Tread Lightly! Announces 2021 BFGoodrich® Tires Outstanding Trails Project Awardees

November 4, 2021

Tread Lightly!, a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting responsible motorized recreation through stewardship and educational programs, announced the BFGoodrich® Tires Outstanding Trails stewardship grant awardees.

“We’re very excited to award our 2021 stewardship projects that support trails across the U.S.,” said Matt Caldwell, Tread Lightly! Executive Director. “Thank you to BFGoodrich Tires for funding these efforts and the project organizers for doing their part to protect their local trails.”

This year, Tread Lightly! has chosen four projects across the country in partnership with BFGoodrich that promote sustainable off-road trail use. The projects take place in Colorado, Arizona, Virginia, and California.

“Thank you to Tread Lightly! for promoting this program and selecting these projects that will support diverse public lands and off-road trails across the country,” said Harold Phillips, global general manager for BFGoodrich Tires and Tread Lightly! board chairman. “We anticipate some great results from these projects and are proud that the Outstanding Trails program can continue to support off-road trail conservation.”

Each year the Outstanding Trails program provides opportunities for off-roading clubs across America to nominate trails to receive grants for education and preservation. Since 2006, BFGoodrich has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to support organizations dedicated to conserving off-road trails. Past grant recipients have installed educational signage, improved infrastructure, and repaired local off-roading trails.

The projects awarded are as follows:

Go Fox Adventures Cleanup—Bobblets Gap Recreation Areas, Virginia
Go Fox Adventures, off-road enthusiasts from several east coast states, along with the U.S. Forest Service will be working to remove illegally dumped trash along motorized trail routes and dispersed camping areas in the Bobblet’s Gaps Recreation Area. Volunteers from the off-road community will also assist in the installation of new Tread Lightly! ethics signage to encourage responsible use and promote sustainable access to all.

“Bobblet’s Gap is a crossroads- not just of several trails, but of different types of recreationists,” said Scott Ammerman, Go Fox Adventures Founder, “Equestrian, pedestrian, and motorized travel are all permitted on this one section of trail and have been for decades. It also has an underpass below the Blue Ridge Parkway and intersects the Appalachian Trail. Unfortunately, some of the trash we removed has also been there for generations. We found several antique embossed glass beer bottles as well as cast iron household items which would have been interesting to see in another context. It feels good to finally remove some of the debris that has been there that long, and we’re hoping our stewardship education efforts will mean the next 70 years will be a little better.”

Keep Our Desert Clean cleanup—Robbins Butte, Arizona
Robbins Butte is an active target shooting, off-roading and illegal dumping area in Arizona. Despite their efforts, this is Keep Our Desert Clean’s third time cleaning this area and conditions continue to worsen. The grant will fund equipment to remove large items illegally dumped in the area such as abandoned cars, jet skis, boats and more. The project will also have six dumpsters, 300-400 volunteers, kids’ corner with games, catered lunch, restrooms on site, a raffle, and a food drive. During their last event, KODC removed 7 tons of trash and want to double their efforts.

“The project funding we received has allowed us to greatly expand our clean up equipment and supplies which now makes it possible for us to help clean and preserve the 1681 acres known as Robbins Butte,” said Dylan Miller, Keep Our Desert Clean President. “This is a beautiful piece of our desert with the Gila River running through it attracting all kinds of wildlife, this funding has provided us with the ability to protect this beauty and wildlife.”

Colorado Off-Road Enterprise signage and trail improvement—Iron Mike Mine Trail, Colorado
CORE cemented a kiosk frame in for a sign panel to be placed next summer, hand cleared water bars, reinforced trail drainage, and used a suitcase generator with a hammer drill to install a winch anchor. This allows all users to enjoy the trail and keeps the difficult experience intact. CORE also used a chainsaw to slash and block an off-trail bypass route around the obstacle where the winch anchor was placed. Signs were installed to remind users to use the winch anchor if needed and to stay on the trail.

“The Iron Mike Mine Trail was saved from permanent closure and is a great example of how industry, education and ethics, and a local club all worked together to keep a trail open and managed into the future,” said Marcus Trusty, Colorado Off-Road Enterprise President. “The BFGoodrich Outstanding Trails Grant funded much needed trail signage and trail infrastructure to maintain the difficult and remote features desired by the motorized community, while still addressing environmental and safety concerns. We were able to define the trail boundary, eliminate off-trail damage and install a winch anchor to mitigate safety issues at a rock obstacle. The grant funding will also allow CORE to continue trail maintenance on Iron Mike Mine into the future.”

San Diego Off-Road Coalition Cleanups—San Diego, California
San Diego Off-Road Coalition plans to coordinate four cleanups. The club has found “trigger trash” in the Otay Mountains and Painted Gorge areas that allow both off-roading and recreational target shooting. SDOC also hosts an annual cleanup in Corral Canyon in the Cleveland National Forest where members clean the area and trim brush. The organization also holds a cleanup at the same time as their Lost Lizard Fun Run and offers a prize for the most interesting piece of trash.

“At San Diego Off-Road Coalition, we like to promote off road vehicle area cleanups not only to keep the areas clean, but to let the land managers know that we appreciate the areas being open for motorized recreation,” said Ed Stovin, San Diego Off-Road Coalition President. “The Glamis cleanup in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area on January 15th is important because the El Centro BLM office has a new manager and we want him to know we care about keeping the dunes clean and open.”

As these are completed, recaps of the projects will be available as “Impact Reports” at www.treadlightly.org/news.

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