Del Albright

GLAMIS VETERANS DAY GATHERING -- THE FLAG POLE CEREMONY!

2026-09-30T07:25:49.269-07:00

23rd ANNUAL GLAMIS VETERANS DAY GATHERING

Team Albright Headed to Glamis!

We are super excited for our next big event with the Glamis Veterans and the 23rd Annual Glamis Veterans Day Gathering, better known to many of us as the Flag Pole Ceremony.

I'll be there in my military tribute vest, proudly "representing," and Stacie and I plan to be there for the entire event — helping out, volunteering, pitching in wherever needed, and getting to know some of the veterans, families, patriots, and off-roaders who come together for this incredible ceremony of respect and honor.

We'll even have some pretty nice digs while we're there, thanks to Glamis Dunes Rentals and their partnership with Glamis Veterans.

We're looking forward to experiencing the whole event, not just showing up for the ceremony. If you've never been to the Flag Pole Ceremony, show up. Come feel the chills. Come experience the dignity, respect, patriotism, and genuine honor given to those who have served and continue serving. Be there in the sand among thousands of Americans and fellow patriots and experience it for yourself.

And a special thank-you to Brian Crain for ram-rodding this tremendous day every year and to everyone who works behind the scenes to make it happen.

Team Albright is headed to Glamis. We'll see you at the Flag Pole!

SPECIAL THANKS to the sponsors helping Glamis Veterans Remember, Honor, and Support our Nation's heroes: Diamond Sponsors =

Marine Diesel Services

DRT Motorsports Performance Products, and

Can-Am.

Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Patriot sponsors also include: Sand Asylum, California Radomes, Shelee's Travel Center, TNT, Roofing Standards, Inc., Fishing Boats Unlimited, Glamis Dunes.com, Fastlab UTV, Dunes Edge Storage, HMS Plumbing, Eclipse Appliance Installation, T&D Designs, Daddy's Famous Foods, Eric Crain Media, Site Shades, Quality Copy & Printing, Tact-Med Info, Aviwraps, Glamis Dunes Rentals, and GoFastGirls.

RESPONSIBLE TRAIL SANITATION; THE "POOP MASTER" SPEAKS

2026-09-29T07:30:07.088-07:00

Responsible Trail Sanitation: Pack It In, Pack It Out

delalbright.com — Sustainable, Responsible, Common-Sense Adventuring

Words of wisdom from a guy they once called the “Poop Master.” And yes, there’s a story behind that.

Nobody really wants to talk about poop around the campfire. But after decades of four-wheeling, trail stewardship, volunteer work, and fighting to keep public lands open, I've learned that sanitation isn't just a camping issue. It's an access issue.

Whether you're exploring backroads, crawling into a quiet Sierra basin, running the desert, or joining a caravan of motorheads for a weekend trip, what we leave behind matters. Get it? Behind? :)

Many of the places we love have no toilets. No vaults, no outhouses, and no facilities whatsoever. Sometimes, even where facilities exist, they're full, damaged, closed, poorly maintained, or downright unusable.

At the same time, more people are discovering dispersed camping, overlanding, OHV recreation, and America's backcountry. That's a good thing in many ways, but it also means more pressure on the land. Sooner or later we have to ask the question nobody particularly wants to ask: Where does all that human waste go?

Too often, the answer is behind a tree, under a rock, beside a campsite, or accompanied by those infamous little “white flowers”—toilet paper fluttering around the landscape like the world's ugliest trail markers. Besides being disgusting, it reflects badly on all of us who use public lands.

For motorized recreationists especially, responsible sanitation is another chance to show we care for the places we use. My preferred rule is pretty simple: If you can pack it in, be prepared to pack it out.

I Learned This One on the Rubicon

This isn't theoretical for me. Years ago, during some of the Rubicon Trail's busiest periods, sanitation became a serious management problem. Thousands of people could travel and camp along a trail with limited toilet facilities, rocky ground, water nearby, and very few good places to properly dispose of human waste. Trail volunteers saw the results firsthand, and so did land managers.

Somewhere along the way, after spending far too much time talking about toilets, sanitation systems, waste bags, and what happens when thousands of people all have to “go” in the backcountry, I acquired the distinguished title of “Poop Master.” I've been called worse.

There was an important lesson underneath the humor, though. Poor sanitation can become a land-use problem. When campsites and trails become littered with human waste and toilet paper, somebody eventually has to deal with it. Volunteers clean it up, land managers have to respond, complaints increase, and eventually additional regulations or restrictions can follow. That's why I became such a believer in packing it out.

Packing It Out Is the Best Default

There are certainly places where properly buried human waste is legal and appropriate, and you should always know the regulations for the land you're visiting. But I've also spent enough time in the Sierra, deserts, rocky trails, snow country, and heavily used campsites to know that the textbook “dig a cathole” solution doesn't always match reality.

Sometimes there's barely enough soil to drive a tent stake. Sometimes you're near water. Sometimes you're camped on granite or hard desert ground. Sometimes an area receives so much use that dozens or hundreds of catholes aren't much of a solution at all. And sometimes, let's face it, people simply don't do it correctly.

That's why my preferred backcountry sanitation plan is to carry a pack-it-out system before you need one, not after somebody starts doing the emergency toilet-paper dance behind the Jeep.

What Works?

You don't need a $100,000 overlanding rig or some fancy expedition toilet to handle sanitation responsibly. You just need a system that works for you and, more importantly, one you'll actually carry and use. I've used several systems over the years, and I'm not selling any of these products or representing the companies mentioned here. These are simply things I've used or seen work in the real world.

PETT / Cleanwaste GO Anywhere System

This has been my longtime go-to system. It folds up, travels well, provides a real toilet seat, and uses waste bags designed specifically for human-waste disposal. For families, groups, longer trips, or a base camp, add a privacy tent and you've got a pretty civilized backcountry bathroom.

I've also learned a few tricks from years of field use. On snow or very soft ground, give the toilet a solid base so the legs don't sink. Carry more waste bags than you think you'll need, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for using, sealing, storing, and disposing of them.

And keep the privacy tent zipped up. Trust the Poop Master on this one: flies can find an open toilet tent faster than your buddies can find the cooler.

Bucket Toilets / Luggable Loo

Another perfectly good option is the simple five-gallon bucket toilet. They're inexpensive, easy to carry, and, when used with an appropriate waste-bag system, very effective. Campers, hunters, RVers, four-wheelers, river runners, and plenty of other backcountry travelers have used some variation of the bucket system for years.

It isn't glamorous, but neither is squatting behind a manzanita bush while hoping nobody comes around the corner. I'll take the bucket.

What About Catholes?

Where regulations allow them, properly located and properly dug catholes may still be appropriate. The important part is knowing before you go, because rules vary and some heavily used or environmentally sensitive areas require human waste to be packed out.

Even where catholes are allowed, consider the terrain, the amount of use the area receives, proximity to water, and whether you're realistically going to be able to do the job correctly. Rocky ground, shallow soil, snow, high-use campsites, and sensitive environments are all good reasons to choose a pack-out system instead.

And whatever method you use, please don't leave those white flowers decorating the bushes.

Sanitation Is Also Mentorship

There's another part of this that we sometimes overlook: sanitation is something we need to teach. A newcomer to four-wheeling, overlanding, or dispersed camping may honestly have no idea what's expected when there isn't a restroom around. That's where those of us who've been doing this awhile have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to mentor by example.
When you take somebody new into the backcountry, show them your pack-out system. Explain why you carry it, how you use it, and why leaving toilet paper or improperly buried waste behind isn't acceptable. Don't embarrass somebody for not knowing; teach them before they need to know. That's how responsible recreation gets passed from one generation of trail users to the next — not through another regulation or sign at the trailhead, but from one person showing another how we take care of the places we love.

The Bottom Line

We spend a lot of time talking about responsible recreation. We talk about staying on designated routes, respecting closures, putting out campfires, picking up trash, helping other travelers, volunteering for trail work, and being good ambassadors for motorized recreation. Sanitation belongs on that same list.

Maybe it isn't glamorous, and maybe nobody wants to be the person who brings up poop at the club meeting. Fine. I'll do it. I've certainly talked about worse things over the years.

Taking care of human waste is simply another part of taking care of the places we use. If we want our four-wheeling routes, dispersed camps, beaches, dunes, forests, deserts, and backcountry destinations to remain clean and available for future visitors, we need to accept responsibility for what we leave behind.

Pack it in. Pack it out. Leave the campsite cleaner than you found it.

Keeping our public lands clean isn't somebody else's responsibility. It's ours, and it's one more way we can demonstrate that responsible motorized recreationists aren't just users of public lands — we're caretakers of them too.

What Works for You?

I'm interested in what other experienced backcountry travelers are doing. What toilet or pack-out system works for you? What have you found works particularly well for families or groups? Do you have a favorite privacy-tent setup, storage trick, or sanitation lesson you learned the hard way?

Share it. This is one of those subjects where exchanging a little practical trail wisdom — and maybe having a few laughs along the way — can help all of us do a better job of taking care of the places we love.

Clean camps. Clean trails. Responsible recreation. Open access.

PUBLIC LANDS DAY; GIVE BACK

2026-09-25T07:51:25.722-07:00

Public Lands Day: Show Up, Give Back, and Earn Your Seat at the Table

Saturday, September 26, is National Public Lands Day, and I almost let this one sneak past me. That would have been a mistake.

I've spent a good portion of my life working for public-land access and responsible motorized recreation. I've attended meetings, written letters, taught classes, organized volunteers, worked trails, hauled trash, repaired damage, built partnerships, and probably worn out more than a few pairs of gloves along the way.

So National Public Lands Day hits pretty close to home.

This year's theme is “Caring for Our Shared America.” I like that. Because public lands aren't somebody else's backyard. They are our forests, deserts, trails, campgrounds, waterways, historic sites, and open spaces.

And with that privilege comes responsibility.

Access and stewardship go together

Those of us who enjoy four-wheeling, overlanding, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, camping, hunting, fishing, and exploring the backcountry sometimes spend a lot of energy talking about keeping public lands open. We should.

But I've learned over many decades in land-use advocacy that our argument for access becomes much stronger when we're also willing to put boots on the ground to take care of those places.

Pick up somebody else's trash. Clear a drainage. Help repair a trail. Replace a sign. Join a work party. Help restore an abused campsite. Teach somebody why staying on the designated route matters.

And perhaps most importantly, bring somebody younger along and show them how it's done.

That's stewardship.

Mentorship may be our most important tool

I've been thinking and writing a lot lately about mentorship in responsible recreation. Rules and signs have their place, but nothing replaces one person showing another person the right way to do things.

Don't just tell somebody to stay on the trail. Explain why.

Don't just complain about litter. Pick it up where others can see you doing it.

Don't just criticize the newcomer who doesn't know trail etiquette. Teach them.

That's how we build the next generation of public-land stewards.

A seat at the table

I've said this for years: You cannot expect a seat at the table if you don't show up.

That applies to agency meetings and public comments, but it applies equally well to stewardship. When land managers see four-wheel-drive clubs, OHV organizations, hunters, campers and other recreationists volunteering their time and equipment to maintain public lands, it builds relationships and credibility. We become part of the solution.

National Public Lands Day is a good reminder of something we ought to practice all year long:

Use it. Enjoy it. Protect it. Give back to it.

Tomorrow, thousands of volunteers around America will do exactly that. Maybe you have an organized project nearby. Maybe you don't. Either way, the next time you're on public land, throw some gloves and a trash bag in the rig. Pick up something that isn't yours. Help somebody understand responsible recreation. Join the next trail workday.

And take a youngster or newcomer with you. Because public lands don't take care of themselves.

We do.

Who Will Care For Our Trails After We're Gone?

WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE TRAILS WHEN WE'RE GONE?

2026-09-24T10:39:08.645-07:00

WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR TRAILS?

Mentorship, example-setting, and a Responsible Recreation Revival

There is a lot to this story...

I've spent much of my life watching volunteers build, repair, adopt, defend, and sometimes save trails. I've watched people give up weekends, burn their own fuel, wear out their own equipment, and put plenty of sweat into places they don't own.

Why? Because they care. But lately I've been thinking less about the next trail project and more about the next generation of people willing to do the work.

Who's going to take care of these places when we're gone?

We have better rigs today. Better tires. Better suspension. GPS. Satellite communications. Apps that can lead almost anyone to a trailhead and tell them which way to turn. But technology can't teach stewardship.

An app can't teach somebody why you stop and pick up someone else's trash. It can't explain why you don't widen a trail just because you can. It can't teach the importance of staying on the designated route, respecting a seasonal closure, fixing something you damaged, or taking a few minutes to help somebody who doesn't know any better.

People teach people.

And perhaps that's where the next chapter of responsible recreation needs to begin.

MENTORSHIP BECOMES LEADERSHIP

Years ago, when a newcomer joined a four-wheel-drive club or went wheeling with a group of experienced folks, there was usually somebody around to show them the ropes. Sometimes the lessons were formal. Most weren't.

