I think one thing that wasn't mentioned is why there are so many idiots out there on may long weekend.
It wouldn't have anything to do with Grad Camping ceremonies would it? The high concentration of drunk 17-19 year olds with their parents Trucks/Quads/Dirtbikes?
I was out at Maclean Creek this weekend, I do drive a Jeep, althoughI dont use it for off-roading (I just really dont want to break it, I kinda like it) but it was great for just getting me to my campsite. I met alot of people out there, as I usually do as people sort of wander about during the day, I like to stay near my camp personally. A bunch of drunk kids came wandering by carrying beer and pellet guns actually.
The worst thing I saw was one kid whose parents gave him a brand new Toyota Tacoma for his graduation. Needless to say it went back home on a flatbed. He drove it through some of the trails and dented the crap out of everything. It looked like it had been rolled over. Then he drove it into a tree. That was the end of his day. He is 17, his truck was 10 days old. I had never met him before but he provided me with loads of entertainment as I sat at my 'campsite' (which was very random
).
Wiaprous is garbage. It used to be the OHV destination, now even they wont touch it because its trashed. Maclean is still alright, but its almost like localized anarchy. People will drive by your campsite hammered in quads in the middle of the night.
The point is, does it do harm? Yes, unquestionably, thats why they localize it. Can you lump everyone out there together? Absolutely not. I met some great guys that go there every year, they quad all day and get drunk all night. Its that seperation that is really key in this situation. Unfortunately most of the people you talk to during the day are out in their trucks/quads/bikes hammered the whole time.
Dont get me wrong, I'm not a fan of 4x4 or quadding. Its just not something I do, my hobby is drag racing which is a totally opposite dynamic compared to off-roading, and it takes place in its own theater and environment, but different strokes for different folks.
I spoke with some of the Jeep club guys, they were really nice guys who were enthusiastic about their hobby. Its just not my hobby, and even they were dismayed about the condition of the place. All these kids would be akin to me taking my (stock) Jeep Grand Cherokee out and tearing around the trails. The end result would likely be wrecked trails and a wrecked Jeep as I am the farthest thing from an experienced off-roader.
Plus my parents aren't the ones who would be paying to fix the damn thing....
Everything taken in perspective.
Locke.