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Western Slope ATV Association Newsletter

P.O. BOX 4283 *

GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO *

81502-4283

March 2020

The Western Slope ATV Association was founded on the principle of promoting ATV use as a legitimate family recreational activity on public lands. In doing so, we

will promote reasonable use and educate the general public, media and elected officials on land use. The WSATVA will provide search and rescue assistance to

Mesa County and will work with the local BLM and Forest Service offices to obtain grants and to provide trail maintenance and construction to help the outdoor

community.

MISSION STATEMENT

Bill Smith was a regular

participant at our Hightower

and Vega Projects.

RIP Bill,

we miss you.

Bill owned Pro Tow and was

well known throughout the

towing community.

Next membership meeting

April 15, 2020 Meeting 7:30 p.m.

Sheriff’s Posse Building On the SE Corner of F½ and 25 Road

Bill Smith, 73, of Grand Junction, died March 12, 2020, at Mantey Heights. He was a truck driver. Services

have been postponed until May or beyond at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Inurnment will take place at

Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery.

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President ~ Steve Chapel dirtuser@bresnan.net 970-241-2409

Vice President ~ Ken Sanders kpsandersfamily@gmail.com 970-434-5827

Secretary ~ Conrad Tucker wsatva1987@gmail.com 970-245-5356

Secretary ~ Mary Tucker lolndr@aol.com 970-245-5356

Board Member At-Large ~ Jeff Wendland

Trails ~ Tom Derryberry tom_derryberry@hotmail.com 970-858-7366 or 970-250-5534

Safari ~ Position Available

Safety ~ Larry Bullard bullardgj@gmail.com 970-245-9057

S.A.R.C. President ~ Jim Reed jreed@swiftcom.com

Search and Rescue Club Representatives ~ Chris Jackson and Kate Malapanes

Webmaster ~ Jim Reed jreed@swiftcom.com

Newsletter Editor ~ Cori Spor editorwsatv@gmail.com 970-261-8166

Goodwill Ambassador ~ Marsha Jones ramral568@gmail.com 970-361-0795

WSATVA CONTACTS - BOARD MEMBERS

Please check out photos of club rides on our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/WSATVA/ ! Don’t forget…if you go on a ride and take pictures, please share. Everyone loves pictures. If you have a ride report or a funny story we would also like to share the information! Please go through your pictures of past rides, past events and any picture that relates to the club for the web page https://wsatva.org/. Send to Jim Reed. His email is jreed@swiftcom.com. Also, please don't hesitate to let us know of corrections needed.

You can contact the following: Website: Jim jreed@swiftcom.com

Newsletter: Cori Spor editorWSATV@gmail.com

The March 18th WSATVA Club Meeting was canceled due to the situation with the Coronavirus. Thank you for your understanding. The next meeting will be held on April 15, 2020 if the Coronavirus is no longer a major threat and restrictions have been lifted.

Following are key points we were going to discuss at the March meeting.

TRAILS:

April 18th Ed Ruland Memorial Desert Cleanup Location will be 29 Road area at 9AM unless muddy.

Bangs Canyon, Paint arrows on the slick rock. To be determined yet in April.

Bangs Canyon, Break boulders on Tabeguache Trail through Bangs Canyon, To be determined yet in April.

Barrel Springs ride, Saturday May 2nd. More details to follow.

Mesquite, NV rides, still planned for the week of May 25th. Contact Ken Sanders for more info.at kpsandersfamily@gmail.com

All Rides No Work, Mostly on 50 inch routes. Mid to late August date yet to be determined.

Renew your Registration yet on your ATV/UTV? Recommend going to Corn Lake and complete the transaction there by showing your ATV/UTV registration from last year. The process takes about 10 minutes and your stickers arrive by mail in less than 5 days. People with hunting licenses are having problems due to new ID number issued to them by CO State Parks.

Ride across the dam at Vega this summer on ATV/UTV???? :Vega Lodge is hoping something may be in the works to allow this to happen. Keep your fingers crossed. It would allow our group to have a large dinner there while camped at Vega and may also allow for a poker ride from the lodge and back. Would also allow our group to use their cabins or RV sites then ride to meet up with the rest of the group. More options for our group and more business for Vega Lodge.