You watched what the experienced people did. You learned where to put your tires. You learned when to air down. You learned how to use a winch safely. You learned trail etiquette. You learned to wait at the intersection until the rig behind you saw which way the group went.

And somewhere along the way, you also learned something bigger: We take care of the places that give us the opportunity to recreate.

Nobody needed to hand you a 40-page stewardship manual. The people you respected demonstrated it.

That's mentorship. And eventually, the person being mentored becomes the person somebody else is watching.

Mentorship becomes leadership.

PEOPLE ARE WATCHING WHAT WE DO

One of the most powerful tools we have for protecting access doesn't require a grant, a government program, or a new regulation. It's example-setting.

When somebody sees us stop our Jeep or side-by-side and pick up trash that isn't ours, that sends a message. When we pull a fallen branch out of the trail instead of driving around it and creating another route, that sends a message.

When we spend Saturday repairing erosion, cleaning up a campsite, installing signs, working with a land manager, or helping maintain a trail, that sends a message. And when we post pictures of those things instead of posting only pictures of horsepower, mud holes, hill climbs, and spectacular scenery, that sends a message too.

I'm not suggesting we stop showing the fun. Heck no. The fun is why we're there. But maybe we need to become better at showing the other half of the story:

We don't just USE public lands. We CARE for them.

MAKE STEWARDSHIP VISIBLE

This may be one of the most important parts of what I'm calling the Responsible Recreation Revival.

For decades, motorized recreationists have done an enormous amount of volunteer work on public lands. Trail maintenance. Cleanups. Restoration. Search and rescue. Fire prevention. Sign installation. Adopt-a-trail programs. Working with agencies. Raising money. Writing grants. Educating visitors.

Yet much of that work is practically invisible to the general public. We need to change that.

If your club spends six hours repairing a trail, tell people about it. If your group hauls a pickup load of garbage out of the woods, take a picture. If you're teaching newcomers why we stay on designated routes, share that story.

If your kids or grandkids are helping pick up a campsite, be proud of it. Not because we need a pat on the back. Because visible stewardship helps create a culture of stewardship.

People tend to repeat what their community celebrates. Let's make taking care of our trails something worth celebrating.

DON'T JUST CORRECT PEOPLE — TEACH THEM

This one matters. It's easy to get frustrated when somebody does something stupid on the trail. I've certainly seen enough stupid over the years. But not every bad decision comes from bad intentions.

Sometimes people simply don't know.

A newcomer may have bought a Jeep, UTV, dirt bike, or overland rig last month. They found a trail online and headed out. Nobody ever taught them trail etiquette. Nobody explained why driving around an obstacle can eventually turn a narrow trail into a 40-foot-wide mess. Nobody told them why that little meadow shouldn't become a parking lot.

That's an opportunity. We can embarrass them. We can yell at them. We can blast them on social media. Or we can teach them.

There are certainly times when intentional bad behavior deserves a stronger response. But whenever possible, I'd rather turn an uninformed recreationist into an informed steward. Because now we haven't just solved one problem.

We've potentially created another mentor.

THE NEXT TRAIL PROJECT IS PEOPLE

I've spent decades talking about keeping public lands open. That fight isn't going away.

Planning processes, regulations, closures, lawsuits, budgets, agency decisions, environmental concerns, and political battles will always affect recreation access. We absolutely need to stay engaged in those things. But perhaps there's another access issue we haven't talked about enough.

Who will inherit the responsibility?

The next generation of recreationists won't automatically understand the culture many of us grew up with. We have to pass it along. Take a newcomer wheeling. Invite the new family in camp to your cleanup. Explain why you're stopping to pick something up.

We should also teach somebody how to repair a trail instead of merely driving it, bring the kids. Show them that leaving a place better than we found it isn't some slogan printed on a sign.

It's simply what we do.

That's the Responsible Recreation Revival I'm talking about. And it's understanding that enjoying public lands and taking responsibility for them aren't two separate things.

They're part of the same privilege.

So the next time you're out there enjoying a trail, a campsite, a forest road, a desert, or a piece of public land you've loved for years, ask yourself one question:

Who's watching me? Then give them something worth learning.

Mentorship becomes leadership. Stewardship protects access. And example-setting may be one of the most powerful tools we have.

That's how we bring responsible recreation back to the trail.

READ ORIGINAL RRR ARTICLE HERE.

ARE E-BIKES A PROBLEM FOR RV PARKS?

2026-09-07T08:16:56.144-07:00

ARE E-BIKES BECOMING A PROBLEM FOR RV PARKS?

A new California RV park policy should get the attention of RV travelers who carry e-bikes

I spend a fair amount of time traveling by RV, and like a lot of RVers, I have watched e-bikes become almost standard equipment around campgrounds. But there's a problem...

You see them hanging on the back of motorhomes, fifth wheels and travel trailers everywhere. For many RV travelers, especially older folks, an e-bike isn't a toy. It's transportation.

It's a way to get from the campsite to the store, visit friends on the other side of a big campground, explore nearby roads and trails, or simply get outside and enjoy a ride without having to climb into the truck every time.

But something is changing.

On September 1, 2026, Jackson Rancheria RV Park in Jackson, California, put a new policy into effect prohibiting the riding of all e-bikes anywhere within the RV park. And I think RVers ought to pay attention.

A VERY CLEAR BAN

Jackson Rancheria isn't some little campground with a dozen sites. It is a large, highly regarded Northern California RV destination that recently expanded to 202 full-hookup sites.

The notice I received before an upcoming stay couldn't be much clearer. E-bikes cannot be ridden anywhere in the RV park — roadways, sidewalks, pedestrian areas, recreation areas or common areas.

And Jackson Rancheria went one step further. Turning off the motor doesn't make it a bicycle. Disconnecting the battery doesn't make it a bicycle. Even if you are simply pedaling your e-bike under your own power, it is still considered an e-bike and cannot be ridden.

You can bring one with your RV or vehicle, but it must remain secured at your campsite.

The park also prohibits riding conventional bicycles and scooters after dark. That's a significant policy change, and I don't think it will be the last one we see in the RV world.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

First, let's be fair to RV park operators. A modern RV resort can be a busy place.

You've got 40-foot motorhomes maneuvering through narrow roads, pickups backing trailers into campsites, golf carts, kids, dogs on leashes, people walking to the pool, people crossing roads after dark and, increasingly, electric bikes and scooters mixed into all of it.

Many campground roads have speed limits of 5 or 10 mph. Now put an electric bicycle capable of 20 or 28 mph into that environment. Worse yet, put something that LOOKS like an e-bike into that environment but is actually capable of 35, 40 or even 50 mph.

There's the problem.

California itself is struggling with this distinction. In April 2026, the California Attorney General issued a consumer warning reminding people that a two-wheeled vehicle exceeding California's legal e-bike speed limits isn't an e-bike anymore. Depending on its capabilities, it may legally be a moped or motorcycle.

But try asking the employee at the front desk of an RV park to figure all that out.

Is it Class 1?

Class 2?

Class 3?

Does it have a throttle? Has the controller been modified? How many watts does the motor produce? Does the manufacturer label match what the machine actually does?

That's a lot to ask of a campground employee. There is a much easier rule to enforce:

No e-bikes.

And unfortunately, the responsible e-bike rider gets caught in that net right along with everybody else.

THE RESPONSIBLE USER PAYS THE PRICE

This is the part that bothers me most. A responsible RVer riding a legitimate pedal-assist e-bike through a campground at 5 or 7 mph is not the same problem as somebody blasting through camp at 25 mph on a high-powered electric machine.

But from a campground owner's perspective, both machines may be called "e-bikes."

I've watched this same story play out during a lifetime involved in motorized recreation and public-land access. A relatively small number of irresponsible users create enough problems that eventually a land manager, property owner or insurance company decides it is easier to regulate everybody.

Responsible recreation isn't just a slogan. What we do affects the person coming behind us.

THEN THERE'S THE BATTERY

There is another part of this discussion that RVers need to take seriously: lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium batteries have transformed portable power, tools, phones, RV systems and electric transportation. Properly manufactured, maintained and charged batteries are used safely by millions of people every day. But damaged, poorly manufactured, modified or improperly charged lithium-ion batteries can overheat and enter what is known as thermal runaway, resulting in an extremely intense fire.

That gets the attention of an RV park operator. And think about the RV park setting.

An e-bike battery may be charging beneath an RV awning. The RV next door might be only a few feet away. There may be propane cylinders, gasoline, plastic furniture, awnings and several hundred thousand dollars worth of RVs packed together.

Suddenly battery quality and charging practices aren't just an owner's personal concern. They become a campground fire and liability issue.

California has already responded to the concern. Beginning in 2026, state law requires newly sold e-bikes, batteries and charging systems to meet recognized electrical safety standards, including standards associated with UL 2849 and related battery certifications.

That's an important distinction. Not every lithium battery deserves to be treated as dangerous.

A quality, properly certified e-bike battery used with its manufacturer's charger is a very different proposition from an unknown replacement battery bought online, a damaged battery, a homemade system or an incompatible charger.

I would hate to see responsible e-bike owners lose campground access because of unsafe equipment and charging practices that could have been prevented.

OTHER RV PARKS ARE ALREADY TIGHTENING THE RULES

Jackson Rancheria isn't operating in a vacuum. Other campgrounds around the country are adopting new e-bike rules. Some allow only Class 1 pedal-assist bikes. Some require registration. Some prohibit throttle-only operation. Some establish age and helmet requirements.

Some parks restrict e-bikes to campground roadways. Some prohibit riding after dark or require functioning headlights and taillights. And some are beginning to specifically regulate where and when lithium batteries can be charged.

So I don't think we're looking at a nationwide e-bike ban. At least not yet.

What we are seeing is a growing effort by RV parks to get control of electric mobility inside increasingly busy campgrounds. Jackson Rancheria has simply chosen one of the easiest rules to understand and enforce: Don't ride them.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR RV TRAVELERS?

If you travel with an e-bike, I think it's time to add another question to the campground reservation checklist:

What is your e-bike policy?

Don't assume that because bicycles are permitted, e-bikes are permitted. Don't assume that turning off the battery makes your e-bike a conventional bicycle. And don't assume the rules at a campground you visited last year are still the rules today.

Before traveling, check the campground's current policies concerning e-bike use, storage and charging. I'd also strongly suggest knowing exactly what you're carrying.

Know your e-bike's class. Know its maximum assisted speed. Know whether the battery and electrical system carry recognized safety certification.

Additionally, use the manufacturer's approved charger. Don't charge a damaged battery. Don't leave questionable batteries charging unattended. And whatever the campground speed limit says — obey it.

Five miles per hour means five miles per hour whether you're driving a golf cart, riding a bicycle or sitting on a $5,000 e-bike capable of doing 28.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE

Those of us involved in four-wheeling and public-land recreation have learned this lesson the hard way. Access is much easier to lose than it is to regain.

When enough people ignore speed limits, ride where they shouldn't, make excessive noise, create safety problems or otherwise abuse an opportunity, eventually somebody puts up a sign. CLOSED.

The technology may be different, but the principle hasn't changed.

If we want e-bikes to remain welcome at RV parks, campgrounds and recreation areas, legitimate e-bike users have a stake in responsible e-bike use — and perhaps even in separating themselves from high-powered electric motorcycles masquerading as bicycles.

RV park operators also have a role to play. Where practical, I'd rather see reasonable rules distinguishing responsible e-bike use from dangerous behavior than blanket bans that penalize everybody.

But private campground owners have to protect their guests, employees and property. When the distinction becomes too difficult to enforce, we shouldn't be surprised when they choose the simplest solution.

Jackson Rancheria's new policy may be one campground's decision. Or it may be an early warning of where this is headed. Either way, if an e-bike rides along with your RV, I'd start checking the rules before you pull out of the driveway.

RESPONSIBLE RECREATION MATTERS

I've said some version of this for most of my life: Freedom without responsibility isn't freedom — it's abuse.

Whether we're talking Jeeps, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, bicycles or today's e-bikes, our behavior helps determine how many opportunities the next recreationist gets to enjoy.

Let's not give campground owners another reason to put up another CLOSED sign.

RECREATIONAL INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (RICS)

2026-08-28T11:32:44.762-07:00

The Recreational Incident Command System (RICS)

By Del Albright

The Recreational Incident Command System (RICS) starts with a simple premise: everyone should have a job, know what that job entails, and understand how that job relates to the rest of the organization.

RICS then ties everyone together with a common organizational language and communications system, while establishing clear goals, objectives and expectations for getting the job done.

I developed RICS in the early 2000s as a simplified adaptation of the Incident Command System (ICS), used nationwide by fire, law enforcement, and other emergency service organizations. I took principles I had used during my military and fire-service careers and adapted them specifically for volunteers, recreation organizations, trail projects and events.

