Please pass the word

[Towman]

As you all probably know I live here in Winchester Bay. Well I found out today that there are a lot of stupid people riding in the closed area below the Umpqua Lighthouse.  Well for the last 3 weeks or more, there has been a bunch of enviromentalists up at the view point taking pictures of people riding in this closure. Furthermore, they have found out that the sheriffs dept hasn't been writing enough tickets for riding in there. I also heard today that the enviromentalists are wanting the sand dunes closed all the way past the bald spot, (or Banshee hill). If this happens, it will really hurt us because  banshee hill is really well known. People come here from many states away just to see this hill. Also, I heard that they are trying to get the dunes access road closed to. There has been many people around here that has turned in complaints about ATVers riding to fast along the highway throwing rocks all over there vehicles. So, the enviromentalists are all over that to.

We all need to spread the word to our friends and relatives to please stay off the closed areas and to ride along the access road cautiously. If we don't watch out, then we are all going to have our bikes up for sale because of no where to ride them.

[RTOYZ]

Very true, and I hope all of us obey these signs here and anywhere else we ride. Another small note to add to towmans post is please have your quad, or bike within the noise standard. You can have a quite quad and still go fast.

[DuneJunkie]

I will be up there in 2 weeks..........If I see anyone in there I am going to write them a ticket myself!


I wonder if we could build a fence around that area?

[Dune Dude]

  These issues like all others in life come down to enforcement.  Most of us treat being able to ride the dunes as a privilege not a right.  However, some believe they can do as they please where ever and when ever they want.  Without proper enforcement of the laws in riding areas (riding in closure areas, speeding, riding while drunk, riding past curfew, noise 93 db's on the coast) there will be law breakers.  If there was no threat of getting a speeding ticket on the highway the 65 mph would be treated as a challenge not the maximum.  With all the fees and portion of our tax dollars that go to the forestry why can they not have a better presence out in the riding areas?  This would eliminate almost all of the violations we see everyday in the dunes.  Plus, the collected money from tickets could go back into hiring more enforcement people and improving the staging areas.

Ride on and ride right!

[duraraptor]

Well said DD

[Towman]

Well to update you a little. Today at 7:45 pm there was a call out for the ambulance. Well it was called to Banshee hill. We went down there to see what happened and to look at the ocean. Well when we got there it came over the scanner that it ewas code 100. That meant that the victim was deceased. It looked like it was about half way up Banshee hill.  We don't know it it was a man, woman, child, or an adult.

This will almost be certain that Banshee hill will be closed now.

When we hear more as to what happened, we will let you all know.

[DuneJunkie]

I just don't understand.............people just can't seem to stop being stupid and ruining it for all...............

I feel for the family and friends of the individual..........nobody deserves to die...................

however, I do imagine that it was preventable............

[Dune Dude]

I'm sorry to hear that someone died while out in the dunes.  Our prayers will go out to their family and friends.

How can this incident cause the hill to be closed?  Many more people drown in boating or swimming accidents every year than die at the dunes and we don't close lakes.  Does Banshee Hill have that many incidents of fatal or serious accidents?

Does anyone no if these potential closers are going to be fought by advocates for off-road access? 

Like DJ said nobody likes to see someone get hurt.  Usually it is because of bad judgment and inexperience. 
And like he said why should this ruin it for the rest of us?

Please keep us posted Towman.

[DuneJunkie]

Does anyone no if these potential closers are going to be fought by advocates for off-road access? 

that is the job of every atv'er.  that is why we form these groups and have these forums........

we all need to lend a hand in fighting against the closures..............

many voices are louder than relying on one person to speak up for thousands.........everyone needs to get involved.

[Dune Dude]

I totally agree DJ.  We all need to do our part to preserve the hobby we all enjoy.  However, there needs to be someone or a group monitoring what the other side is trying to do.  I don't know if there are meetings with the Forestry and BLM or how the other side begins arguments for closures in the Dunes. 
The Blue Ribbon Coalition and ORBA are just a few entities that help protect access for off-road use.  They are well seasoned in the legal procedures involved in gaining or restricting off-road access.  We can get mad and post all of the forums we want but without representatives at these meetings we will lose our privilege of riding in the Dunes.
The areas around Glamis and Dumont have been in a long battle between the enviro's and access groups.  This is the first I have heard of possible closures to the riding areas on the coast.

Didn't the area below the Light House used to be opened to atv's and camping a couple of years ago?  What happened?

[DuneJunkie]

Didn't the area below the Light House used to be opened to atv's and camping a couple of years ago?  What happened?

yes, it was closed about a year and a half ago.........too many loud noisey bikes disturbing the pease of the tourist green eco loving freaks that wanted to sit at the lighthouse and look at the ocean.

they complained...........and won the battle.................

[Towman]

Thats a fact DJ.  With all the stupid jerks that still ride in that closure is why they want more sand closed. These people won't stop until they get there way. I am telling you guys that in just a few years we won't have a need for ATV's because we won't have a place to ride them. We have to stop the parents from letting our kids from riding ATV's that is to big for them, and to stop the people from riding in closures of the sand that has already been closed.  This closure below the lighthouse, well people has to jump over the guard rail in places to even get into the closure. They know that it is wrong, but they do it anyway.  I wish that I was about 20 years younger, I think that I would raise a few bumps on some of those peoples heads.

[DuneJunkie]

This was taken from the Douglas County police log.  Notice the last entry:

These logs are the highlights of initial emergency calls and reports to the Douglas County Dispatch Center. They do not represent all the incidents or their final outcome.



POLICE LOG

Friday

Douglas County sheriff

11:05 a.m. -- Woman reported plastic eggs with unknown substance inside them being hurled at her on the 4000 block of Stella Street in Green.

11:42 a.m. -- Graffiti found on bridge at 400 block of Southeast Canyon Street in Canyonville.

11:44 a.m. -- Pickup reported stolen, but then found across road at 9000 block of Highway 42 in Tenmile. The pickup had been left in gear and rolled into a ditch.

12:06 p.m. -- Tackle box, fishing and hunting license reported stolen at Lemolo Lake.

12:51 p.m. -- Car broken into at Milepost 67 of North Umpqua Highway, near Lemolo Lake.

1:12 p.m. -- Red spray paint found on doors and windows in 400 block of Alder Lane in Canyonville.

1:19 p.m. -- Identity theft reported in 600 block of Doerner Road in Melrose.

1:30 p.m. -- Graffiti found all over school in 400 block of Alder Lane in Canyonville.

2:16 p.m. -- McDonalds in Myrtle Creek reported threatening calls to employees from collect-caller.

4:26 p.m. -- Ongoing harassment reported at 21000 block of North Umpqua Highway in Idleyld Park.

7:42 p.m. -- Fatal dune buggy accident at dunes in Winchester Bay.

[Towman]

I heard today from an atv rider that someone put a cross with his helmit on it at the base of banshee hill.
Date Posted: July 11, 2006, 09:20:18 PMI should retract that last post. He wasn't wearing a helmit. I heard that he was only 23 years old. I heard that he was comming down the trail to the left of the main trail and flipped his bike over on top of him. He was riding by himself to.

I am sure that this accident will most certainly be the closing of Banshee hill now.

[RTOYZ]

I made reservations at Discovery Point for the Saturday before Dunefest and asked what had happened. They said a 23 year old (no helmet and was drinking) was riding up banshee hill hit a tree and snapped his neck. No word of closure of the hill. I'm sorry that someone lost his life out there, BUT DRINKING and riding WITHOUT A HELMET does not add up to playing it safe!. We like most others are about safety and it's the few of them that give us ALL a bad name. I could go on with lots more but I won't.