Cody Norris
Special to the Sun

The last of the seasonally closed off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails on the Kern River Ranger District (KRRD) opened last week with the help of volunteers.  Due to extended winter conditions, the Sherman Pass Jeep Trail and North Meadow Jeep Trail remained closed later than usual this year.  Once the warming temperatures allowed access, Forest Service crews encountered fallen snags, remnants of the 2002 McNally Fire,  scattered across the trails.  

Fortunately, ongoing volunteer agreements under the Adopted Trail Program offered OHV enthusiasts the opportunity to help open the trails as soon as possible.  Two of these volunteer organizations, the Bakersfield Trail Blazers and the Ridgecrest Gear Grinders, volunteered under this program and assisted the Forest Service in removing over 70 fallen snags from the trails on Saturday July 10.   Other Forest Service sponsored OHV volunteer groups include BPMC, KTM Talk Riders, Stewards of the Sequoia and Thumper Talk.  Each of these groups has played a part in helping the Forest Service maintain over 300 miles of trail this year.  District Ranger Rick Larson expressed his appreciation by saying, “I would like to extend my personal thanks to these OHV organizations, as well as, to all our volunteer partners for taking the time to help us keep trails and other facilities open and safe for the public.  Our combined efforts make the outdoors more enjoyable for everyone!”