I feel inclined to put in my 2 cents here. I too have two boys, ages 4 and 7. Both ride and under no circumstances are allowed to play anywhere near the dunes unless we are riding together. This whole taping off dunes and flat areas really gets me fired up. This last trip I was out on a ride with my 7 year old who was on his LT80. We came to a small 40' wide opening between two camps occupied by people who (being the rocket scientist that they are) used STEEL T-STAKES to rope off the dunes. Well my son had a little trouble getting straight over the top decided to angle his climb. He made it a few feet from the top and started sliding down sideways, narrowly missing those steel stakes that those idiots put into the side of the dunes. fortunately he missed the stakes, but I assure you had he not I would own somebody's new toys from that camp after they got out of the hospital.
My camp group consist of about 15 other families and we all feel the same about people roping off the dunes. I was so unhappy after this last trip I decided to e-mail the Barstow BLM office to voice my concerns. I explained that not only is roping off the dunes and surrounding areas unfair to all of us who pay to use the land, but it also unsafe. I am supprised that nobody has been seriously injured or killed due to this behavior whether it be from impailment on a steel stake or god forbid somebody hitting a child playing in a roped off area of a dune. This was his reply
"Mr. Devin Peck,
>
>Our team has identified this a a problem that must be dealt with and has
>referred it to the Technical Review Team for a recommended solution. In
>times past coning off an area was acceptable practice as crowds were small
>and space was not a factor. Our sport is growing and space at Dumont is
>now a major consideration for the health and safety of our users. We have
>identified and are working to put rules in place to resolve this issue and
>educate those who are doing it. Thank you for your interest in Dumont
>Dunes and we hope to resolve this issue in the very near future. Please
>feel free to respond directly to this e-mail address if you have further
>questions."
Larry_Blaine@ca.blm.gov
Please feel free to voice your concerns to him. I think we all need to voice our opinions..........we all do afterall pay to use this land.
