Time for action on Bears Ears Proposal

thefirstzukman

Finding Utah
Supporting Member
Definitely the Antiquities Act needs to have some boundaries where a President can only lock up so much land without it going through Congress. As it currently sits it give a party too much power in gathering support from large groups, and then we waste time and money doing what we’re doing now. Sometimes I feel we give way too much power to a single man.
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
I don't understand how a couple of magazines that are based on vehicle/4x4-dependant travel can support the original Obama-version of Bears Ears NM... 1.3 million acres! Recently both OutdoorX4 and the Overland Journal took to social media to cry 'foul' and whine about the change. I simply don't understand how a magazine, who promotes back country exploration and 4WD travel, can think that access to the 1.3 million acres would NOT be limited, changed or revoked under Obama's Monument!!!! I will NEVER support either of these magazines and recommend others don't as well.
 

jeeper

Currently without Jeep
Location
So Jo, Ut
Thoughts on the National park?

Seems completely backwards to me. Keeping the land open and free.. then develop it into a park??
 

bryson

RME Resident Ninja
Supporting Member
Location
West Jordan
I don't understand how a couple of magazines that are based on vehicle/4x4-dependant travel can support the original Obama-version of Bears Ears NM... 1.3 million acres! Recently both OutdoorX4 and the Overland Journal took to social media to cry 'foul' and whine about the change. I simply don't understand how a magazine, who promotes back country exploration and 4WD travel, can think that access to the 1.3 million acres would NOT be limited, changed or revoked under Obama's Monument!!!! I will NEVER support either of these magazines and recommend others don't as well.

They don't like Trump, so it doesn't matter what he does, they'll speak out against it - heads in the sand. Also, I don't think they can possibly understand the details and still think it's a bad move for the OHV community - So some educating is in order maybe? But, it's so hard to explain things like this to people/friends and have a meaningful discussion without people getting upset...

I don't know the OutdoorX4 fellas, nor do I know Scott Brady personally, but I'm pretty disappointed that Mr. Brady and the Overland Journal are taking the stance they are...

Thoughts on the National park?

Seems completely backwards to me. Keeping the land open and free.. then develop it into a park??

Doesn't inviting millions of irresponsible visitors, paving dozens (hundreds?) of miles of roads and building lodges, gift shops, bathrooms, and all the other touristy garbage sound like a good way to protect things to you? I think the NP idea is ridiculous.
 

Stephen

Who Dares Wins
Moderator
I don't understand how a couple of magazines that are based on vehicle/4x4-dependant travel can support the original Obama-version of Bears Ears NM... 1.3 million acres! Recently both OutdoorX4 and the Overland Journal took to social media to cry 'foul' and whine about the change. I simply don't understand how a magazine, who promotes back country exploration and 4WD travel, can think that access to the 1.3 million acres would NOT be limited, changed or revoked under Obama's Monument!!!! I will NEVER support either of these magazines and recommend others don't as well.

I'm not terribly surprised, actually. Like Bryson said, they don't like Trump (does anyone really, though?) and the issues are far too complex for the layman to understand; which is what the anti-access crowd banks on. Overland Journals is a lifestyle magazine more than anything. Its not really about backcountry travel, planning trips, or promoting good habits when you're on the trail. So they want to make sure that they keep themselves looking good for the rich, armchair "overlanders" on the coasts that fork out the bucks for the magazine and their advertisers that promote the same lifestyle and walked lock step with Outdoor Retailers on this issue. OutdoorX4 I'm not familiar enough with, but I'm betting its the same thing.
 

moab_cj5

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
I think the NP is a TERRIBLE idea. History in our parks have shown that is the absolute wrong way to protect and preserve the land.

As for the magazines, SMH. Ignorance is spreading like wildfire! Even Gaia GPS chimed in recently. I am rethinking my off-road mapping choice now.
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
They don't like Trump, so it doesn't matter what he does, they'll speak out against it - heads in the sand. Also, I don't think they can possibly understand the details and still think it's a bad move for the OHV community - So some educating is in order maybe? But, it's so hard to explain things like this to people/friends and have a meaningful discussion without people getting upset...

I don't know the OutdoorX4 fellas, nor do I know Scott Brady personally, but I'm pretty disappointed that Mr. Brady and the Overland Journal are taking the stance they are...



Doesn't inviting millions of irresponsible visitors, paving dozens (hundreds?) of miles of roads and building lodges, gift shops, bathrooms, and all the other touristy garbage sound like a good way to protect things to you? I think the NP idea is ridiculous.