NOHVCC Meeting: The National OFF Highway Vehicle Conservation Council was planning to meet Downtown GJ at Springhill Suites on May 5th, 6-8 pm to discuss ATV/UTV issues on public lands. This meeting has been postponed to a later date. We will inform you of the new meeting date.

Club BBQ Help: Jeff Wendland has agreed to help out Carl Desrosiers on the summer BBQ's this summer, Thanks Jeff! Don't yet know if we need a food supply person yet or not.

OHV Grant Sub-Committee: This committee scores the grants that are submitted each year and makes recommendations as to whether groups like WSATVA or the forest service or BLM should get their requested grant. There is a possibility this committee will come to Grand Junction this August to ride our trails and see how we have been spending the money we have been awarded. Stay tuned to see if this happens.

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Due to the Coronavirus situation, funeral services for Bill Smith will be postponed until sometime in May. We will advise when the service is rescheduled.

Cards can be sent to:

Krystol Smith 1120 23 Rd Grand Junction, CO 81505-9622

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Escalante Canyon & Sawmill Mesa Roads

After Visiting the canyon and reading Facebook posts I wondered how long it would take for the complaints to mount. The OHV users, including motorcycles, ATV's and in particular side by sides are ignoring basic traffic rules in the canyon and on the Sawmill Mesa Roads. Speed limits in most of the area is 20 MPH, not 30, 40 or 50. There are lots of blind corners and narrow road that also have local traffic and farm equipment on them. Stop cutting corners and stay on your own side of the road. A plea to OHV users was made to slow down a couple years back by locals in the canyon. It has now gotten worse, not better. Complaints are now occurring to Delta county Commissioners, BLM & law enforcement. If the local OHV users do not immediately get their act together it will almost certainly result in closure of those routes to those users.

Another issue of concern is muddy routes. Stay off of them. Mud Season has arrived. If you delight in throwing mud do it on your own property, not the public's. This practice will also result in road closures. Most every place above 7,000 ft is currently muddy. The environmental groups don't need more reasons to close off access. The OHV community will make it worse for everyone if they don't start taking some personal responsibility.

Steve Chapel, President WSATVA

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Apr Name May Name Jun Name

2 Paul Popish 2 Leroy Miller 1 Jim Barnhill

4 Corine Hesslink 2 Janet Sheible 1 Penny Sanders

4 Fran Kohm-Thomas 3 Marie Frey 2 Nancy Beavers

5 Jo Hatten 5 Julie Gleim 2 Georgia Plett

6 Stephanie Chapel 5 Ray Gleim 2 Janet Popish

6 Steve Bowen 6 Ayn Martin 3 Earlene Davis

7 David Emmons 9 Elaine Schramm 4 Melvin Stout

12 Kimberly McAfee 11 Kenneth Kropf 6 Pat Gilliam

13 Warren Gore 12 Linda Acosta 6 Kenneth Johnson

14 Bruse Alderman 14 Barbara Gordon 9 Mitch Akens

14 Daryl Jean (DJ) Weisner 15 Debbie Pennay 10 Donna Bauer

15 Hegre, Doug 16 Shari Hollenbaugh 11 Dwight Balmer

16 Marvin Cole 18 Dan Russell 12 John Hesslink

16 Ron Kelley 19 Phyllis Neitzert 12 John Wright

16 Suzi LaMonte-Harper 19 Stephen Fisk 13 Amy Becktell

17 Bonnie Brink 19 Sue Phy 19 Ron Fawcett

17 Judy Divine 20 Marty Pollard 21 Brent Simonson

17 Ken Sanders 22 Bill Hutchinson 22 Kathy Devine

18 Tom Smatla 23 Ione Teff 22 Tom Derryberry

19 John Malone 24 Christine Goodrich 23 JoAnn Swanson

20 Gene Gilliam 24 Jim Reed 24 Joy Bolen

21 Lee Beavers 25 John Lehman 25 Gary Corners

21 John Yurick 26 Alan Corporon 26 Duane Wheatley

23 Lorrie Van Dyke 27 Janet Alderman 29 Kathy Schlauger

25 Tim Bauer 27 Mari Alt 30 Dave Rajewich

26 Kathy Yeager 27 Rose Turner

26 Judy Humrich 27 Richard Plett

30 Dennis Becktell 28 Ken Harper

28 John Benton

29 Duane Thompson

29 Tim Kullman

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12 Easter

15 ATV Meeting at Sheriff’s Posse Building

18 Annual Ed Ruland Desert Cleanup ~ depending on weather

Events Details—Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, all events are subject to change.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15