And I can tell you from experience: it works.

We used RICS extensively with Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) to organize volunteer projects that helped preserve and maintain the Rubicon Trail. Over the years, I trained hundreds of volunteers and recreation leaders in the system.

How RICS Works

In emergency services, the chain of command is well defined. Everyone knows who's who in the zoo.

For complex incidents—such as major wildfires involving multiple agencies and jurisdictions—Unified Command may be used, with representatives of the responsible agencies working together toward common objectives.

For most volunteer trail projects, however, things can be much simpler.

There is usually one overall leader or "Trail Boss." In RICS, that person is the Incident Commander (IC).

Working for the IC are four basic functions:

Operations — gets the work done on the ground.
Logistics — provides the people doing the work with the supplies, equipment, food, communications and other support they need.
Planning — develops and tracks the plan, objectives, assignments and documentation.
Finance — handles purchasing, expenses, budgets and financial accountability.

For a small project, one person might handle several of these jobs. You staff up only enough to accomplish the mission—but every function still needs to be considered.

TIP: Staff up your project or event when you need people, but don't forget to staff down when you don't.

Below these primary functions are Team Leaders and Crews.

Operations can be divided geographically into Divisions. For example, Point A to Point B along a trail might be Division A, while Point B to Point C becomes Division B. Each Division has people specifically responsible for completing the work within that piece of ground.

Crews can also be organized by function rather than geography. You might have a rock-hauling crew, water crew, brushing crew or transportation crew that works throughout the entire project area.

That's one of the beauties of RICS: the organization fits the mission—not the other way around.

Why Bother With All This?

Because volunteers' time is valuable.

Nothing drives good volunteers away faster than standing around wondering what they're supposed to be doing, who is in charge, where the tools are, or what the heck the plan is.

Good organization gives volunteers a sense of purpose and accomplishment. They know their job. They know who they're working for. They know what success looks like.

And when you're trying to save a trail, protect public access, run a major event or accomplish a complicated volunteer project, organized volunteers get things done.

RICS is much more extensive than this short introduction. My original training included organizational charts, position descriptions, project-planning methods, communications plans, objectives and expectations, forms, crew assignments and other tools.

If you're serious about organizing volunteers and would like to know more about RICS, drop me a note through my Contact page. I'll be glad to help.

A Little RICS History

My use of ICS outside traditional emergency incidents actually goes back much farther than RICS.

In 1987, I presented a paper titled “Adapting the Incident Command System to Meeting or Conference Management” at the Symposium on Wildland Fire 2000 in South Lake Tahoe, California. The proceedings were later published by the U.S. Forest Service as General Technical Report PSW-101.

Even back then, I was exploring the idea that the organizational principles that make ICS work so well on emergencies could also be adapted to meetings, conferences and other organized efforts.

Years later, when we needed to organize large numbers of volunteers and complicated trail projects, I took that same concept another step. I simplified and adapted ICS specifically for recreation and volunteer organizations and called it the Recreational Incident Command System (RICS).

RICS became an important organizational tool for Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) and our efforts to save and maintain the Rubicon Trail. I eventually trained hundreds of volunteers and recreation leaders in the system.

So RICS wasn't really invented overnight. It evolved from decades of using, teaching and adapting the Incident Command System to get people organized and get the job done.

For more details, org charts, position/job descriptions, and planning documents, drop me a note on the contact page.

HOW TO ORGANIZE A TRAIL REPAIR WORKDAY - RECREATIONAL INCIDENT COMMAND

2026-08-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

Organizing a Trail Repair and Stewardship Workday or Weekend

Recreational Incident Command System (RICS)

How to use a simplified version of the Incident Command System (ICS) in recreational projects to organize and conduct a workday.

An old military and fire service leadership concept still applies today, whether you’re running a wildfire crew, leading soldiers in the field, or organizing a volunteer trail workday project out in the backcountry: Plan. Organize. Direct. Control.

Simple words. Big meaning.

If you’ve ever tried to pull together a multi-day volunteer work event with camping, hand tools, trail repairs, food, radios, safety briefings, and a bunch of hard-working volunteers showing up with high expectations, you already know one thing: If you don’t plan it well, it can turn into chaos in a hurry.

The good news is that volunteer groups are full of good people who want to help. The challenge is turning that enthusiasm into a safe, productive, worthwhile event where people go home tired, smiling, and proud of what they accomplished. There can be no greater sin (in land use) than wasting the time of a good volunteer. That starts with leadership.

This is based on my Recreational Incident Command System (RICS), which I simplified from the fire and emergency services Incident Command System (ICS). The entire saving the Rubicon Trail starting in 2001 was accomplished using RICS.

Start With Goals, Objectives, and Expectations

Before ordering supplies, assigning campsites, or sharpening tools, the project leader needs to clearly define the mission. What exactly are we trying to accomplish?
If the leader doesn’t know, nobody else will either. Clear goals and objectives help everyone stay focused and help prevent wasted time, confusion, duplicated effort, and frustration.

Some common project goals and objectives might include:
• Conduct a worthwhile and enjoyable two-day volunteer event.
• Avoid wasting anyone’s valuable time.
• Stay within the allotted budget.
• Fulfill the overall mission of the organization or agency.
• Generate positive public relations and press coverage.
• Repair one mile of water bars by the end of Day One.
• Maintain an accident-free project.
• Finish filling the large mud hole by the end of Day Two.
• Complete all drainage repairs before demobilization.

Those are measurable goals/objectives. People understand them. People can work toward them.

Just as important are expectations. Expectations define how the leader wants the project conducted. They can be very personal, as in what you want as the leader of this project, beyond obvious objectives.

Examples of Expectations might include:
• Keep me informed early if something may throw off the plan.
• Deliver what you promise; and don’t promise what you can’t deliver.
• Put yourself in the leader’s shoes and think ahead.
• Meet deadlines whenever possible.
• Make safety the number one priority.

• No surprises, please. If you see something going sideways, let me know in time for me to fix it.
• Put yourself in my shoes. Let me know what you’d like to know if you were in charge of this thing.
• Treat volunteers with respect and appreciation.
• Leave the worksite cleaner and better than we found it.

One of the biggest problems I’ve seen over the years in volunteer projects is not lack of effort — it’s lack of communication. Clear expectations prevent misunderstandings. And when expectations are clear, the job usually gets done the way the boss intended.

PLAN

Good projects don’t just happen. They are planned. The planning phase should answer the basic questions:
• What work are we doing?
• Why are we doing it?
• Who is involved?
• What tools and equipment are needed?
• How long will it take?
• What could go wrong?
• What permits or approvals are required?
• What’s the backup plan?

If you’re working with a public land agency, make sure everyone understands the approved scope of work in advance. Nothing creates problems faster than volunteers “freelancing” outside the approved project. Planning should also include safety planning that includes:
• First aid capability, emergency response protocols.
• Everyone knows the emergency evacuation routes.
• Make sure you know fire extinguisher availability.

Camping and Logistics

If volunteers are camping onsite, logistics matter. Think through:
• Camping locations
• Campfire restrictions
• Sanitation and portable toilets
• Trash removal
• Drinking water
• Parking
• Quiet hours
• Generator use
• Camp layout
• Directions to camp
• Signage if needed

People can tolerate rough conditions. What they don’t tolerate well is confusion.

Food Planning

Food can make or break morale. Decide early:
• Is chow provided?
• Is everyone self-sufficient?
• Who buys the food?
• Who cooks?
• Who serves?
• Who cleans up?
• Are dietary restrictions known?
• Is ice available?
• Is food safely stored?

A hungry volunteer crew becomes a grumpy volunteer crew. And on the other hand, a good meal at the end of a workday is one of the best ways to say thank you to volunteers.

Communications

Good communication keeps projects moving safely and efficiently. That may include:
• Handheld radios
• Cell coverage plans
• Radio channels and frequencies
• Check-in procedures
• Emergency contact numbers
• Daily briefings
Never assume everyone “just knows.”

ORGANIZE

Once the plan is built, it’s time to organize people and resources. This is where leadership becomes visible. Every volunteer project needs structure, even informal ones. People should know:
• Who is in charge
• Who the crew leaders are
• What job are they assigned
• What tools they’ll use
• Where they report
• What the daily schedule looks like
• When is chow?
• Where are sanitation facilities?

Typical assignments may include:
• Drainage repair crews
• Brush clearing crews
• Barrier installation teams
• Trail sign crews
• Chainsaw teams
• Camp support
• Food service
• Safety officers
• Radio coordinators
• Photographers/media support

Match people to jobs based on experience and physical ability whenever possible. A retired firefighter with chainsaw experience may be well-suited for saw work. (Note: most public land projects require chainsaw certifications. Check with your land management agency).

A newer volunteer may be perfect for helping with signs, cleanup, photography, or barrier construction. There are jobs for everyone. On large projects with many volunteers, I assign people with mobility difficulties to staff the sign-in and information tables. Good leaders use people wisely.

DIRECT

This is where leadership happens in real time. A project leader’s job is not to stand around giving speeches (smile). On the other hand, a good leader does not get so deep into project work that the project itself goes undirected (unsupervised). A good project/trail workday leader’s job:
Is to:
• Keep people informed
• Keep morale high
• Solve problems
• Adjust the plan as conditions change
• Maintain safety
• Encourage teamwork
• Keep the mission moving forward
• Ensure everyone has a job and knows what it entails

Daily briefings help tremendously. Morning briefings should cover:
• Work assignments
• Safety concerns
• Weather considerations
• Communications (channels, emergencies, protocol)
• Schedule
• Equipment needs
• Project goals/objectives for the day

People work harder when they understand the mission. Leaders should also circulate throughout the worksite regularly. Don’t disappear. Visible leadership matters.

CONTROL

“Control” doesn’t mean being a dictator. It means maintaining accountability, coordination, and quality control. A project can easily drift off course if nobody is monitoring its progress.
Control includes:
• Tracking project completion
• Monitoring safety
• Adjusting crews as needed
• Watching timelines
• Managing supplies
• Staying within budget
• Coordinating with agencies
• Preventing scope creep (where the project gets bigger than intended)

Sometimes the smartest leadership decision is slowing down. Or stopping work entirely if conditions become unsafe. Strong leadership is not about ego. It’s about responsibility and controlling the flow and outcome of a workday.

Volunteers Deserve Good Leadership

One thing I’ve learned over decades of public service, wildland fire, military leadership, and volunteer work is this: Volunteers are giving you something valuable.
Their time.
Their fuel money.
Their weekends.
Their equipment.
Their energy.
Their trust.

That’s no small thing. The least we can do as leaders is respect that commitment by running organized, safe, and productive projects that are worthwhile and meaningful. When people leave camp on Sunday afternoon, tired, dirty, sore, smiling, and proud of what they accomplished, you probably did something right.
That’s how stewardship grows. That is how organizations and causes build credibility. And that’s how trails, roads, campsites, and public lands stay open and cared for by the very people who use and love them.

Some people call it building a “tribe” of supporters and followers. Others call it building a community invested in the mission. Whatever label we put on it, long-term stewardship is built on a solid foundation of leadership, commitment, dedication, communication, and good organization.

People want to be part of something worthwhile. Good leadership gives them that opportunity.
Plan. Organize. Direct. Control.
The old system still works.

LINK to More on Recreational Incident Command System (RICS)

Learn about Balanced Stewardship

NEED A HANKIE? REMEMBER WHEN EVERY MAN HAD ONE?

2026-08-22T17:16:05.545-07:00

A Handkerchief in Every Man's Pocket

I had one of those random childhood memories pop into my head the other day.

Handkerchiefs. Hankies.

If you grew up in the 1950s and '60s like I did, you probably remember them. It seemed like nearly every grown man had a handkerchief stuffed somewhere in his pocket. My dad sure did.

And I'm not talking about some fancy little decorative square tucked neatly into the breast pocket of a suit. I'm talking about a real, working hankie. Sometimes it was white cotton. Sometimes it was patterned. And plenty of working men carried those familiar red bandana-style handkerchiefs.

They had a job to do.

Yep, We Blew Our Noses in Them

Here's the part that might make younger generations cringe. A guy would feel a sneeze coming on, reach into his pocket, pull out his handkerchief and blow his nose into it.

Then he'd fold it over, put it back in his pocket...

…and use it again later.

Yep.

That's what we did. You found a clean spot, folded the used part to the inside, and carried on with your day. Eventually the hankie went into the laundry, got washed, and went right back into service.

Nobody thought much about it.

Today, when we're accustomed to grabbing a fresh tissue, using it once, and throwing it away, stuffing a used hankie back into our pockets sounds a little questionable. But back then? Completely normal.

Paper Wasn't the Problem

It wasn't because America didn't have facial tissues.

Kleenex had been around since the 1920s. Disposable tissues were certainly available by the time I was growing up. But America hadn't yet become quite as disposable as it is today.