I'm not terribly surprised, actually. Like Bryson said, they don't like Trump (does anyone really, though?) and the issues are far too complex for the layman to understand; which is what the anti-access crowd banks on. Overland Journals is a lifestyle magazine more than anything. Its not really about backcountry travel, planning trips, or promoting good habits when you're on the trail. So they want to make sure that they keep themselves looking good for the rich, armchair "overlanders" on the coasts that fork out the bucks for the magazine and their advertisers that promote the same lifestyle and walked lock step with Outdoor Retailers on this issue. OutdoorX4 I'm not familiar enough with, but I'm betting its the same thing.

Well, I left Overland Journal alone but OutdoorX4 received my wrath on IG and they did not like it.

outdoorx4 said:
again, we appreciate your input but again, suggesting we want to close access to public lands is ignorant.


Greg said:
What exactly do you think would have happened to the dirt roads in this area if Obama's 1.3 million acre Bears Ears Nat. Monument will have gone through? Do you think more dirt road options would be added for exploring that massive place? Would the roads remain the same? Or would there be closures and less access to public lands? We can always refer to what has happened in the past, for example the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument which Clinton created in 1996 and announced from over the border in Arizona, because he did not have the blessing of Utah's government. We lost hundreds of miles of roads. I hear you saying that you don't endorse closing access to public lands, but that is exactly what would have happened if the Monument had not been changed.

That was just part of the conversation.... they are totally in the dark about what the previous designation would have meant for access. Even when using the GSENM and the road closures there as an example, they had no logical response nor did they even seem to think that it was worth responding to!! Just stick to their guns with blind disregard to the facts. Simply absurd!!

And yes, with Trumps involvement it's not hard for the majority of the population to be against what happened. They're more concerned about hating the man and his actions than to consider the results.
 

ID Bronco

Registered User
Location
Idaho Falls, ID
I have struggled buying Patagonia brand fishing gear for a few years with their left leaning policies. The law suit they just files puts me clearly over the edge. Screw Patagonia!
 

Skylinerider

Wandering the desert
Location
Ephraim
I don't understand how a couple of magazines that are based on vehicle/4x4-dependant travel can support the original Obama-version of Bears Ears NM... 1.3 million acres! Recently both OutdoorX4 and the Overland Journal took to social media to cry 'foul' and whine about the change. I simply don't understand how a magazine, who promotes back country exploration and 4WD travel, can think that access to the 1.3 million acres would NOT be limited, changed or revoked under Obama's Monument!!!! I will NEVER support either of these magazines and recommend others don't as well.

I discontinued my Overland Journal sub a few years ago because of the hipocrasy of a couple of their staff. But I have a lot of respect for others on staff at the same time. I'll just put my money towards long trips, good books, and the people I care about.
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
I discontinued my Overland Journal sub a few years ago because of the hipocrasy of a couple of their staff. But I have a lot of respect for others on staff at the same time. I'll just put my money towards long trips, good books, and the people I care about.

Well said Curt!
 

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
....and it's back.




President Joe Biden, as he promised during his campaign, restored Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments to their original boundaries in a White House ceremony Friday flanked by supporters, including Native American tribal leaders of the Bears Ears coalition and some Utah Democrats.

“This may be the easiest thing I have done as president. I mean it,” Biden said, emphasizing the sacred nature of Bears Ears and its ties to Native American tribes.

He underscored the biodiversity found at Grand Staircase and its bountiful amount of fossils and cultural artifacts.

“Today I am signing a proclamation to restore it to its full glory,” he said.


He said he spoke to both Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, about his decision on the Utah monuments, and while they told him they did not agree with him, he said they were “respectful.”

Right before he signed the order, Biden talked of a little girl who implored him to protect Bears Ears and on Friday he said he was fulfilling that promise.

“The protection of public lands must not become a pendulum depending on who is in office,” he said — even though that is what critics of monument designations say it has become.

In the ceremony, he also restored the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, a nearly 5,000-square-mile area southeast of Cape Cod that had been designated in 2016 and subsequently overturned.

The move over Utah’s monuments brought swift condemnation by Utah conservatives, who have vowed to sue over the action and praise from environmental groups that had castigated former President Donald Trump when he greatly reduced the boundaries nearly four years ago.

Controversy over the two monument designations has dogged the state for years — decades in the case of the Grand Staircase — and is not likely to be resolved anytime soon with this latest executive action stoking the flames even more.
 
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