ATV Meeting

16 17 18

Ed Ruland

Desert

Cleanup

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

April 2020

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 Barrell Springs Ride

3 4 5

6 7 8 9

10 11 12

Uncompahgre 13

Uncompahgre

14 Uncompahgre

15 Uncompahgre

16 Uncompahgre

17 Uncompahgre

18 19 20

ATV Meeting 21 22 23

24 25 Memorial Day

Mesquite, NV

Ride

26 Mesquite, NV

Ride

27 Mesquite, NV

Ride

28 Mesquite, NV

Ride

29 Mesquite, NV

Ride

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KC & the

Sunshine Band

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May 2020

2 Barrell Springs Ride ~ contact Tom Derryberry

5 NOHVCC (National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council ~ meeting at Springfield Suites, downtown Grand Junction. Website https://www.nohvcc.org/event/blm-listening-sessions-colorado-grand-junction/

12-17 ~ Tentative Uncompahgre Work Week, depending on snow

19 ~ ATV Meeting at Sheriff’s Posse Building

25-29 ~ Mesquite, Nevada Ride—contact Ken Sanders

30 ~ KC & the Sunshine Band Concert at Las Colonias https://www.ticketoffices.com/performer/kc-and-the-sunshine-band

Event Details-Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, all events are subject to change.

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Uncompahgre Camp-out & Work Project

May 13th - 17th NOTE: Again this year we are moving up this fun camp-out/work party/ride event, in an effort to put more spacing between it and the Hightower Camp-out. If for some reason the weather does not allow this to take place then we may or may not reschedule it. The camp is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from downtown GJ.

Some people will arrive on Wednesday the 13th, but most on either Thursday or Friday (May 14 & 15th). People are welcome to come up a day at a time and may also leave your ATV/UTV/trailer at our camp rather than haul back & forth. Just be sure to park where a camping rig is not able to do so you don't block a late camper from a spot. We get started at 9 am each day so plan to arrive sometime before 9 am each day.

At this point we do not yet know what we will be doing work-wise. We know everyone cannot participate in the physical work and that is fine. We want you to ride along anyway and enjoy the area. Every place we go up there involves riding the ATV or UTV, some on width restricted routes, some on wider routes. We also need people to pick up trash on any of the routes and that involves any amount of riding you want to do.

We will also need someone to haul the club trailer up and back. It will require at least a 3/4 ton truck to pull it. If anyone is interested in hauling your personal ATV/UTV in the Club Trailer talk to Steve or Tom as we will need to reorganize things to fit everything in.

GPS reading for our camp is 38 degrees 43.015 minutes by 108 degrees 38.739 minutes. To get there without the aid of a GPS, turn onto Highway 141 at Whitewater toward Gateway and go approximately 14 miles to the turn-off for DIVIDE ROAD, which is marked on a highway sign. Make the climb up the hill on the mag-chloride coated road and do not turn off. You will pass the forest boundary parking lot & kiosk on the right side of the road, then go another 3 1/2 or so miles and you will pass the BIG CREEK ROAD. The camp is a about 2 miles past that intersection, along DIVIDE ROAD on the right. Watch for the orange traffic cones at the turn for the camp. We are normally back in the trees at the end of that road. We will also try to have it marked on paper plates with WSATVA on them. Any size rig will make it back in there.

People with AT&T have cell service at camp, Verizon works a short distance away.

Questions call Steve 250-4946 or Tom at 250-5534 or 858-7366.

We have a campfire every night & certainly could use some story tellers or other entertainment.

This is not just a guy thing, we always have several wives or significant others that come up , sometimes stay in camp, sometimes go for their own ride & sometimes work along with the guys, or deliver something to a work crew.

It is always a lot of fun so c'mon up!

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Hightower Camp-out and Work Project

The Week of June 8th-14th This area does not offer much for the person that has a wider UTV as all the rides and work we do are on 50 inch wide routes. There are about three roads you can follow, or make a trek over to Electric Mountain Lodge and back if you do want to bring a wider machine up.