A cotton handkerchief was cheap, washable, reusable, and dependable. You didn't need to find a box of tissues because you already had what you needed in your pocket. It was just part of getting dressed.

Men usually had some sort of reminder system with getting dressed: Wallet. Keys. Comb. Handkerchief.

A Gentleman Was Supposed to Have One

There was another side to the hankie that I remember, too. Having one was considered part of being prepared—and even part of being a gentleman. A man might offer his clean handkerchief to a woman or a child. Some men supposedly carried two: one for themselves and another clean one in case somebody else needed it.

And the hankie wasn't limited to noses. It wiped sweat off your forehead. Cleaned your glasses. Wiped dirty hands. Dabbed a little blood off a scraped knuckle. Cleaned something off a kid's face.

The larger bandana versions were practically tools. A working man, rancher, farmer, mechanic or outdoorsman could use one as a sweat rag, dust mask, neck covering, makeshift bandage or whatever else the day demanded. Heck, outlaws wore them in the stagecoach robbing days!

That little square of cotton earned its keep.

Then America Changed

As the decades rolled along, disposable products became cheaper and more convenient. Advertising increasingly emphasized sanitation and the convenience of using something once and throwing it away. Boxes of facial tissues became fixtures in homes, offices and cars. Pocket packs eventually made disposable tissues easy to carry anywhere.

Somewhere along the way, the everyday man's handkerchief quietly disappeared. Not completely, of course. You can still buy them. Bandanas certainly haven't gone anywhere. They don't spend nearly as much time wiping noses as they used to!

But carrying a hankie every day is no longer the almost automatic habit it once was.

Looking back, the hankie was also part of a less disposable world. We washed things and used them again. Moms washed cloth diapers. Bottles were returned. Things got repaired instead of replaced. We didn't call it recycling or sustainability. Mostly, it was just how life worked.

Funny What You Remember

That's what got me thinking about all this in the first place. I can still picture my dad reaching into his pocket and pulling out his handkerchief. There was nothing remarkable about it at the time. It was just something Dad did. Something thousands—probably millions—of dads did.

But more than half a century later, that simple little piece of cloth can bring back a remarkably clear picture of another time. Maybe that's the funny thing about getting older. The big events make the history books. But sometimes it's the smallest things—a smell, an old car, the faint smell of gas in a classic car sitting in the garage, a song on the radio, or a folded handkerchief in your dad's pocket—that bring the past rushing back.

And if somebody nearby happened to sneeze? Just offer:

"Need a hankie?"

CALIFORNIA'S NEW TIRE RULING

2026-08-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

California's New Tire Ruling (Coming Soon)

California just approved the nation's first efficiency standards for replacement tires — and understandably, the off-road community is asking: What happens to our mud-terrain and aggressive off-road tires?

First, DON'T PANIC. California did not just make the tires on your 4x4 illegal.

The new rules begin phasing in in 2029 and establish rolling-resistance and wet-traction standards for replacement tires sold in California.

Here's the important part for four-wheelers: The regulations contain exemptions for several specialty tires, including deep-tread tires, certain large off-road tires, ATV/OHV tires, competition tires, and some other specialty categories.

That means the headline “California bans mud tires” is much too simplistic.

But there's still a legitimate concern.

Not every tire marketed as an M/T or off-road tire is automatically exempt. Whether our popular Jeep, truck and 4x4 tires qualify will depend upon the technical definitions in the regulation and what manufacturers produce and certify for California when the rules take effect.

And that's the part I'm digging into. Tire choice matters to those of us who actually use our vehicles off pavement. Traction, sidewall strength, tread depth, puncture resistance, and durability can be a whole lot more important on a rocky trail than squeezing another fraction of an MPG out of a tire.

I'll keep digging into what this means specifically for the tires we use.

Stay tuned — and don't believe every “California banned off-road tires” headline you see.

Learn How to Write Effective Letters to Elected Officials

Get Involved More in Land Use

WHAT IS THE NEW FRONTIER OF PUBLIC LAND ACCESS — CAPACITY CLOSURES?

2026-07-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Understanding Capacity Closures, Carrying Capacity, and Visitor Capacity

By Del Albright

Capacity Closures are the next threat to access where it's not closed, just full.

Over the years, I’ve written a lot about road closures, capacity, trail closures, travel management, route designation, wilderness, and access issues on public lands. Most of us in the outdoor recreation community know what a closure looks like. A gate across a road. A trail marked “closed.” A campground shut down.

But there is another management concept quietly gaining traction across public lands that deserves our attention and understanding. It’s called visitor capacity management, and in some situations, it can lead to what many people are beginning to call capacity closures.

Before anyone gets excited, let’s be clear about something. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is not a secret plan. It is not necessarily a bad thing. It is a real and growing public land management tool that recreationists should understand because it has the potential to influence access for years to come. And for decades, most all powersports events on either public or private land have had capacity or rider/driver limits. So, let’s break down what this means for the future of public land access.

What Is a Capacity Closure?

In simple terms, a capacity closure occurs when an area reaches a predetermined limit for visitors, vehicles, campsites, permits, parking spaces, boats, OHVs, or some other measure of use. Once that limit is reached, additional visitors may be turned away, delayed, required to obtain a reservation, or denied access until usage drops below the established threshold.

(Insider note: there was a time when the Rubicon Trail was threatened by capacity limits and closures — too many users, too much “poop” on the trail, and too much crowding of popular spots – early 2000s. That’s when Friends of the Rubicon was formed to fix the problems. They did. No capacity closures occurred. But who knows what the future holds.)

In many cases, you won’t even see the words “capacity closure.” Instead, you may hear terms like:

* Visitor capacity

* Visitor use management

* Carrying capacity

* Timed entry

* Reservation systems

* Occupancy limits

* Use quotas

* Vehicle limits

* Permit systems

Different agencies use different terminology, but the underlying concept is similar: managing how many people can use an area at a given time.

Why Are Agencies Using Capacity Management?

To be fair, there are legitimate reasons. Public land visitation has exploded in recent years, particularly since the scare of 2020. National parks alone recorded hundreds of millions of visits annually, placing increasing pressure on parking lots, roads, campgrounds, staff, facilities, and visitor services. Land managers often cite several objectives:

* Protecting natural and cultural resources

* Improving visitor experiences

* Reducing congestion

* Improving safety

* Matching use levels to available staffing and infrastructure

* Preventing damage caused by overcrowding

The federal Interagency Visitor Use Management Council, which includes agencies such as the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the BLM, and others, has developed formal frameworks to help managers determine appropriate visitor-use levels and management strategies. In many cases, capacity management is intended to keep an area open rather than close it outright. That’s an important distinction. But the “closed” or “full” sign in the parking lot of your favorite boat launch, staging area, or trailhead is never a welcome sight.

This Isn’t Entirely New

The concept actually has deep roots in public land management. For decades, wilderness areas, backcountry destinations, river systems, and certain national parks have used permit systems and visitor quotas. Managers have long discussed concepts such as carrying capacity, Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC), and Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) when addressing crowding and resource impacts.

What is new is how broadly these concepts are now being applied. Today we see timed-entry systems, reservation requirements, parking management programs, vehicle quotas, and other visitor-use controls appearing in more recreation settings than ever before. It worries me how many terms we can find for closures or visitor restrictions.

The Questions Recreationists Should Be Asking

As advocates for responsible outdoor recreation, I don’t believe the answer is to automatically oppose every capacity management proposal. But I do believe we should ask good questions. Questions such as:

* How was the capacity determined?

* What data supports the number?

* Is the limitation based on resource protection, infrastructure, staffing, or visitor experience?

* Is the limit temporary or permanent?

* What monitoring will occur?

* Can the capacity be adjusted if conditions improve?

* Does the proposal unnecessarily restrict public access?

Those are fair questions. After all, public lands belong to the public. When access is limited, even for legitimate reasons, the public deserves transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.

A Trend Worth Watching

One observation seems increasingly clear. For many years, the default approach was often: Open unless signed closed. But, in some locations, management is evolving toward: Open, but managed by capacity. And of course, many of you heard over the years: Closed, Unless Signed Open. We must pay attention to the little things…

That shift may occur through reservations, permits, vehicle limits, parking controls, timed entry, or other tools. The result, however, can feel very similar to a closure when an area reaches its allowable capacity — carrying capacity. Whether that trend ultimately benefits recreation or creates new barriers to access will likely depend on how responsibly agencies implement these programs and how actively recreationists stay involved in the conversation. We must stay engaged! We must be part of the solutions.

Final Thoughts

I’ve spent much of my life working around public lands, from wildland fire and resource management to recreation advocacy and volunteer stewardship. One lesson I’ve learned is that most public land issues are rarely black-and-white. Capacity management is no exception.

In some places, it may help protect resources and improve recreation opportunities. In others, it could become a tool that unnecessarily limits public access if not carefully justified and monitored. That’s why I believe this is a topic worth paying attention to. Not because we should panic, and not because we should oppose every proposal. But because informed citizens and responsible recreationists have always been the best guardians of both access and stewardship. To be the best guardian you can be, JOIN those groups you believe are working to preserve responsible access to public lands!

As this conversation continues across our public lands, we would do well to remember that protecting access and protecting resources are not opposing goals. Done right, they should work together.

_______________________________

Bottom Line:

Watch the details. Ask questions. Stay engaged. Join/renew your organizational memberships of those groups keeping an eye on things. Capacity management may become one of the most important public-land access discussions of the next decade.

Interagency Visitor Use Management Council

Watch the Smoke; Not the “Noise.”

Get in the Game

Del Albright

Author, Outdoor Recreation, Public Lands, Books & Articles (DelAlbright.com)

Hall of Fame, 2014 Inductee, Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF)

Life Member, Calif. 4Wheel Drive Association (C4WDA )

Social Media Mgr., American Sand Association (ASA)

Founding Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR)

POWERFUL REASONS FOR A RESPONSIBLE RECREATION REVIVAL

2026-07-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

RESPONSIBLE RECREATION REVIVAL (RRR)

It's Time to Bring Back the Culture that Built Places Like the Rubicon Trail.

I believe we need a revival!

I spent much of my life believing that if people simply understood why we take care of our trails, they’d do the right thing. Back in the early 2000s, that belief became the foundation for Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR). We weren’t just moving rocks, picking up trash, or organizing work parties. We were building a culture. We wanted every person who drove the Rubicon Trail to leave understanding that the privilege of access came with a responsibility to care for the place.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS – share this message with your own two cents added and do more than post on social media!

I’ve been thinking about what’s changed on many of our favorite trails. The vehicles are better than ever. Bigger tires. Better suspensions. More technology. GPS. Recovery gear. Cameras everywhere. Yet something important seems to be missing.

The culture.

In 2001, when we started Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR), our mission wasn’t simply to fix trails or organize work parties. It was to build a community of responsible recreation.

Back then, experienced wheelers took newcomers under their wing. We packed out trash because that’s what responsible wheelers did. We repaired trail damage because we understood that every rut, every bypass, every careless act became ammunition for those who wanted to close our public lands. We taught and led by example.

We didn’t volunteer because someone made us. We volunteered because we loved the trail. But somewhere along the way, that culture began to fade.

Today’s new generation of four-wheelers often discovers the outdoors through YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram. They see spectacular climbs, mud holes, broken parts, and viral videos—but far too rarely do they see trail stewardship, volunteer workdays, proper etiquette, or the responsibility that comes with access to public lands.

That’s not entirely their fault. If no one teaches them, how are they supposed to know?

That’s why I believe it’s time for a **Responsible Recreation Revival.**

Not another organization. Not another set of rules. But a revival. A movement that reminds all of us why places like the Rubicon still exist.

The truth is simple. Access isn’t permanent. Public lands don’t stay open by accident, and trails don’t maintain themselves. And people don’t learn unless we teach them.

Someone always pays the price for keeping recreation alive. Usually, it’s volunteers. It’s clubs. It’s partnerships and people quietly showing up with chainsaws, shovels, trash bags, welding equipment, meeting agendas, comment letters, and a willingness to work with land managers instead of against them.

That’s the side of recreation that rarely goes viral. But it’s the side that matters.

A Responsible Recreation Revival starts with experienced outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen deciding to become mentors again.

