This is an open letter to the Board of Directors, our paid contractors, anyone who has served on the Board in the past, and anyone considering a board position in the future. We have a “people” problem. We’ve had this problem before, and it has almost taken down this association more than once in my 22 years as an active member. I shouldn’t have to tell grown adults how to behave, but I feel compelled to do so.

At the recent convention in Clovis, I made a comment to the group about the obvious dramas surrounding the nominations for President. I said that it gave a clear indication of some kind of bureaucratic infighting at the top levels of Cal4. I said that this was damaging to the mission of Cal4, and asked our management team to work together to put a stop to it. Obviously, this has not happened.

I would like to respond to the 5/12/18 letter to the editor regarding the Adventure Trails Program. I don’t own a dirt bike or ATV so I don’t personally benefit from Adventure Trails, but I am an advocate for access to public lands.

The writer pointed out some misdeeds by OHV users and therefore indicated the Adventure Trails Program was a cause. Unfortunately, the OHV user group does not have a monopoly on misdeeds. Hikers have also “crushed brush”, created “adventure trails”, camped in sensitive areas, cut switchbacks, improperly disposed of trash and human waste, created improper fire rings etc., etc. This does not mean that we should close the Pacific Crest Trail.

As we wheel and do volunteer work for the Forest Service, we come across a common find: Trash. In the picture, these items were picked up from around a fire pit at an organized FS camp area. Interestingly enough, these are items found at many different campsites along our California landscape.

The cigarette butts were a shock to me. Not because there was one outside of the fire ring, but because there were 4 separate piles of 8+, in each pile, outside the ring. Whoever camped at this spot must have had an intense weekend!