The problem with hobbies as they grow in popularity is more and more people who don't really care about the hobby partake as a weekend warrior and they do not hold to the spirit of the thing. Last time I went camping I picked up 3 large garbage bags of trash within 50ft of my camp area, we are talking over a hundred beer/soda cans, tons of plastic bags, food wrappers, a propane cylinder with a big ass hole in it etc.
I agree that these mapping services help promote all the trails and not just the main ones. Same goes for hiking trails with apps like AllTrails. I'm just tired of every "influencer" pushing onX. Tells me that the subscription price really just goes into their advertising budget rather than improving the app since it looks like some other services offer more.
I mean any company spends money on advertising to gain brand awareness. Not everyone that talks about onx gets paid, I sure dont. But I dont do ads for them either at least at this time. Id rather see an onX ad than fishing clash or AG1 haha
I think you nailed it Dan, when you mentioned many outdoor users simply do not have the necessary outdoor ethics! IMHO this is greatly lacking in general. Just this last trip to Moab we started seeing 'white flowers' on many trials. For those newbies out there, this means TP left on the ground where someone did their business! For crying out loud people, pack it in, pack it out...or DIG A FREAKING HOLE!!!
I am looking to start out off-roading once I finish putting my YJ together. I’m in NJ and the Pine Barrens offer lots of places to explore. I plan to get a mapping app service like OnX so I can start exploring the easy trails and get to learn my rig. I see both sides, but like you I think it comes down to individual drivers taking the time to maintain the trails they travel, don’t tear them up too much, and leave them cleaner than how you found them.
I see that this could be an issue. Not supposed to but, you could get a bunch of kids or other rookies get the maps and start trouble. Garbage or just getting in over there head. Then they need a rescue. Usually people are good though.
Without getting everything shut down, we have to take the good with the bad. We have to try and educate people to stay on the trail, pack it out, be careful with fire ect. I live in the west and many trails are sponsored by local Jeep clubs. SxS use has exploded. We can drive SxS's on local roads in most western states now too. Most of Nevada is public land, like 80% so there are many thousands of miles of trails. GPS maps are a necessity when trails are 500 to 1000 miles long.
I didnt want to point fingers at a specific group, but that one is a large part of it sadly. And a very high % of the "new to the outdoors/trails" people are in that group. Which sucks because Id like to own one someday but I dont even want to be associated with the reputation they've earned.(then again I dont want to be associated with rubber ducks either....) But clearly not all sxs riders are a problem. I like to be a part of everything offroad related, we ride quads, we wheel, we overland, we camp, and someday we will probably sxs as well.
You're right. It's a double edged sword. And people will people. Personally I think our administration should invest more in trail ambassadors. Those of us just do it to do it. Get caught trashing and you SxS will get melted down like a gun violation.
Thats a bit extreme! It really is sad how lazy and careless some people are though. Ive come across some campsites that looked like a dumpster got dumped there
Many people’s level of exposure to the outdoors is limited and once they get into the wild there are no norms or habits they are used to. Often times, bad habits. People may have all the 4x4 knowledge in the world but none of the actual environment they are riding through. Maps are great but the larger problem is people not having basic knowledge or respect, which makes us want to be more protective of them.
always been a issue with trails before these existed, its not the app its the people and how they treat the land
The problem with hobbies as they grow in popularity is more and more people who don't really care about the hobby partake as a weekend warrior and they do not hold to the spirit of the thing. Last time I went camping I picked up 3 large garbage bags of trash within 50ft of my camp area, we are talking over a hundred beer/soda cans, tons of plastic bags, food wrappers, a propane cylinder with a big ass hole in it etc.
I agree that these mapping services help promote all the trails and not just the main ones. Same goes for hiking trails with apps like AllTrails. I'm just tired of every "influencer" pushing onX. Tells me that the subscription price really just goes into their advertising budget rather than improving the app since it looks like some other services offer more.
I mean any company spends money on advertising to gain brand awareness. Not everyone that talks about onx gets paid, I sure dont. But I dont do ads for them either at least at this time. Id rather see an onX ad than fishing clash or AG1 haha
I think you nailed it Dan, when you mentioned many outdoor users simply do not have the necessary outdoor ethics! IMHO this is greatly lacking in general. Just this last trip to Moab we started seeing 'white flowers' on many trials. For those newbies out there, this means TP left on the ground where someone did their business! For crying out loud people, pack it in, pack it out...or DIG A FREAKING HOLE!!!
that sucks but at least it biodegrades lol, they could bury it!
I am looking to start out off-roading once I finish putting my YJ together. I’m in NJ and the Pine Barrens offer lots of places to explore. I plan to get a mapping app service like OnX so I can start exploring the easy trails and get to learn my rig. I see both sides, but like you I think it comes down to individual drivers taking the time to maintain the trails they travel, don’t tear them up too much, and leave them cleaner than how you found them.
The people that are out there trashing trails are the same people that don’t return their carts to the corral at the grocery store 😅
I see that this could be an issue. Not supposed to but, you could get a bunch of kids or other rookies get the maps and start trouble. Garbage or just getting in over there head. Then they need a rescue. Usually people are good though.
Without getting everything shut down, we have to take the good with the bad. We have to try and educate people to stay on the trail, pack it out, be careful with fire ect. I live in the west and many trails are sponsored by local Jeep clubs. SxS use has exploded. We can drive SxS's on local roads in most western states now too. Most of Nevada is public land, like 80% so there are many thousands of miles of trails. GPS maps are a necessity when trails are 500 to 1000 miles long.
I didnt want to point fingers at a specific group, but that one is a large part of it sadly. And a very high % of the "new to the outdoors/trails" people are in that group. Which sucks because Id like to own one someday but I dont even want to be associated with the reputation they've earned.(then again I dont want to be associated with rubber ducks either....)
But clearly not all sxs riders are a problem. I like to be a part of everything offroad related, we ride quads, we wheel, we overland, we camp, and someday we will probably sxs as well.
You're right. It's a double edged sword. And people will people. Personally I think our administration should invest more in trail ambassadors. Those of us just do it to do it. Get caught trashing and you SxS will get melted down like a gun violation.
Thats a bit extreme! It really is sad how lazy and careless some people are though. Ive come across some campsites that looked like a dumpster got dumped there
Many people’s level of exposure to the outdoors is limited and once they get into the wild there are no norms or habits they are used to. Often times, bad habits. People may have all the 4x4 knowledge in the world but none of the actual environment they are riding through. Maps are great but the larger problem is people not having basic knowledge or respect, which makes us want to be more protective of them.