The first people will arrive at camp on Monday or Tuesday, June 8th or 9th and probably continue each day through the weekend. Beginning that Tuesday we will start to recon some of the area to see what is waiting for us or perhaps haul some supplies in to certain areas. This process is basically the equivalent of a ride in several locations. As more help arrives we will begin more work in more places. There is not as much snow this year as last so we hope to have an idea of what we need to accomplish prior to arriving there. We will probably have a couple tree cutting groups. We may need to fix the approaches of some of the restrictors & ATV cattle guards by putting concrete down to eliminate the holes & erosion in those places.

This is a popular camp/project as everyone likes all the trails at Hightower. The camp area is very large & suitable for any type of RV. We have had as many as 26 RV's in camp in the past plus single day participants.

We will attempt a club ride on both Saturday & Sunday June 13 & 14th, departing our camp at 9 am. They will be width-restricted rides UNLESS someone with a wider UTV elects to lead a ride on a wider route.

GPS reading for the camp is 39 degrees 16.983 minutes by 107 degrees 39.826 minutes. For those without GPS go east from Collbran and stay on Highway 330 which becomes the SILT ROAD as you pass the Vega turn-off. Continue on the SILT ROAD to 71 4/10 Road where you turn right. Go approximately 2 miles to FOREST ROAD 265 and go left for another 2 1/2 miles to the camp at the power lines. Watch for the paper plates along the way with WSATV on them.

Come on up and enjoy a gorgeous area with us. On Friday evening there will be a Pot Luck at the camp-site, bring something to share and your favorite beverage----talk to Carol Lehman for more info.

We will have a BAR-B-Q on the Saturday evening where the club supplies the burgers, dogs & brats. Bring something to share & join us. The Bar-B-Q starts about 6 pm. Campfires are daily after dinner. From Horizon Drive the trip takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. Once again this year we should be there ahead of the cows. With no cows around it is obviously more enjoyable but it also makes it easier to spot moose and bear because if you see something dark colored it is usually one or the other. We have had both in or just outside our camp in the past, along with the deer and elk.

Once again this is not just a guy thing, we have a lot of wives or significant others participate or hang-out in camp. Whoever is in camp can probably tell you where the rest of us are that day. At this camp Verizon works in camp and AT&T and others work up the road a ways. Once again, lots of fun so come up for a day or multiple days. For question Steve 250-4946 or Tom 250-5534.

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CAMP-OUTS, WORK PROJECTS & RIDES

We are gearing up for our annual multi-day work projects/camp-outs in May, June & July. Those dates are published in the newsletter. Almost all of our work and riding is on 50" trails as that is what we frequent the most. The Uncompahgre project will feature the most routes with no width restrictions. Starting in April, directions to the campsites will be published and we will begin to recon some routes on the Uncompahgre Plateau to get a feel for snow melt and what needs to be done. People tend to arrive at these camp-outs most any day within the dates given. Some arrive earlier some stay later. Some just come up a day at a time. The work projects will usually see small groups go to multiple locations to address problem areas which could include hauling rock to mud holes, fixing deep ruts, breaking rocks with a jack hammer, cutting fallen trees or replacing signs. We try to mix in a "good time" regardless of what we are doing and don't expect anyone to over exert themselves beyond their capability. Some people can't do every type of work that we do and that is perfectly fine. Some people just ride along with us and enjoy the scenery. Our main purpose is to make the trails a more user-friendly place to be. We have a group campfire every evening and attendees gather around the fire pit after dinner until they wander away into the darkness to prepare for another day. Some camp-outs will feature a group BBQ or an "FAC" event on Fridays. Some may feature a community Breakfast. Stay tuned for more information as we do have a good time and we do make a difference on the trails. One more note on rides; we hope to have another multi day event of nothing but rides coming up in August from the Hightower area. We hope to set dates for either the week of August 17th or the week of August 24th. Stay tuned!

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2020 Work Party/Camping Trips~Mark Your Calendars!

