western Ma Mohawk Trail Clean-up

[sidriptide]

where: North Adams and Florida, Ma area
(this is the area we run our mohawk madness event in the summer)
who: YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
MEETING PLACE: BIG Y supermarket, 45 veterans memorial dr, Noth Adams Ma.
when: saturday april 23, 9AM
objective: pre-season clean up of a few trails we use in the area
info: eastern 4 wheelers started the ball rolling on this and we will jump on it as well.. the intention is to get a clean-up crew up on Notch Rd, in north adams (it runs the eastern edge of Mt Greylock) to remove as much trash/debris as we can, it seems to be one of the local "favorites" for dumping your crap.. if we get enough people we will also tackle Florida Rd because last fall when we ran it the place was a real mess.. if we get more people we may add more areas to our clean-up.. there is interest several other clubs. and i will try to drag out some locals too...

it's mud season up there so wear boots!!!!


what we need:
PEOPLE!!!!!
pick-up trucks, CLEAR plastic bags, yard tool (shovels/rakes) a few chain saws may come in handy too..

more info to come.. CLEAR YOUR CALENDARS!!!!!!!

this is the first of several invitations that NAXJA will receive to participate in wheeling events in the new england area..

[Grizzley]

I'll be there. . .

[Art Triggs]

If I can come I will bring my nice shiny pickup truck and tools, no I wont run Fl Road with it, but I'll help haul out any junk you all bring out to wherever its gotta go.

[Silverstreak01]

I will try to make it. thats way out western mass right?

[Art Triggs]

yup, nw corner of MA. right on the VT-NY Border

[bj-666]

shoot right at the worst possible time i wish i lived closer i'm starting to get supplys together for my front d44 swap so i don't think i'll be able to make it. unless there is someone around RI that is riding up that wants to give me a ride. anyone talk to Earl lately.

[Art Triggs]

It's a "go" for me so I will come with a truck for hauling stuff, tools, some tarps, chainsaw , etc.

[DDCxj]

I'll definetely try to get up there. If I can get moved out of my house during the week, I'll be there. Where is the meeting place so I can get directions?

Dean

[sidriptide]

I'll definetely try to get up there. If I can get moved out of my house during the week, I'll be there. Where is the meeting place so I can get directions?

Dean

meeting place still to be determined.. but it will be on Rt 2 (mohawk trail) in north adams...

[sidriptide]

meeting time and place added now....

we need more volunteers here.. this is to help out a town that TRUELY supports the OHV community..... a few of us will be up there this coming weekend to finish our pre-planning..
gloves, plastic bags, trash "spike" sticks, bigger vehicles will be more beneficial than smaler rigs but DO NOT let that stop you from coming..

[ROBZ95Xj]

Is a stock XJ capeable on these trails? either way i'll try to be there

[sidriptide]

Is a stock XJ capeable on these trails? either way i'll try to be there

one of them yes.. there will be plenty of open seats anyways.. i will have one..

[ROBZ95Xj]

one of them yes.. there will be plenty of open seats anyways.. i will have one..
Sweet I'll be there and will catch a ride with you seeming my jeep really isnt trail ready yet.

[sidriptide]

Sweet I'll be there and will catch a ride with you seeming my jeep really isnt trail ready yet.

trail ready is a state of mind more than anything else..

[ROBZ95Xj]

I need to get a new gas tank and skid before I hit any trails seeming that my tank is really bashed in. But I'll definetly be there to help out.

[Art Triggs]

Sweet I'll be there and will catch a ride with you seeming my jeep really isnt trail ready yet.
I was under the impression we werent doing trail riding, but cleaning up notch road (it needs it desperately)
if we are going up trails, I will bring my Jeep, if not then I will bring my pickup truck...Mike can you clarify that??

[sidriptide]

I was under the impression we werent doing trail riding, but cleaning up notch road (it needs it desperately)
if we are going up trails, I will bring my Jeep, if not then I will bring my pickup truck...Mike can you clarify that??

it all depends on how the day goes... the main intention is cleaning.. but there are places that we will need 4WD to get thru to clean... notch rd is an easy road but it remains to be seen how the spring rains eroded it.. the other road is alot more challenging and will need a few equiped rig to get the stuff out to the road... a truck would be more usefull and if we need to there are seats available if walking the length of a road is not appealing...

if the day goes well i fully intend to wheel somewhere when we are done...

[ROBZ95Xj]

I might through my rear seat dowm and through a tarp in the back to help carry stuff out. What do we do with all the trash? Is there a landfill that we bring it to? Will I get charged? Sorry about all the ?'s but I've never been to a cleanup and was just wondering.

[sidriptide]

we have an agrement with the mayor's office up there that they will pick up any refuse we bring to the foot of the mountain by the road.. and im working on getting a towing company to dispose of any old vehicles we can drag out a well, there is an old scout way up on the old farm that we might just leave there because its too far to drag it.. the trail head is a popular spot for locals to drop their stuff like appliances and roofing material. you will not be charged for anything.. i will e up there sunday working out final details..

[ROBZ95Xj]

Thanks

[ROBZ95Xj]

the trail head is a popular spot for locals to drop their stuff like appliances and roofing material. you will not be charged for anything..
The only 2 trails were I live have been closed down cause of peaple like that and it p*sses me off.