A Responsible Recreation Revival Starts with Us and this “RRR Code of Conduct:”

Invite a newcomer along. Introduce them to responsible recreation before social media teaches them the wrong lessons.
Lead by example. Every camp, every trail, every conversation is an opportunity to demonstrate respect for the land and for fellow recreationists.
Teach the “why.” Explain why we stay on designated routes, avoid creating bypasses, respect seasonal closures, and leave gates exactly as we found them. People are far more likely to do the right thing when they understand the reasons behind it. Carry brochures and handouts.
Share recovery skills responsibly. Show how to recover a stuck vehicle safely and with minimal impact on the trail, rather than turning recovery into entertainment.
Leave every place better than you found it. Pick up litter, remove abandoned debris when it’s safe to do so, and take pride in improving the places you enjoy.
Introduce someone to volunteerism. Bring them to a trail workday, a cleanup event, a restoration project, or a club meeting. Stewardship is contagious.
Promote good behavior online. Use your social media to celebrate responsible recreation, volunteer projects, good trail etiquette, and positive examples worth repeating.
Don’t glorify bad behavior. Avoid posting videos or photos that encourage reckless driving, resource damage, illegal routes, vandalism, or disrespect for public lands—even if they attract clicks and views.
Have the courage to speak up. When you see irresponsible behavior, address it respectfully. A quiet conversation on the trail—or a thoughtful comment online—can prevent others from thinking destructive behavior is acceptable. On the Rubicon in the old days, we started a Volunteer Trail Patrol to help spread the word – from the good book.
Represent the entire recreation community. Remember that every photo, video, and comment shapes how the public and land managers perceive all of us.
Support the organizations that protect access. Volunteer your time, donate when you can, attend meetings, and encourage others to get involved. Open trails don’t happen by accident. Be obvious with your support of organized recreation. Get businesses to jump in with you and be blatant about their support of responsible recreation.
Pass it on. Your greatest legacy won’t be the obstacles you conquered. It will be the people you inspired to care enough to keep these places open for generations to come.

The goal isn’t to build better four-wheelers. It’s to build better stewards.

I’ve spent more than fifty years working in public lands, wildland fire, volunteer organizations, and recreation advocacy. One lesson stands above the rest:

**Education beats enforcement every time.**

People protect what they understand. People value what they help build. And people become lifelong stewards when someone takes the time to teach them.

This isn’t about going back to the “good old days.” It’s about carrying forward the values that made those days good.

The next generation isn’t the problem. They’re our opportunity. If we want the Rubicon—and every other trail we cherish—to remain open for our kids and grandkids, then we need fewer critics and more mentors. We need less complaining and more teaching, less gatekeeping, and more leadership. That’s what a Responsible Recreation Revival looks like.

And I believe it’s time. Who’s with me?

Sound off right here, and let’s make this an action-item list to do something positive.

All about Balanced Stewardship on trails.

Rubicon Trail Foundation and Friends of the Rubicon

HERE'S WHY MASSIVE WILDFIRES ARE NOT INEVITABLE

2026-07-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

Why Bigger Wildfires Are Not Inevitable

By Del Albright, Retired Fire Chief

Twenty-five years ago, we didn’t know there was a mega-fire generation. Back then, a 10,000-acre wildfire was a major event. Today, fires of 100,000, 300,000, and even 500,000 acres have become part of the annual conversation across the American West. That should concern all of us.

As a retired fire chief with more than three decades of public service, including 26 years in the fire service, I’ve watched wildfire evolve from an occasional disaster into a seasonal expectation. Somewhere along the way, we stopped asking a critical question:

Why have these fires become so large in the first place? The answer is complicated.
Yes, weather plays a role.
Yes, drought plays a role.
Yes, climate conditions matter.

And yes, fire agency budgets, staffing, and training play a role.

But none of those factors fully explain why so much of the West now burns with an intensity and scale that would have been almost unimaginable a generation ago.

The uncomfortable truth is that many of today’s mega-fires are fueled by decades of accumulated vegetation, overcrowded forests, declining access infrastructure, and the steady reduction of active land management practices that once helped keep wildfire in check.

The Fire Problem We Created

For thousands of years, fire was part of the landscape. Native Americans used fire as a land management tool. Ranchers used controlled burning to improve grazing conditions. Land managers thinned forests and maintained fuel breaks. Timber harvesting removed excess biomass while providing jobs and supporting rural communities.

None of these practices eliminated wildfire. But they helped prevent catastrophic wildfire.

Over time, many of those management tools became increasingly difficult to use. Regulations and restrictions expanded. Projects became more expensive and time-consuming. Environmental reviews lengthened. Litigation increased. Public controversy grew.

The result was not always intentional, but the outcome is hard to ignore:
Many forests became denser.
Fuel loads increased.
Dead and dying trees accumulated.
Brush fields expanded.

And when fires started, they had far more fuel available than they once did.

Prescribed Fire: One Tool We Need More Of

One of the most effective tools available today remains one of the oldest.
Prescribed fire works. It reduces fuel loads, improves wildlife habitat, and restores ecological balance. It can help prevent the explosive fire behavior that threatens communities and firefighters alike.

Fortunately, many agencies are beginning to recognize this reality and are working to expand prescribed burning programs. The challenge is scale. We are treating thousands of acres while millions of acres need attention. We need more support for prescribed fire—not less.

Access Matters

One lesson firefighters learn quickly is that access saves time. Maintained roads, fuel breaks, and strategic access routes allow firefighters to reach fires while they are still small. They provide safe locations for suppression efforts and emergency operations.

Across much of the West, access infrastructure has declined. Roads have been decommissioned or left unmaintained, maintenance budgets have shrunk, and vegetation has reclaimed many historic access routes.

Don’t get me wrong, not every road should remain open forever. But we should be having honest conversations about the role access plays in both recreation and wildfire management, and which maintenance programs we should invest in.

Forest Health Requires Active Management

Healthy forests are not always untouched forests. In many areas, thinning, timber harvest, vegetation management, invasive species control, and fuel reduction projects remain important tools.

Likewise, our grasslands and deserts face their own challenges. Invasive species such as cheatgrass have altered natural fire cycles across large portions of the West, creating landscapes that burn more frequently and recover less effectively.

The question should not be whether management occurs.
The question should be what management approaches produce the healthiest landscapes and safest communities.

Stewardship Is Not Someone Else’s Job

This is where you and I come in. Too often, people assume wildfire management is solely the responsibility of government agencies. It isn’t. Citizens have a role to play. You can and should:

Volunteer for trail projects.
Support fuel reduction efforts.
Participate in community wildfire preparedness programs.
Attend public meetings.
Comment on land management plans.
Work with local land managers.
Help maintain access routes.
Join organizations that are actively engaged in stewardship.

Public lands belong to all of us, and their future depends on more than agency budgets and political debates. It depends on public involvement.

Accountability Matters in the Mega-Fire Generation

We should expect our elected officials, agency leaders, and policymakers to take wildfire seriously. That means asking hard questions like:
Are fuel reduction projects being completed?
Are prescribed fire programs expanding?
Are forest health objectives being met? Are land management agencies receiving adequate budgets?
Are management decisions producing measurable results?

Accountability is not partisan. It’s responsible citizenship.

Final Thoughts

The Mega-Fire Generation did not happen overnight. It developed over decades. The good news is that solutions exist.
We know how to reduce fuels.
We know how to improve forest health.
We know how to use prescribed fire.
We know how to engage volunteers.
We know how to build partnerships.

The question is whether we have the will to act. Wildfire will always be part of life in the American West. Mega-fires do not have to be.

The future of our forests, grasslands, deserts, and communities depends on the choices we make today. Let’s get involved. Let’s stay engaged. And let’s be part of the solution.

— Del Albright
Retired Fire Chief
Author, Outdoor Recreation & Public Lands Advocate
delalbright.com

Editor’s Note: This article updates and expands upon my original “Welcome to the Mega-Fire Generation” piece first published in 2020.

Del’s Book on Welcome to the Mega-Fire Generation

Watch the Smoke, Not the “Noise.”

Get in the Game: Simple Ways to Sustain Public Lands Access

National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Fire Information and Statistics

ESSENTIAL TIPS WHEN FINDING COOL ARTIFACTS

2026-07-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

You Found Something Cool in the Backcountry… Now What?

Every abandoned cabin, mine, homestead, stage stop, or forgotten piece of history has survived this long because people before us chose not to destroy it. Here are my suggestions (tips) to make sure it’s still there for the next traveler.

A Few Rules I Try to Live By

• Take photographs. Leave artifacts. The best souvenir is the story and the picture.

• Leave it better than you found it. If you can safely pick up a little trash without disturbing the site, do it. Check with local land managers if you’re having trouble distinguishing “trash” from artifacts. Old pop top beer cans are likely artifacts and not trash, for example.

• Watch where you park. Hidden foundations, scattered artifacts, nails, old pipes, and fragile features often extend well beyond the obvious structure.

• Stay off fragile remains. Old floors, roofs, mine timbers, and porches can collapse without warning. Be cautious; explore with a buddy; and be safe.

• Never enter abandoned mines. They’re unstable, often contain bad air, hidden shafts, rotten timber, or wildlife. No photo is worth your life. Use common sense and explore with safety in mind.

• Don’t rearrange history. Leave bottles, cans, tools, lumber, rocks, and equipment exactly where they are.

• Leave gates exactly as you found them. Open? Leave them open. Closed? Leave them closed.

• Respect living things too. Avoid crushing wildflowers, cryptobiotic soils, young trees, and fragile desert vegetation.

• Don’t carve, scratch, paint, or leave your mark. The only thing you should leave behind is a set of tire tracks—and even those should disappear with time.

• Think twice before posting GPS coordinates. Some places are well known. Others survive because they’re not. Consider whether broadcasting an exact location helps preserve—or destroys—the place.

• Treat every site as someone’s home. Because once upon a time…it was.

We all want to find cool stuff in the backcountry, so let’s do our part to make sure the folks behind us have the same opportunity.

The Backcountry Code

Take only photographs.

Leave only footprints and tire tracks.

Respect history.

Protect the resource.

Pass it on.

AMERICA 250 – PART II — KEEPING AMERICA OPEN

Del Albright

Author, Outdoor Recreation, Public Lands, Books & Articles (DelAlbright.com)

Hall of Fame, 2014 Inductee, Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF)

Life Member, Calif. 4Wheel Drive Association (C4WDA )

Social Media Mgr., American Sand Association (ASA)

Founding Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR)

HELPING VETERANS FIND THEIR WAY HOME

2026-07-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

Not Every Veteran Heals in a Hospital -- Let's Help Them Find the Trail Home Outside

I offer this as a resource beyond what veterans and their families can find at the VA or their local medical/mental health facility. This listing is outdoor-oriented programs/places where vets can heal in nature.

America is celebrating 250 years of freedom. That freedom didn’t happen by accident. For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have stepped forward to serve—soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Guardians, and the families who carried the burden alongside them.

We honor them with flags, parades, ceremonies, and fireworks. Those traditions matter. But after the speeches end and the fireworks fade, many veterans return to lives that can still be complicated.

That’s when another form of healing sometimes begins…

…outside.

Not every veteran heals in a hospital. Some do. Some need doctors, counselors, medication, group sessions, VA programs, and professional help. There is no shame in any of that. But some veterans also heal in places that do not have waiting rooms.

Some heal around a campfire.
Some heal with a fishing rod in their hand.
Some heal behind the steering wheel of a Jeep on a quiet forest road.
Some heal sitting on a ridge at sunrise with nothing but wind, dirt, pine trees, and silence.
Some heal by being around other veterans without having to explain every chapter of their life.

And some simply need a safe starting point back into the outdoors.

When I came home from combat in Vietnam in the early 1970s, I was a bit of a mess – so was the country. It’s an old story, and you’ve heard it before, but I was not alone in my cold heart, closed heart, deafening silence. Besides the Good Lord and my family/friends, I reconnected with the outdoors and Mamma Nature for my salvation. I started finding my way back home. I can attest to the healing power of the great outdoors.

The Outdoors Is Not a Cure-All — But It Can Be a Doorway

Don’t get me wrong, Nature does not replace medical care. A trail ride does not replace counseling. A fishing trip does not erase combat memories. And a hunting camp does not magically fix moral injury, grief, trauma, loneliness, or the hard parts of coming home.

But the outdoors can open a door.

It can give a veteran a reason to get up early.

It can create a place to talk without forcing the conversation.

It can put people shoulder to shoulder instead of face to face.

It can rebuild trust, confidence, purpose, and connection.

Sometimes the best therapy starts with simply getting outside.

Where Veterans Can Start

This is not a complete list, nor an endorsement of every program everywhere. It is a starting point. Veterans, families, caregivers, clubs, and volunteers should always check each organization directly, ask questions, and make sure the program is a good fit.

(Links at bottom)

National Veterans Outdoors Resource HUB

The National Veterans Outdoors Resource HUB connects honorably discharged veterans with free or subsidized outdoor opportunities across the country, including hunting, fishing, paddling, hiking, and other outdoor adventures. The VA has also highlighted it as a way for veterans to find outdoor recreation opportunities.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing uses fly fishing, fly tying, rod building, mentoring, friendship, and local chapters to support veterans and active-duty military members. Their website includes a location finder to help veterans connect with programs near them.

Heroes on the Water

Heroes on the Water provides no-cost therapeutic kayak fishing experiences for veterans, first responders, active-duty military members, and their families. Their work is built around fishing, paddling, camaraderie, and outdoor connection.

