you’ve set the caster to the proper angle, there are a couple last-ditch steps you can take. The second one, especially, isn’t ideal, but it can at least allow you to drive your vehicle.

1. Install Centramatic wheel balancers. They are designed to compensate for any anomalies in tire balance. http://centramatic.com


2. Toe out the tires. Doing so will cause the tires to wear out prematurely, but if it works at least you’ll eliminate the wobble. I would suggest small changes- ½ to one turn at a time of toe out until it helps.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when confronted with death wobble. Chances are, though, you will eliminate it while going through the steps I outline above. Then you can get back to enjoying your trips!



##########################
Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures

• Damage Mitigation.
• Tire problems shouldn’t deflate your day
• No Need to get Spun Out over your Tires
• Don’t Let a Breakdown Ruin Your Trip
• What Causes Wash Board Roads?

Did you miss the previous articles?

• Mojave Green Can Bite You In A Whole New Way
• Damage Mitigation
• Four-Wheeling Good for Families, Easy on Environment

########################## Gift Certificate

For Christmas consider a gift certificate for a Class or Adventure in 2012 Or
a Winching DVD as a Stocking Stuffer

########################## Tread Trainer Clinic January 7, 2012

There is a Tread Lightly! Tread Trainer Clinic Jan 7, 2012. This year it will be held in Anaheim. You are encouraged to sign up for the Tread Lightly! Tread Trainer Certification Clinic. This is a one day course. There is a minimal fee of $25 to cover class materials and handouts. It requires a commitment to teaching and spreading the word about Tread Lightly! Principles and outdoor ethics.

You can find out more details on line at http://www.4x4training.com/TrainingClinics/Tread.html .

And register on line at http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Tread.

########################## Getting Started Off-road driving Clinic January 14, 2012

The clinic is held in Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area near Gorman CA. This clinic is specifically designed to meet the needs of novice off-highway drivers or someone with a bit of experience who is looking for a more complete understanding. This is a one-day session. The session includes classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. More Details...


You can register directly here


########################## Advanced Beginner Clinic January 15, 2012

The clinic is held in the El Paso Mountains near Mojave CA. The goal is to help you get a "better feel" for tire placement and to visualize the obstacles as they move into your blind zone. You will gain more behind the wheel experience combined with picking lines. The difficulty level is one step higher than the basic class and you can expect some pin striping. More Details...


You can register directly here


########################## Tire Repair & Hi-lift Jack Mini Clinic February 4, 2012

This 3 hour clinic will provide you with the knowledge and skills to repair the most common tire problems and to use a Hi-lift jack safely to aid you in the process. To drive confidently off-road learn how to:

• Fix a bead
• Plug a puncture
• Break a bead
• Replace a valve stem

You can find out more details on line at Tire Repair & Hi-Lift Mini Clinic:.

And register on line at http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#TireRepair.

########################## 4 Wheel Drive Radio Shows
These 2 four wheel drive radio shows you can listen to on-line or download as a podcast.

• 
  
  http://ernlive.com/shows/4-wheel-and-off-road-radio.html
  On the left find a drop down called SHOWTIMES to select the podcast you want to listen to or down load.



• 
  
  http://www.the4x4podcast.com

########################## Christmas Ideas For Christmas consider giving a gift certificate for a Class or Adventure in 2012

Or a Winching DVD as a Stocking Stuffer

########################## Any of these Item would make a good Christmas Gift from
The Badlands Off-road Adventures Store Click here if you cannot see the full store



##########################

I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-374-8047
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
#####
If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend. You can forward them the email. If you received a forwarded copy of this newsletter and would like to subscribe for yourself, go to: www.4x4training.com/contacts.html and follow the instructions to join our mail list.
Want To Use This Article In Your Magazine, E-Zine, Club Newsletter Or Web Site? You are welcome to use it anytime, just be sure to include the following author/copyright information: Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse driving conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.

Copyright 2011, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.

Categories: Badlands Off Road Adventures

Making It All Fit

4x4 Wire - Tue, 11/15/2011 - 11:15

For more than 50 years, 4 wheelers have been facing the problem of limited cargo space. If you own a large four-wheel drive SUV, wagon, or pickup, storage space is not usually problematic. Of course, the larger machines are hampered by their size during off-highway travel. If you wheel in a smaller 4 wheel drive, you will relate to the topic of this article, namely, "making it all fit."

Categories: Legislation

BLM Issues Report on Lands Deserving Protection

MuirNet - Sun, 11/13/2011 - 14:11

Salazar Highlights 18 Backcountry Areas Deserving Congressional Protection as Conservation Lands or Wilderness

Washington, DC - Beauty Mountain in California, the San Juan Islands of Washington, and Castle Peak in Colorado are among 18 backcountry areas in nine states that Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar highlighted today as deserving protection by Congress as national conservation areas or wilderness areas.

Categories: Legislation

Historical Maps Now Covering 36 States

4x4 Wire - Sun, 11/13/2011 - 13:05

The release of more than 13,688 historical topographic maps covering California highlights the rapid pace of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Historical Topographic Map Collection.

Nearly 124,000 high resolution scans of the more than 200,000 historical USGS topographic maps, some dating as far back as 1884, are now available online. The Historical Topographic Map Collection includes published U.S. maps of all scales and editions, and are offered as a georeferenced digital download or as a scanned print from the USGS Store.

Categories: Legislation

Draft PEIS for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States Available

MuirNet - Sun, 11/13/2011 - 11:12

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have announced the availability of the Supplement to the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States.  The BLM and the DOE will hold four public meetings on the Supplement to provide an overview of the document, answer questions, and receive public comments.

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The meeting site will open to the public at 6 p.m. The official meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and close after all individuals who wish to speak have been heard. The meeting dates and locations are given below. The specific venues will be announced at least 15 days in advance via local media, the project Web site (http://solareis.anl.gov/), and the DOE NEPA Web site (http://energy.gov/nepa).

• Las Vegas, Nevada—Wednesday, November 30, 2011
• Phoenix, Arizona—Thursday, December 1, 2011
• El Centro, California—Wednesday, December 7, 2011
• Palm Desert, California—Thursday, December 8, 2011

Click here to read the complete Federal Register Notice

 

Categories: Legislation