[sidriptide]

The only 2 trails were I live have been closed down cause of peaple like that and it p*sses me off.

the problem is people dont put alot of thought into who puts the crap there.. they see trash.. they see Jeeps... gee who dumped it? but we end up cleaning it up as a way of sucking up to the community in hopes to stay in their good graces... the small towns in northern berkshire county are pretty supportive of us in what we do.. so this clean up will hopefully score some extra brownie points..

[ROBZ95Xj]

well I'll definetly be there. Can't wait to meet some of you guys. Also do you know of anyone in the area thats lokkin for rear drums and shoes. I got some brand new still in the box for a D35 that i've been tryin to sell.

[eastjeep1]

Hey guys,

This is dave here from Amherst, I know you all need help out there and I'd love to be a part. I am only like 1 hour or so from N adams so i think taht I can make it. Big y parking lot it is, I'll let you al know if for some reason i can't make it.

[sidriptide]

hope to see you there dave!!

[sidriptide]

RAIN OR SHINE!!!!!!!
see you there.

[ROBZ95Xj]

I'm hoping to have my Jeep inspested by the end of the week so I can be there. Either way i'll try to be there. (BTW Mike did you see the pics of your friends Bronco in the pics section?)

[Eagle]

well I'll definetly be there. Can't wait to meet some of you guys. Also do you know of anyone in the area thats lokkin for rear drums and shoes. I got some brand new still in the box for a D35 that i've been tryin to sell.
9-inch or 10-inch?

[ROBZ95Xj]

9-inch or 10-inch?
I'm selling them to sidriptide Sat. Sorry

[sidriptide]

I'm hoping to have my Jeep inspested by the end of the week so I can be there. Either way i'll try to be there. (BTW Mike did you see the pics of your friends Bronco in the pics section?)


my friend's bronco?? i will have to check because i know only one bronco.... i'l have to look..

[ROBZ95Xj]

my friend's bronco?? i will have to check because i know only one bronco.... i'l have to look..
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54218

[sidriptide]

tommorow is the big day.... hope to see you guys there..

[Art Triggs]

one way or another I'll be there ;-)

[sidriptide]

wow what a cold wet day.... but we still had a great turn out.. THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!!! i didnt get a head count but we had attendees from CTJeep.org, Eastern 4 wheelers, Rock Attitude, Adirondak jeeps, NAXJA, and the Berkshire RidgeRunners.. we pulled out at least 6 truck loads from the mountain.. big thanks to Forist for having the only 4WD pickup that could handle the duties.. we spent about 4 hrs on the mountain and cleaned all the way up to the old farm, which looked to be a full day cleanup itself... i cant help but wonder if the town knew how much stuff we were going to pull out.... well they have a nice pile ready for pickup on monday AM....

thanks once again for everyone who made the time to get out there and help..

pics are here..

http://www.fototime.com/inv/E01AA773E68C8F2

[ROBZ95Xj]

Geez you guys took out alot of crap. I'm still bummed that I could'nt come and help out and meet you guys.

[Art Triggs]

The amazing thing was thatthere is many more times that amount of stuff up there, it makes you wonder how much trash is laying around by all the other old roads like this that needs cleaning up.......Anyhow those who didnt make it missed out, it was a great day to be out stumbling around in the woods, well, any day is a great day for that, but this was fun and worth while.

[Eagle]

This is something the New England or northeast off-road community should do more often. We had a similar result when we cleaned up the trail in RI last year. We completely filled a donated dumpster (15 yard? 20 yard?) and had a literal mountain of stuff piled up at the roadside even after the dumpster had left.

The amount of "stuff" people dump in the woods is amazing. Until you start massing it in one location you don't visualize just how much there is.

I'm sorry I couldn't be there for this one, but maybe it'll happen again?

[sidriptide]

here is a copy of the press-release we sent to the local papers....

**********************************

Recently, a group of 4WD enthusiasts, working with consent from the mayor’s office in North Adams, performed an Earth Day clean up along some old town roads near Mount Greylock in the North Adams area. The group of over 20 adults included families from several organized New England 4WD clubs, CTJEEP, Eastern 4 Wheelers, Berkshire Ridge Runners, Adirondack Jeeps, Rock Attitude 4WD, Ram Charger Central and North American XJ Assoc. These people came together from across New England, on a rainy Saturday to clean up the messes left by others over the years. Included in the near to three full dumpster loads was a nearly complete 55 Chevy and over 30 tires.
The fact that these 4WD environmentalists chose to clean up other people’s garbage is not something new and is not the only benefit the Adams/Florida area is seeing from the organized 4WD community. Our effects on the local economies of the towns we visit can be seen in several simple examples: A mere 30 vehicles, visiting the area on any given weekend and traveling on the old town roads that already exist in the wonderful scenery of the Berkshire Mountains, will spend a very low balled average of $100, this being on gas, food and lodging and quite possibly parts, never mind any other “souvenir” purchases. We can again low ball the fact that this will take place on only 30 of the 52 possible weekends of any given year. This equates to easily $90,000 into the Adams/Florida area economies. Another example: Whitcomb Summit Motel. The simple closure of Savoy Mnt. State Forest has effectively reduced their reservation rate by 60%! That is a devastating effect!
Aside from bringing monies into the area and cleaning/ maintaining the areas we use, the organized 4WD groups are also responsible for food and clothing drives throughout western MA.
As the state is trying to put together an economic/tourism program, the local people will be remiss to leave OHV recreationists out of the equation. When you see a friendly group of outdoor devotees driving through town in their trucks, please don’t look at us in disdain, we are truly in love with the area and are doing what we can to keep it beautiful.

[EMTJeepers]

VERY NICE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! :us: :star: