Mon 15 Nov: ATV Destruction on 2 Bear Cove Trail

[mrsquishy]

I hiked the old ATV trail that starts at the Termination Point parking lot and ends at 2 Bear Cove on Ouzinkie Narrows. The trail crosses Lesnoi and Ouzinkie Native Corp land and is closed to motorized use.
This doesn't stop 4-wheelers from inflicting horrible damage. The trail has been slowly healing, but one ATV group reversed the restoration.
See all 12 lovely photos at <http://www.flickr.com/photos/96797301@N00/sets/72157625279701211/>
Below is a marsh about 30 yards in diameter that they rode around and around until it was totally decimated.

IMGP0216 by norockets, on Flickr

IMGP0217 by norockets, on Flickr
Other damage

IMGP0215 by norockets, on Flickr

ATV Damage 3 Bear Cove Trail by norockets, on Flickr

ATV Damage 2 Bear Cove Trail by norockets, on Flickr

[patrick]

Sometimes you gotta wonder - do these guys want to be banned? I mean how could you do something like that and not expect it to turn people off? If I rode ATVs I would be really pissed at the riders who did this because it is the sort of behavior that will eventually effect the good law abiding riders too (with restrictions etc). Sort of like how slob hunters make all hunters look bad - another pet peeve of mine. ,... .
Patrick

[mrsquishy]

You know, they could almost get away with the ruts that are created when they are simply crossing a marsh, but the intentional desecration of that marsh and the scope of the destruction are unforgiveable.

[Philip]

Was it 4-wheelers or motorcycles? The worst rutting I have seen in the past couple of years was generally from MX bikes (motorcycles). They really have no purpose other than recreation and they are becoming more and more common.

[mrsquishy]

Patrick and I observed considerable damage from a single wide tired MX in this area about a year ago or so - the scars and ruts from that single WMD are unhealed and still clearly visible along the trail. The bottom photo above is one of those ruts.
This recent damage is 4-wheelers without a doubt, based on parallel tracks/ruts, etc. I think it was more than one, but couldn't say for sure how many. I sent the photos to Lesnoi and they say they are looking into it.........