Volunteers install fencing along the Hell’s Revenge trail east of Moab during a Tread Lightly! trail repair project. Courtesy photo
During the trail work project, which was conducted in mid-May to coincide with the annual Rally on the Rocks UTV event, volunteers worked to make improvements to the trail that would assist in keeping recreationists on the designated route, an effort the group hopes “will ensure Hell’s Revenge trail remains open for years to come,” according to the news release.
Rally on the Rocks drew hundreds of UTV enthusiasts to this year’s event, giving the Tread Lightly! organization “an ideal opportunity to engage the OHV community in the stewardship of world-class trails,” according to the news release. Rally on the Rocks organizer, Lanse Chournos, recruited volunteers for the project and “has made stewardship of Moab’s trails a focus of the event,” according to the trail project’s organizers.
The trail repair was funded by partnerships among Tread Lightly! and Discount Tire and KYMCO. Representatives from the Bureau of Land Management Moab Field Office and Grand County Sand Flats Recreation Area management team determined the scope of the work that would be done and guided the volunteer work crew.
“This was another great project to help protect access to the trails we love,” said Mark MacGuinness, vice president of Discount Tire Direct. “We’re happy to have another opportunity to team up with Tread Lightly! and help keep these routes open for everyone.”
KYMCO, which manufactures scooters, motorcycles, side-by-side off-road vehicles and ATVs, supplied six vehicles for use during the workday, with other volunteers using their personal vehicles to carry equipment to the project areas. A total of 40 volunteers spent the day installing range fencing to keep trail users on the designated route as the sandy nature of the trail has led to trail widening and vegetation disruption beyond the designated route.
“KYMCO was excited to get out on this trail that people love so much and help keep it intact,” said Rick Pawelka, Director of Marketing at KYMCO. “Our team has been a devoted partner to Tread Lightly! and we’re invested in making sure there are places to ride. This project was a great way to do that.”
The work was part of Tread Lightly!’s statewide education campaign — RIDE ON Utah.
“The RIDE ON campaign was established to raise awareness of the importance of riding only on routes designated open to motorized vehicles and to engage enthusiasts in stewardship projects to keep trails open,” organizers said in the news release. Newly installed signage along Hell’s Revenge trail promotes the RIDE ON message.