Work Dates for the 2020 season have been scheduled. More information will be available in the coming months and as riding/camping conditions change. Uncompahgre ~ Depending on the snow level, the dates for the work party are May 13 through May 17th. The location is the same as past years and will be detailed in the April Newsletter. Hightower ~ June 8 through June 14th (to beat the cows to the camping area!) Location will be at the Powerline camp area and will be detailed in the May newsletter. Vega ~ July 6 through July 12th. As of this publication, Early Settlers Campground sites are all reserved unless there

are cancelations prior to that time. There could be cancellations when it gets closer to summer so continue to check.

More information will be announced in the May and June Newsletter.

For sale 2006 5th Wheel 29 ft Toy

Hauler Trailer ready to go every

thing in good working condition.

$7800 or best offer the 5th

wheel Anderson hitch comes

with it call Kenny McDonald

at 209-915-8452

We need new officers in 2021!

In 2021 we will need a new president and probably a vice president at the very least. Steve Chapel will step

down after 2 years as vice president and 19 years as president. Vice president Ken Sanders’ departure date

is not yet known but probably will be prior to Steve's. To date there has been little interest shown but that

must change! Steve is willing to help out anyone that shows an interest this year. This does not have to be

filled by a man, any number of women would be welcome. We may have to govern by committee if that is

what it takes. Steve is not going to stop with everything and is not leaving the club, but a number of reasons

will prevent him from continuing on as president. Please give this serious consideration or we may

be forced to cancel meetings in 2021.

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Local News

In light of the ongoing concerns related to the spread of the Coronavirus, the following events are subject to change. The WSATVA Board of Directors will keep you notified of any changes!

NOHVCC Meeting

The National Off-Highway Coalition Committee will be holding an informational meeting May 5 at Springhill Suites, downtown Grand Junction. The NOHVCC would like the hear your input and ideas that could lead to enhancements to the areas and trail systems you enjoy.

These sessions are not being organized by the BLM, USFS, or CPW, however staff from these agencies have been invited to attend these meetings as participants and will be on hand to discuss current travel management processes and how your suggestions could help shape future decisions. These organizations are interested in developing partnerships with individuals and organizations to improve the management of OHV recreation on public lands.

The more information gathered, the higher the quality of each statewide strategy and action plan, so please participate in the listening sessions and invite your fellow club members and riding buddies as well. For more information on the meetings please contact Marc Hildesheim, NOHVCC Project Manager, at (208) 416-3557 or at marc@nohvcc.org.

Or go to https://www.nohvcc.org/event/blm-listening-sessions-colorado-

grand-junction/.

Barrell Springs Ride

Tom Derryberry is planning a ride to Barrell Springs sometime in May. The trailhead is at the end of 16 Road, north of Fruita. For more information, you may contact him at (970) 858-7366.

Mesquite, NV Ride

Ken Sanders is planning to go to Mesquite, NV and is willing to lead the ride. Ken has made reservations at The Virgin River for $24.00/night. The ride is scheduled for May 25 ~ 29. Contact Ken at 970-434-5827 for more information.

Annual Dues

Club annual dues are collected October 1 through March 1. If you have not paid your dues yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. Being a part of the club helps keep the trails open for others to enjoy.

Bangs Canyon Paint The Rocks Event

The annual Paint the Rocks Event is scheduled for the end of March or early April.

Ed Ruland Cleanup

The annual desert cleanup is scheduled for April 18. Tom Derryberry will be asking for volunteers to help clean up the desert.

Concert Parking at Las Colonias Amphitheatre

The WSATVA’s participation with concert parking raises funds for the club to perform additional work. The concerts only require about 4 hours of your time. Free entrance into the concert is provided after your work is done! Jon also needs an assistant to help the logistics.

Please contact Jon Gartz for further information at 970-250-0703.

May 30 7:30 pm

KC and The Sunshine Band

June 11 7:30 pm

Boz Scaggs

August 2 7:30 pm

For King & Country

August 7 7:30 pm

The Beach Boys

August 29 7:30 pm

Happy Together Tour

Mark Your Calendars

Western Slope ATV Association

PO Box 4283

Grand Junction, CO 81502-4283

The WSATVA is proud to support and be affiliated with the Blue Ribbon

Coalition, The Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition and the National

Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition in protecting public lands for the people

instead of protecting public lands from the people.

wwwasatva.org