War Heroes on Water

WHOW is an annual healing and therapeutic sportfishing tournament serving combat wounded veterans. WHOW operates under the guidance of Freedom Alliance, an IRS-registered 501c3 charity. All funds raised are for the benefit of Freedom Alliance’s programs.

The Fallen Outdoors

The Fallen Outdoors is a veteran-focused hunting and fishing organization that connects veterans and service members with outdoor trips, land access, fishing, hunting, and a community of people who understand military life. Their motto: living our dreams because they gave up theirs.

Warrior Expeditions

Warrior Expeditions helps veterans transition through long-distance outdoor expeditions. Their roots are tied to the idea of “walking off the war,” using long trails, challenge, movement, and time outside as part of the healing journey.

Veterans Expeditions

Veterans Expeditions, also known as VetEx, focuses on outdoor adventures such as climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, and other challenging outdoor experiences for veterans.

Huts for Vets

Huts for Vets offers wilderness retreats for veterans and active-duty service members, using guided hikes, group discussions, community, and time in the mountains as part of a nature-based healing approach.

Team Red, White & Blue

Team RWB is a national community focused on veterans’ health, wellness, fitness, connection, and local chapters. Not every event is deep wilderness, but it can be a practical way for veterans to reconnect with movement, community, and purpose.

National Veterans Support Foundation

Ensuring that no veteran has to struggle alone.

4 Wheel to Heal

Supporting wounded and disabled veterans from all branches of the military through offroad therapy.

Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch

Returning to civilian life after military service comes with challenges—both seen and unseen. At Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch, we help veterans navigate this transition through the healing power of horses.

Gallant Few

Gallant Few is an Army Ranger-led military support nonprofit that removes barriers to care for veterans and their families through connection, coaching, and counseling. Services and programs are open to any veteran desiring to live a life full of hope and purpose.

PGA Hope

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) introduces and teaches golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Led by PGA of America Golf Professionals, the program is inclusive of a developmental 6-8 week curriculum. All programs are provided at no cost to all participating Veterans.

PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which enables direct referrals to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy

Mission Fish USA

Mission FISH USA distinguishes itself as a premier nonprofit by offering a unique blend of recreational therapy, community support, and dedicated service to veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and Gold Star families dealing with PTSD, anxiety, and depression

Two Wolf Foundation

Two Wolf Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering personal connection, continued service, and posttraumatic growth in the lives of military veterans and former first responders.

Through their Warrior Stewardship program, TWF deploys small teams to serve public lands, participating in a wide range of conservation and stewardship projects. Working together as a small unit, these Warrior Stewardship teams maneuver across the western United States in fully outfitted expedition vehicles, embracing the adventure of overland exploration.

Road Warrior Foundation

Road Warrior Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that takes veterans on adventures they thought were behind them. Cross-country motorcycle rides, off-road runs, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, skydiving, and more.

Founded in 2013, all-volunteer, and every event is at no cost to the veteran. More than 1,000 veterans have ridden with us. The trips matter, but the campfire is where the real work happens.

Honor Flight

Honor Flight Network celebrates America’s Veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials. Vision: A nation where all of America’s Veterans experience the honor, gratitude, and community of support they deserve.

Do Not Overlook Local Opportunities

Not every good opportunity has a national name. Sometimes the best starting point is local:

Jeep clubs.
Fishing clubs.
Hunting groups.
Veterans service organizations.
Elks Lodges.
VFW and American Legion posts.
Church groups.
Volunteer trail crews.
Search and rescue support groups.
Public lands stewardship projects.
State fish and wildlife veteran hunts.
Local conservation groups.

Sometimes a veteran does not need a formal program. Sometimes he or she just needs an invitation.

“Want to go fishing Saturday?”

“Want to ride along on a trail run?”

“Want to sit by the fire and drink coffee?”

“Want to help us clear brush on a volunteer work day?”

Those simple invitations matter.

A Word to Clubs and Outdoor Leaders

If you are part of a OHV/motorized recreation club, fishing group, hunting camp, trail crew, overlanding group, or public lands organization, you may already have something veterans need. You have access to the outdoors. You have people. You have experience, campfires, trails, radios, maps, rigs, boats, tools, and time.

You do not need to become therapists. In fact, you probably should not try. But you can create space, welcome veterans without making a big production out of it, and make sure they are not alone.

You can offer simple, safe, responsible outdoor experiences. You can listen more than you talk. You can help someone reconnect with the land, with other people, and maybe with themselves.

Keep It Simple

This does not have to be complicated.

Start with one person.

One ride.
One fishing trip.
One hike.
One campfire.
One work day.
One invitation

For some veterans, getting outside is recreation. For others, it is survival. And for many of us, the outdoors is where the noise gets quieter.

Not every veteran heals in a hospital. Some of us heal outside. Let’s find ways to help more veterans find the trail home.

LINKS to Veteran Resources:

AMERICA 250 - KEEPING AMERICA'S PUBLIC LANDS OPEN

2026-06-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

Freedom Requires Responsibility, Stewardship, Participation, Leadership, and Passing It On.

“Freedom isn’t something we simply enjoy; it’s something we help preserve.”

By Del Albright

As I sat down to write Part II of this America 250 series, I found myself reflecting on something I’ve learned over the years. Whether I was wearing an Army uniform, working as a wildland firefighter, serving as a fire chief, or spending countless hours fighting to keep public lands open, one lesson has remained remarkably consistent. WE own this freedom and WE have to preserve it.

Freedom Comes with Responsibility.

In Part I, I talked about what America looks like from where many of us stand—not from the steps of a government building or behind a television camera, but from a mountain trail, a desert campsite, a quiet fishing hole, or a rig parked at the end of a long dirt road. That’s where many of us experience America. It’s where freedom feels real.

As our nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, I’ve been thinking less about fireworks and parades, and more about the responsibility that comes with the freedoms we enjoy every day. One of those freedoms is something I’ve spent much of my life protecting: access to our public lands.

People sometimes ask me why I devote so much time to volunteer work, recreation advocacy, writing, and encouraging others to get involved. My answer is usually pretty simple. It’s because access doesn’t happen by accident. It never has.

Every trail we drive, every campsite we enjoy, every stretch of desert, forest, mountain, sand dune, or backcountry road that remains open today is there because somebody cared enough to stand up for it. Long before most of us arrived, volunteers were building trails, restoring damaged areas, attending public meetings, organizing clubs, writing comment letters, and working alongside land managers. They weren’t looking for recognition. They simply believed these places were worth protecting.

Now it’s our turn.

I’ve often said that responsible, sustainable recreation is one of the strongest forms of advocacy we have. Every time we stay on designated routes, pack out our trash, lend a hand to someone on the trail, cleanup someone else’s campfire pit, or leave a campsite cleaner than we found it, we’re doing more than following good outdoor ethics. We’re demonstrating that motorized recreation and stewardship belong together.

That’s an important message.

For years, some have tried to paint outdoor recreation and conservation as opposing ideas. I don’t buy it. Never have. In my experience, the people who spend the most time enjoying public lands are often the very people willing to volunteer to protect them. They understand that taking care of the land isn’t a burden—it’s simply part of the privilege of using it.

But stewardship alone isn’t enough.

If we want to keep America open, we also have to participate.

Freedom Requires Participation

I’ve attended more public meetings than I can count. I’ve worked alongside agency folks, conservation groups, recreation clubs, elected officials, and volunteers from every walk of life. One thing has always stood out to me: the future is usually shaped by the people who show up.

Not necessarily the loudest people. Not necessarily the smartest people. But the people who care enough to be there.

That’s a lesson worth remembering, whether you’re talking about a local trail, a national forest, or the future of public lands across America.

Leadership plays a role too, but perhaps not in the way many people think. Leadership isn’t always standing behind a podium or carrying an impressive title. More often, it’s helping someone change a flat tire on a trail. It’s introducing a youngster to camping for the first time. It’s volunteering for a cleanup project on a Saturday morning. It’s quietly setting an example that others choose to follow.

That’s the kind of leadership our public lands have always needed.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, I hope we take a moment to appreciate something our Founders understood from the very beginning: freedom isn’t self-sustaining. Every generation inherits it, but every generation also has a responsibility to protect it.

The same is true for our public lands. We’re not simply users of these places. We’re their current caretakers.

Freedom Requires Passing It On

Someday, today’s young campers, hunters, anglers, off-roaders, hikers, and overlanders will inherit the trails we ride, the forests we explore, and the deserts we love. Whether those opportunities still exist depends, in part, on what we choose to do today.

That’s why I continue to believe in volunteerism.

That’s why I continue to believe in responsible, sustainable outdoor recreation.

That’s why I continue encouraging people to get involved.

Because keeping America open isn’t somebody else’s job. It’s ours.

America at 250

As we celebrate America 250, perhaps one of the best ways to honor those who came before us is to leave something worth passing on to those who come after us.

To me, that’s what patriotism looks like out here. Not just waving the flag. But caring for the land beneath it.

Closing Thought

The older I get, the more I appreciate that freedom isn’t measured by what we can take from the land. It’s measured by what we’re willing to give back.

If each of us does a little, together we accomplish a lot. That’s how we keep America open—not just for ourselves, but for the generations still to come.

FINDING FACTS IN A WORLD FULL OF NOISE – WATCH THE SMOKE

2026-06-10T16:58:00.000-07:00

Why “Watch the Smoke, Not the Noise” Is Still One of Life’s Best Lessons

During my years as a wildland firefighter and fire chief, I learned a lesson that has served me well far beyond the fire line. It’s simple advice, but it applies to almost everything in life:

Watch the smoke, not the noise.

Here’s what I mean about wildfire, smoke, and life lessons.

When a wildfire starts, there is always noise. The radio lights up. People call in reports. Rumors spread. People are scared and demanding updates. Somebody says the fire is moving east. Somebody else swears it’s headed west. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone wants to be the first to tell you what’s happening.

It’s a lot of noise, and it can be incredibly confusing.

But experienced firefighters learn to focus on something different.

The smoke.

The smoke tells you where the fire really is. It tells you how much fuel is burning, how hard it’s burning, and often where it’s headed. While everyone else is reacting to reports, opinions, and emotions, seasoned firefighters are looking for indicators, evidence, and facts.

(Note: There is much more to wildland firefighting and reading smoke than this simple explanation, but you get the idea.)

I’ve found that same lesson applies to leadership, public lands, volunteer organizations, business, politics, and everyday life.

Today, we’re surrounded by noise. Social media gives everyone a microphone. News cycles run 24 hours a day. Rumors spread faster than facts. Every issue seems to generate a flood of opinions, predictions, accusations, and outrage before anyone has time to examine what’s actually happening.

I’ve watched this happen repeatedly in the public lands world.

A new policy is announced, and people immediately declare it a victory or a disaster. A lawsuit gets filed, and folks assume they already know the outcome. An agency releases a proposal, and social media lights up with speculation before anyone has even read the document.

The quacking begins immediately.

That’s noise.

The smoke is something different. The smoke amounts to reading the proposal yourself. The smoke is studying the map. The smoke is attending the public meeting. The smoke is communicating with agency personnel, stakeholders, and people directly involved in the process.

The smoke is looking for facts instead of assumptions.

The same thing happens in organizations. Sometimes leaders get distracted by complaints, gossip, or the loudest voices in the room. Meanwhile, the real indicators are sitting right in front of them. Participation is declining. Volunteers are burning out. Projects aren’t getting completed. Trust is slipping away.

Those are the smoke columns that deserve attention.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become less interested in the noise and more interested in the evidence. That’s not to say the noise has no value. Sometimes it can point you toward an issue worth investigating. But it should never be the basis for your decision-making.

Don’t let the noise be the basis for your decision-making.

Whether you’re managing a wildfire, leading a volunteer project, advocating for public lands, running a business, or simply trying to make sense of the world around you, the principles remain the same:

Slow down.

Look for facts.

Find the evidence.

Trust experience.

Watch the smoke.

Because the smoke usually tells the truth. The noise rarely does.

I explore this concept in greater detail in my book Welcome to the Mega-Fire Generation.

USDA Forest Service Wildland Fire Information reference.

Del Albright

Author, Outdoor Recreation, Public Lands, Books & Articles (DelAlbright.com)

Hall of Fame, 2014 Inductee, Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF)

Life Member, Calif. 4Wheel Drive Association (C4WDA )

Social Media Mgr., American Sand Association (ASA)

Founding Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR)

250 YEARS OF FREEDOM, ACCESS, AND THE AMERICAN TRADITION

2026-06-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

Part 1: What America Looks Like Out Here – Freedom, Access, & The American Tradition

As America approaches 250 years as a nation, I’ve found myself thinking less about politics and more about people. The people who built this country. The same ones who defended it, explored it, protected it, and passed it forward one generation at a time.

For me, America has never been just a place on a map. It’s something I’ve experienced “out here” for most of my life — on trails, around campfires, in small towns, deserts, mountains, forests, and on the public lands that still give ordinary Americans room to breathe. Out here is where I’ve seen freedom lived. Not the kind argued about on television, but the real kind.

