This is a letter I hate to write as some of my relatives and acquaintances are off-road vehicle users and many users will hate me for this; but I feel it needs to be said. Reiter Pit needed to be closed down, for it had become a garbage dump, an environmental disaster, a blight, a festering sore upon the land.

In the past 40 years I’ve seen many areas shut down to ORV use because of illegal dumping, illegal activities, and erosion plus environmental damage. Let’s face it, folks! ORV use is damaging to the environment, no argument about it!

Unless ORV users start cleaning up the areas they use, more will be shut down or they might face regulations that backpackers face in many areas — such as a six-month reservation or lottery drawing and limited number of users at any time. No campfires, pack out all garbage, no pets, or they must be kept on a leash, and quite possibly, if toilets are not present, one must pack out their own waste.

I hate to say it, but right now, ORV users are their own worst enemy.

Don Stobbe

Sultan