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Outdoor Life: Give us those wide, open spaces
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Posted by rdtusmc Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments A few months ago, I was chastised by my friend Alex for making some politically incorrect comments in my column regarding how we are losing open space and previously remote OHV riding areas to housing developments.
“No more editorials!” said Alex to me about my ranting. 
“Just stick with writing about areas people can travel to in pursuit of off-roading.”
That’s what I’m talking about. Writing about my favorite camping and riding places poses a Catch-22 conundrum for me … I love to write about them and share our enjoyment with others.
On the other hand, I tend to enjoy getting away from it all. By that, I mean getting away from the rat race, i.e. “people.” That means not really wanting more people hanging around the special areas we’ve discovered over the years.
People are constantly asking me where they can go ride dirt bikes or ATVs near Bakersfield. If you draw a circle on a map around our city that shows legal OHV riding areas within a 30-minute drive of downtown, you’ll come up with just one and that’s still in the works.
That’s the Bakersfield State Vehicular Recreation Area northeast of town, which will be operated by State Parks. And, if that deal falls through due to challenges by unbalanced environmentalists or unwilling land owners, then that’s it as far as anything close by.  
Of course, you can find mile after mile of new housing projects being carved out of seemingly every square inch of farming or grazing land.
Even Six Flags Magic Mountain is seriously considering the, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” theory of selling your land for homes as more profitable than recreation.
A recent Bakersfield Californian poll showed that 26 percent of households in Northwest Bakersfield participate in off-roading. And yet, we continue to see plans for more soccer fields, bike paths and golf courses come before our city’s and county’s planning commissions. And those activities were down the list on the poll in terms of participation.
Don’t get me wrong, those are great activities, too. But, it is irresponsible for us as a community to ignore the growing popularity of off-roading as well as the social and economic benefits that come along with it without planning for a multitude of facilities to accommodate off-roading.
Off the soapbox I begrudgingly crawl.
Our secret, undisclosed riding and camping location shall remain unidentified. I will tell you it’s located within the Sequoia National Forest. Cheryl and I camped there a few weeks ago and were not disappointed with what we experienced, babbling brooks, deserted old dirt roads, tall trees, green meadows and fresh air with a hint of incense cedar — not to mention it was 100 degrees in Bakersfield that weekend.
Yet, the thermometer didn’t get much over 79 where we were during the day and low 40s at night.
We’re heading back up there on July 2 for a day trip with my sister Donna and her friend Wayne from her work. Then it’s back down to Dodger Stadium on July 4th to help shoot their July 4th fireworks show after the game.
Hopefully, this year’s show won’t be ruined by goof balls setting off illegal fireworks that set Chavez Ravine on fire where the stadium sits off of Interstate 5.   
Speaking of fireworks, there are absolutely no fireworks of any kind permitted in the Sequoia or Los Padres national forests. Dry grass and lots of brush under the trees don’t mix with fireworks at all.
Make sure you have a campfire permit and camp only in campgrounds and designated dispersed camping areas. 
Happy Trails!

E-mail Dick at: rdtusmc@msn.com

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