The freedom to explore a back road just because it’s there. The freedom to teach a grandkid how to catch nightcrawlers and go fishing. The freedom to gather around a campfire with friends and family. The freedom to hunt, hike, ride, wheel, camp, wander, and discover this country firsthand. That kind of freedom didn’t happen by accident. It was built through sacrifice, hard work, service, and generations of Americans who believed this country — and these public lands — were worth protecting.

Read my take on Catching Nightcrawlers with Grandpa.

As a combat veteran, I probably feel that a little deeper than most. I’ve seen firsthand what sacrifice looks like. I’ve watched young Americans carry responsibilities far beyond their years. And over time, I’ve come to believe that patriotism isn’t just something we say — it’s something we do.

Sometimes patriotism looks like military service. Sometimes it looks like volunteer trail work, including actions like:

* Mentoring younger folks.
* Packing out trash.
* Helping keep trails open.
* Teaching responsible recreation.
* Showing respect for the land and for each other.

Sometimes patriotism simply looks like caring enough to leave things better than we found them. That’s one reason I care so deeply about stewardship and responsible outdoor recreation. America’s public lands are one of the greatest gifts we’ve inherited. Deserts. Forests. Mountains. Dunes. Backroads. Rivers. Places where families still reconnect, veterans still find peace, kids still discover adventure, and Americans still experience freedom in a very real and personal way.

When I look back over the decades — from my younger years learning lessons outdoors, to military service, to the fire service, to trail work and advocacy — one thing keeps standing out to me: America happens out here.

It happens on volunteer workdays.
On dusty trails.
At desert camps.
At small-town events.
In Jeeps and pickups headed into the backcountry before sunrise.
In conversations around folding tables at land-use meetings.
In veterans reconnecting with peace and purpose outdoors.
In grandparents teaching kids how to respect the land.

That’s the America I know. She’s not perfect, and never has been. But America is always striving forward. And maybe that’s part of what these 250 years really mean.

Passing on 250 Years of Passion – Passing it Forward

As we move toward this 250-year milestone, I hope more people reconnect with the outdoors, stewardship, service, and each other. I hope we:

Mentor more younger folks.
Volunteer more.
Teach responsibility without preaching.
Protect access through stewardship.

And I hope we remember that freedom and responsibility have always traveled together. Because in the end, what we love about America doesn’t survive automatically. It survives because ordinary people care enough to protect it, defend it, and pass it forward one generation at a time.

And out here, on America’s public lands, we still have the chance to do exactly that.

Read about Volunteering as the Heart of Stewardship here.

Final Thought

Don’t forget to JOIN and SUPPORT those groups that make sense to what you believe in and enjoy doing.

— Del Albright

Catching Nightcrawlers with Grandpa – learning about the outdoors

Balanced Stewardship and what it means after 250 years

Official website for America250

Del Albright

Author, Outdoor Recreation, Public Lands, Books & Articles (DelAlbright.com)

Hall of Fame, 2014 Inductee, Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF)

Life Member, Calif. 4Wheel Drive Association (C4WDA )

Social Media Mgr., American Sand Association (ASA)

Founding Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR)

THE LONG HISTORY OF MINIMIZATION IN PUBLIC LAND ACCESS

2026-05-31T16:51:00.000-07:00

Nothing in OHV/Motorized Recreation Happens by Accident

### By Del Albright

As a former Executive Director and Ambassador for the BlueRibbon Coalition, I was on the ground floor of developing the minimization concept and working with special interest groups to find common ground for OHV management on public lands. Back in the 1990s, countless hours spent “at the table” by Paul Turcke, Don Amador, and the entire BRC legal team helped build an unequaled foundation at the time. There is far more to this story than many people realize today.

For many in today’s OHV community, it is difficult to imagine just how hostile the public land management climate was toward motorized recreation during the early and mid-1990s. At the time, the prevailing view among many environmental organizations — and even some career agency staff — was that the “minimization criteria” contained in Executive Orders 11644 and 11989 were primarily intended to justify widespread closures of roads, trails, and riding areas on federal lands.

Recognizing the long-term threat to motorized access, the BlueRibbon Coalition created the first national grassroots OHV-specific legal program in 1996. Its purpose was to address and mitigate the misuse of minimization criteria as a one-way closure mandate. That groundbreaking in-house legal program worked alongside other attorneys, national organizations, state associations, and local clubs to defend travel management plans, participate in rulemakings, submit technical comments, engage elected officials, and intervene in litigation involving federal land access.

Minimization Was More Than Closures

Rather than accepting the argument that minimization automatically meant closures, the legal team successfully advanced the idea that sustainable recreation management could include a wide range of practical tools designed to reduce impacts while still maintaining access. Through years of administrative engagement, collaboration, and litigation, agencies gradually began recognizing that minimization could include trail maintenance, reroutes, bridge crossings, hardened stream crossings, trail delineation, education programs, signing, maps, seasonal restrictions, law enforcement, monitoring, restoration projects, and adaptive management strategies.

By the early 2010s, those efforts began producing measurable results. Some Forest Service units began developing far more robust “minimization chapters” within travel management documents that demonstrated how recreation access and resource protection could coexist.

Today, many federal land managers routinely utilize a diverse “minimization toolbox” that includes active management techniques rather than defaulting solely to closures. Using the toolbox developed over the last 30 years, a growing number of public land units and agencies are now constructing, rerouting, and formally designating new OHV trails and sustainable route systems specifically designed for modern recreation demands and long-term environmental durability.

Recent Executive Orders

The recent debate surrounding President Trump’s repeal of the old minimization executive orders highlights just how much the conversation has evolved over the past three decades. While opinions differ regarding the best direction for future policy, it is important for the OHV community to recognize that today’s recreation management framework did not happen by accident. It was the product of decades of advocacy, partnership building, legal engagement, and a commitment to proving that managed recreation and conservation are not mutually exclusive.

The most effective voices within the OHV community understood early on that long-term access would never be secured through rhetoric alone. Sustainable access required stewardship, credible participation in public processes, investment in trail systems, and a willingness to engage constructively with agencies — and even with longtime opponents.

While many advocates believe minimization criteria continue to be applied inconsistently and remain a source of controversy, the broader lesson remains unchanged: long-term access depends on stewardship, participation, and constructive engagement.

As the next generation of federal travel management policies begins to emerge, that lesson remains just as important today as it was back in the 1990s. The future of OHV recreation on public lands will continue to depend on maintaining a strong culture of responsible use, sustainable management, and collaborative engagement that protects both recreation opportunities and the landscapes that make those opportunities possible.

Link to Executive Order removing restrictions to public lands

HYDRATE OR DIE - STAYING ALIVE TIPS

2026-05-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

A Backcountry Reality Check for Four-Wheelers, Overlanders, and Desert Travelers

By Del Albright

There’s an old saying floating around military circles, wildfire camps, overlanding gatherings, and desert adventures: “Hydrate or die-drate.”

Funny? Sure. But out in the backcountry, it’s also true. I’ve spent decades leading Jeep trips, overland adventures, wildland fire operations, and backcountry tours in some of the hottest country in the West. Death Valley. The Mojave. Sand dunes. Remote Nevada. Utah slickrock and Arizona saguaro cactus country. Dry mountain ranges where shade is just a rumor.

And through all those years, one phrase became almost a tradition over the radio on my trips: “If you’re not peeing, you’re not drinking enough water.”

People laugh when I say it. Then they remember it. And that matters, because dehydration doesn’t usually hit like a lightning bolt. It sneaks up on people. Quietly. Gradually. Sometimes dangerously.

Hydrate – The Backcountry Doesn’t Care How Tough You Are

Dehydration doesn’t care if you’re:

An experienced wheeler
Former military
Young and strong
In great shape
Driving an expensive rig
“Only going out for a few hours”

Heat, sun, dry air, altitude, wind, dust, stress, caffeine, and fatigue all work together against you. And here’s the dangerous part: By the time you feel thirsty, you may already be behind.

Most people think dehydration just means “being thirsty.” Nope. The warning signs can show up long before that:

Early Signs

Dry mouth
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Feeling unusually irritable
Dark yellow urine
Not urinating much
Dizziness when standing
Brain fog or poor decisions

Serious Signs

Confusion
Nausea
Rapid heartbeat
Chills despite heat
Loss of coordination
Extreme weakness
Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke

And in the backcountry, poor decisions can turn dangerous fast. People miss turns and get lost. Spotters pick bad lines, and vehicles get jammed up. Arguments arise in camp that never would have happened otherwise. A dehydrated brain doesn’t think clearly.

Watch Your People — The “Swim Buddy” Mindset

One of the best lessons I learned in the military was the concept of the swim buddy. Yeah, I was a “frogman.” You always looked out for somebody else. Not sometimes, but all the time. That idea belongs in backcountry travel, too. Because dehydrated people often don’t realize they’re dehydrated.

As a trail leader or travel partner, watch for:

Quiet behavior from normally social people
Slowed reactions
Irritability
Poor balance
Forgetfulness
Stumbling
Flushed face
Glassy eyes
Someone suddenly saying, “I’m fine” when they clearly aren’t

Sometimes the strongest people are the worst at admitting trouble. That’s where good partners matter. A solid trail group watches out for each other.

A difficult concept for some to grasp is that water is more important than the goodies on your rig! You can have bad-azz lockers and t-cases, winches, big knobby tires, satellite comms, whatever… but if you run low on water, none of that matters much. Water is survival gear. Treat it that way.

How Much Water Should You Carry?

The old desert rule:

One gallon per person per day minimum

But honestly? For desert wheeling or summer travel, I like more. This is especially important if:

You’re exerting yourself
Hiking
Recovering vehicles
Camping overnight
Traveling remotely
Leading groups

I personally believe in redundancy when it comes to drinking water and emergency reserve water. Also, never rely on a single container. I’ve been on overlanding trips where my fancy plastic water jug bit the dust (cracked) and leaked out all the water on my floorboards. That’s where something solid and well-made, like a Rotopax, ensures you have a water supply in the harshest travel conditions.

Backcountry rigs should always have dedicated water storage.

Smart Practices:

Store some water inside the cab
Store reserve water separately
Keep water accessible without unloading gear
Freeze some bottles before trips
Label non-potable water clearly
Carry extra for unexpected breakdowns

And here’s another lesson: If you think your trip will take four hours…prepare for twelve. The backcountry has a way of changing plans.

Electrolytes matter too. Water alone isn’t always enough in extreme heat. Sweating hard means you’re also losing key nutrients like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. That’s where electrolyte drinks or powders can help. But don’t overdo sugary energy drinks or heavy caffeine. They can work against hydration if abused.

I have found that I have to spend a bit more to get better, healthier electrolyte drinks/powders. It’s worth it.

Simple works best:

Water
Electrolytes
Steady intake
Regular breaks

And yes…sometimes adding a little flavor encourages people to drink more water. That counts.

The “I Don’t Want to Stop” Problem

A lot of people under-drink because they are in a hurry, just don’t want to stop to pee, and want to push through to camp or the next site. There are also folks who feel bad about slowing down the group and won’t ask to stop. That mindset gets people in trouble. Smart travelers take care of themselves before they become the problem.

Think of hydration as part of leadership. Trail leaders especially need to set the tone. If the leader never drinks water, never rests, and acts invincible, the group often tries to copy that behavior.

Instead, a good trail leader will:

Call hydration breaks
Remind people to drink
Normalize rest
Check on quieter travelers
Watch older travelers and kids carefully
Encourage the “swim buddy” idea
Lead by example

Good leadership (and teamwork) in the outdoors is often quiet and simple. Sometimes it’s just asking:

“Hey buddy…when’s the last time you drank water?”

Final Thoughts

I’ve seen dehydration sneak up on people in deserts, mountains, fire lines, and military environments. The scary part is how normal it can look at first. It sneaks up as a little headache or fatigue, with perhaps just a little confusion. Then suddenly somebody’s in trouble.

So here’s the takeaway:

Hydrate or die-drate.

Funny phrase. Serious lesson. And remember: If you’re not peeing, you’re probably not drinking enough water. Your rig can break down. Your GPS can fail. Plans can change. But staying hydrated gives you the best chance to handle whatever comes next. In the backcountry, water isn’t just a convenience; it’s life.

TRAIL TIP

Carry more water than you think you’ll need…then carry a little more. Because the backcountry rewards preparation — and punishes assumptions.

Get the book on Off Road Tips by Del and Matson Breakey.

POWERFUL LESSONS EARLY ON FROM CATCHING NIGHTCRAWLERS WITH GRANDPA

2026-05-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

More to This Nightcrawlers Story

Life Lessons at an Early Age
Some of the greatest life lessons I ever learned started with a flashlight, a coffee can, and a front yard full of nightcrawlers. Back when I was just a pre-teen kid, Grandpa Albright would wake me up after dark and say something like, “Come on, boy. Time to catch bait.” That was all it took.

