Companion forum thread to:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: BACKPACKING LIGHT SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH OHV/ORV COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE MULTI-USE HARMONY IN AMERICAN WILDERNESS

Bravo Mr. Jordan! You have taken the first step towards healing the divide between two communities with many similar interests.

I'm glad to hear this! I've been a dirtbike and atv rider longer than I've been hiking, not to mention believe in sharing! I enjoy both and won't give up either. It's good to hear that a group from the Backpacking community (especially the lightweight backpacking community) is reaching out to help bridge the wall between the two sports!

Edited by rooinater on 03/31/2009 22:33:53 MDT.

I would certainly hope it wouldn't be because of 4/1/09 (even though it was released 3/31 on the pacific coast), even if it seemed a little jovial in parts. otherwise i would have just lost a signifigant amount of respect for backpacking light if they didn't hold to it. A means for change and cooperation, is not something to joke about and i won't renew my membership if that's the case.

Edited by rooinater on 03/31/2009 22:42:55 MDT.

I'm sorry I can't agree with the use of powered machines in the wilderness. I also think that rushing people along the trails diminishes the nature experience. Isn't there enough speed and rushing in daily life? Do we really need to drag it into the wilderness? There are some uses of the wilderness that simply should not be. There is use and there is abuse and machines definitely abuse the land. For example, ATV scars remain for years and years. One of my favorite hiking areas here in Michigan - Pinckney Recreation Area - has been overrun by the mountain biking crowd and it is impossible to enjoy a hike there now. I'm tired of always having to give way to machines.

We do not drive cars, motorcycles, ATVs, dirt bikes, and ORVs into churches. We should show the same respect for the wilderness for it, too, is sacred.

And if this is what Backpacking Light wants to support, I will not be renewing my membership. Why should I have to wear earplugs to cut out the noise of ORVs?? Why should I have to step off-trail to give way to them? I get enough machine noise in my neighborhood from over-loud motorcycles to gas-powered lawn equipment. I go to the wilderness to escape the incessant noise of the city. I refuse to be part of a group that condones taking the noise of the city into the wilderness. There is no way to have it both ways - you can't have both machines and a wilderness experiences.

However, if this is an April Fool's joke (and I sincerely hope it is), then I have fallen for it. Go ahead and laugh.

blahablahablah

Edited by ryan_hutchins on 04/02/2009 10:29:11 MDT.

blue ribbon coalition is not about getting orv's into wilderness areas, the main focus is keeping trails that are open, open. Not expanding into "wilderness" areas. orv's don't belong everywhere, but they do belong where they are allowed.

Edited by rooinater on 03/31/2009 22:58:13 MDT.

This is an April Fool's joke, notice they're basically talking about powerless powered vehicles. Kind of like perpetual motion machines. Good one. You fooled a few.

The giveaway is this sentence "The development of completely noiseless ORVs with zero emissions of any type, zero sound of any type, and zero fuel consumption." The idea this sentence allows KTM's zero-emission bike fails because it requires electricity for it's recharging and there is no mention from KTM that it emits zero sound. "Zero sound of any type" can't allow the sound of wheel's turning, braking, etc. The other giveaway was the date, April 1st, 2009.

Hey for those in Australia or Canada, do they have an April 1st there? (if you answer "no", the reply question is "oh, so April starts on the 2nd there?" [grin])

Edited by marti124 on 03/31/2009 23:25:24 MDT.

Does this mean I can now drive one of my Hummers without all the normal flack.

OK, only on 1 April.

blahblahablah

Edited by ryan_hutchins on 04/02/2009 10:30:01 MDT.

Ryan Jordan just gave me permission to disclose that BPL has entered a partnership with Polaris to develop a JetPack that burns merino wool. The 7 oz version can jet you up to 7000 feet, the 12 oz version jets you over a 12,000 foot pass.

Edited by johnbrown2005 on 03/31/2009 23:41:38 MDT.

Wow! Now I can take my performance enhancing drugs along with riding a hot motorcycle and really cover some miles!! woohoo!!!

But then I read through to the part about the shoes and had a good laugh. Thanks.

phew thank goodness this is a joke, I was about to cancel my membership!

He never defined ORV in his article? Ditch the ALL CAPS. That is unnecessary.

Oh, I see it has been outed as a joke. I didn't read it closely...hehe.

Edited by jshann on 04/01/2009 07:25:20 MDT.

Hopefully this will help foster harmony among ORVers and hikers. The ORV forums are filled with complaints about bear bells and whistles diminishing their ability to enjoy the soothing sounds of an unbaffled two stroke engine.

Constant trail maintenance by the backpacker crowd has also lead to the ongoing destruction of ruts dug into trails that provide needed traction.

By opening the channels of communication between these groups, hopefully we can open channels on the trails and end the noise pollutions created by bells and whistles.

When will we be able to begin booking the ORV "shuttles"? I am trying to ween myself from performance enhancing substances, but I would still like to maintain my 40 mile per day average.

Edited by wisenber on 04/01/2009 09:31:23 MDT.

A slightly more accurate graphic for this article was suggested but ultimately dropped by the PC-BPL editorial staff.