I’d pull on some old clothes and boots while Grandpa reminded me to grab a flashlight with fresh batteries. Not weak batteries. Not half-dead batteries. Fresh batteries. Grandpa believed in being prepared before you stepped outside the house. He also made sure I had a clean coffee can with a little loose dirt in the bottom to keep the worms cool and alive until morning. To me, it was just part of the routine.

To Grandpa, it was respect for the bait… and respect for the fishing trip to come.

His front yard seemed enormous back then. To a kid, it looked like a fresh-groomed football field. Thick green grass stretched out beneath the night sky, lined with rose bushes Grandpa cared for like members of the family. He knew every flower, every bush, every corner of that yard. Looking back now, I think tending roses probably taught him patience long before he taught it to me.

The best nights for worms were damp evenings when the ground still held moisture. Grandpa watered the lawn during the afternoon to get it attractive to the big worms. We’d move slowly across the lawn, flashlight beams sweeping quietly back and forth, searching for the shine of nightcrawlers stretched halfway out of their holes.

And that’s where the lessons really started.

“Don’t stomp around.”

“Move slow.”

“Be patient.”

“Wait for your chance.”

“If you rush, you’ll lose ’em.”

I didn’t know it at the time, but Grandpa wasn’t just teaching me how to catch worms. He was teaching me how to approach life.

Catching nightcrawlers took finesse. If you grabbed too hard, the worm broke. Too soft, and it slipped away underground. You learned patience. Timing. Persistence. You learned to pay attention. And you learned pretty quick not to give up after missing a few. Some nights we caught dozens. Other nights, hardly enough for fishing the next day. But Grandpa never complained much about it. He’d just shrug and say, “That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Another lesson.

The next morning, we’d head out fishing with a cane pole or sometimes an old bamboo fly rod Grandpa had probably owned forever. Nothing fancy. No high-dollar gear. Just simple fishing tackle, a bobber, and a big gob of fresh nightcrawler hanging from a hook. We’d sit quietly on the bank waiting for bass, catfish, or perch to take the bait. Sometimes the bobber would twitch a little. Sometimes it disappeared fast enough to make your heart jump right out of your chest.

Grandpa loved every minute of it. Truth is, so did I. But the fishing was never really just about fishing. It was about time together.

It was about learning to slow down long enough to notice nature. To appreciate preparation. To understand that success usually starts the night before. To realize good things come to those willing to put in effort before daylight ever arrives. Those lessons followed me far beyond fishing ponds and nightcrawler hunts.

They carried into my military service, wildfire work, leadership roles, public lands advocacy, volunteerism, and life itself. The outdoors has always been one of the greatest classrooms on earth, and Grandpa Albright was one of the finest teachers I ever had. Funny thing is, back then I thought we were just catching bait. Now I understand we were building memories… and character.

These days, when I see kids glued to screens instead of flashlights sweeping across wet grass on a summer night, I sometimes wonder what lessons might be getting lost along the way. Because some of life’s biggest lessons don’t come from classrooms or speeches. Sometimes they come from a quiet old man standing in the dark with a coffee can full of worms, teaching a young boy how to pay attention to the world around him.

Grandpa thought he was teaching me how to catch fish. He was really teaching me how to approach life.

Learn more about Grandpa and his life during the Great Depression from my book Tales of the Ole’ River.

IMPORTANT INSIGHT INTO VOLUNTEERISM – A MINDSET; NOT JUST A MONTH

2026-04-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

Volunteerism Isn't Just a Month - It's a Mindset

Getting Skin in the Game for the Future of Public Lands

April is National Volunteer Month. Missed the month? You didn't miss the mission! Here's the deal.

April came and went—National Volunteer Month. I missed the calendar reminder. But here’s the truth: the land doesn’t care what month it is.

Trails still need maintaining.
Routes still need monitoring.
Access still needs defending.

Volunteerism doesn’t run on a schedule—and neither does stewardship. Now Is the Time to Step Up! As we approach the summer season when outdoor recreation is a priority on our minds, I suggest we take that extra step to up our volunteerism.

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved…this is your moment. Spring and early summer are when things start moving:

Trails open up after winter
Work projects get scheduled
Agencies and partners look for help
Clubs ramp up boots-on-the-ground efforts

This is when volunteers matter most.

Not someday. Not next year. Now.

Learn more about how to “Up Purpose Your Volunteerism.”

Get Some Skin in the Game

It’s easy to enjoy public lands. It’s something else entirely to take responsibility for them. That’s what volunteerism is all about. Let me break it down for you with this ways to get some “skin” in the game:

Showing up for a trail cleanup
Helping with an Adopt-A-Trail project
Supporting a local OHV club
Working alongside land managers
Being part of the solution—not just the user

You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to be willing. And yes, I know life keeps us way to busy these days, but volunteering for the causes you believe in, even if just a little here and there, makes all the difference in the world.

Follow the Leaders Who Are Already Doing the Work

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. Across the country, strong organizations are already leading the charge:

Local 4WD and OHV clubs
State associations advocating for access
Regional and national groups working policy and partnerships
Social media groups
Forums and websites galore

These folks are in the trenches every day—building relationships, organizing projects, and keeping access alive. All you have to do is plug in and participate. The internet is full of groups, social media posts, organizational home pages, you name it, where you can get connected and do something to make a difference. Just do it.

Why It Matters More Than Ever

Here’s the hard truth: Access is not guaranteed. It’s conditional, shared, and it’s fragile. Trails don’t usually close overnight. They fade away—through neglect, lack of engagement, and silence. Volunteerism is how we push back against that.

Every hour you give:

Builds credibility with land managers
Strengthens partnerships
Shows the public we care
Keeps routes open for the next generation

Read about Balanced Stewardship here.

This Is How We Protect What We Love

You can talk about access. You can post about it. You can debate it. Or…

You can show up and do the work. That’s where the real difference is made. Show up!

Start Simple. Start Now.

If you’re new to this, here’s your starting point:

Join a local club
Attend one meeting or workday
Sign up for a cleanup or trail project
Introduce yourself and ask how to help

That’s it. No big speech. No special skills required. Just get involved.

The official Volunteer Month may be behind us, but the need for volunteers isn’t. Out on our public lands, stewardship is a year-round responsibility—and the people who step up are the ones who make the difference.

Access doesn’t begin with policy. It begins with responsibility.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign…This is it.

TRAIL TIP — VOLUNTEERISM

Don’t wait for the “right time” to give back.
The right time is when the work needs doing—and that’s right now.

NOTES: If you’re in California and OHV/four-wheeler, consider these organizations:

California Four Wheel Drive Association (Cal4Wheel)

California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA)

Tread Lightly!

USFS – SHARED STEWARDSHIP = SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

2026-04-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Shared Stewardship: Working Together to Protect Forests, Reduce Wildfire Risk, and Keep Access Open

There’s a hard truth about today’s forests: They don’t recognize boundary lines. Fire doesn’t stop at a fence. Insects don’t care who manages the land. And overgrown fuels don’t check a map before they burn. The ecosystem is one big, connected puzzle that requires more than a single-focused approach. The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is now emphasizing an approach to public land management that brings all the pieces of the puzzle together.

It’s called “Shared Stewardship,” and it matters now more than ever.

What Shared Stewardship Really Means

Shared Stewardship is a coordinated approach led by the United States Forest Service that brings together federal, state, local, Tribal, and private partners to manage forests as one connected landscape. Not as separate pieces, and not as competing jurisdictions. They are looking at the puzzle as a whole and bringing all the pieces together to solve it.

One landscape. One mission.

TRAIL TIP — THINK LANDSCAPE, NOT LINES
The land doesn’t care who owns it. Good stewardship doesn’t either.

Why This Matters Right Now

It’s well known that across the West—and beyond—our forests are under strain:

Overgrown vegetation and dense fuels
Dead and dying timber
Increased wildfire intensity
Growing risk to communities
Massive landscapes destroyed by wildfire
Decreased federal staff and budgets to conduct sound management

These are connected problems—and they require a coordinated response. It’s always been the case, but now more so than ever, all stakeholders in public lands must be united and coordinated.

We cannot fix landscape-scale issues with disconnected efforts.

Working Across Boundaries

Shared Stewardship breaks down barriers and brings partners together with a coordinated, orchestrated approach that means:

Federal agencies lead planning and analysis
States and locals help implement projects
Contractors and crews handle field work
Tribal and local knowledge guides priorities

And most important—

The work doesn’t stop at a boundary line.

Getting Work Done on the Ground

This is where the rubber meets the road when all parties come together for:

Thinning overgrown forests
Removing hazardous fuels
Clearing dead and dying trees
Restoring watersheds
Maintaining roads and access

And when timber is managed and removed, it helps support:

Local mills and jobs
Rural economies
Future restoration work

That’s real, measurable progress.

Reducing Risk Where It Matters Most

Let’s be blunt: Unmanaged forests become dangerous forests. Heavy fuel loads turn small fires into catastrophic ones.

Shared Stewardship helps by:

Reducing fuel loads
Breaking fire continuity
Protecting communities
Improving landscape resilience

More Than Forest Health

This isn’t just about trees. It also delivers:

Better recreation infrastructure
Cleaner water
Healthier ecosystems
Stronger rural economies

And yes—this matters to those of us who recreate on public lands.

Access is conditional, shared, and fragile.

Using the Tools We Already Have

Shared Stewardship makes better use of tools like:

Cross-boundary authorities
Shared funding and workforce
Coordinated planning

This isn’t more bureaucracy. It’s better coordination.

A Unified Roadmap for Action

This approach builds something we’ve needed for a long time: A unified roadmap.

One that reflects:

Local needs
State priorities
Tribal sovereignty
Federal responsibilities

And turns those into real work on the ground.

Why This Matters for Recreation and Access

If you care about trails and public lands, this matters.

Healthy forests = safer access
Managed landscapes = fewer closures
Strong partnerships = better outcomes

This is cooperation in action—the same principle we’ve pushed for years in responsible motorized recreation.

A Familiar Idea: Balanced Stewardship

If you’ve followed my work over the years, you’ve heard me talk about Balanced Stewardship—the idea that protecting our public lands and using them responsibly go hand in hand. That hasn’t changed. If anything, Shared Stewardship is Balanced Stewardship in action—bringing agencies, volunteers, and communities together to care for the land while keeping it open for responsible use.

If you want a deeper dive into that concept, take a look below on the link to: Balanced Stewardship – Protective Use of the Outdoors

Get Involved: Stewardship Starts With Showing Up

All this comes down to one simple truth: It works best when people step in and participate.

You can get involved through:

Adopt-A-Trail programs
Volunteer trail crews
Local OHV and 4×4 clubs
Stewardship groups working with agencies

Many of these operate in cooperation with the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management under formal agreements.

That’s where Shared Stewardship becomes real.

TRAIL TIP — DON’T JUST TALK ACCESS… SUPPORT IT
The strongest voice for access is the one holding a shovel, chainsaw, or trash bag. When you show up:

You build credibility
You strengthen relationships
You help keep trails open
You become part of the solution

You earn your place at the table.

Closing Thoughts

Shared Stewardship isn’t just an idea anymore. It’s happening.

Fuels are being reduced
Landscapes are being restored
Partnerships are growing
Results are visible
Local, state, and federal partners are combining forces

And maybe most important—

People are working together in ways that match how the land actually works.

Forests don’t take care of themselves. They respond to how we manage them. And when we get it right—when we work together across boundaries, We protect not just the land…but the future of access, recreation, and the communities that depend on both.

Balanced Stewardship here.

USFS Shared Stewardship website.

USFS NEPA OVERHAUL – FASTER DECISIONS; LESS RED TAPE

2026-04-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

USFS/USDA NEPA Update - What It Means for Public Lands & Access

Bottom Line:

The National Environmental Policy Act process at USDA (which includes the U.S. Forest Service) just got a major overhaul aimed at speeding things up and cutting red tape.

What Changed

USDA combined 7 different NEPA rule sets into one unified system
Cut overall NEPA regulations by about 66%
Streamlined environmental reviews across agencies like the Forest Service

Translation: Less paperwork, more consistency, faster decisions

Faster Project Timelines

USDA says review times have already been reduced by up to 80%
This applies to:
- Forest health projects (think fuels reduction, wildfire mitigation)
- Roads and infrastructure
- Rural funding and permits

For us: Projects that used to take years could move much quicker

Why This Matters on the Ground

According to USDA leadership:

NEPA had become a major bottleneck
Delays were impacting:
- Wildfire prevention work
- Access improvements
- Maintenance and infrastructure

This reform is meant to:

Get work done sooner
Reduce costsMove critical land management projects forward

What NEPA Still Does (Important)

NEPA is still in place and still requires:

Environmental review
Consideration of impacts before decisions

Key shift:
From process-heavy paperwork ➜ to focused, practical analysis

Big Picture Policy Shift

Aligns with federal push to:
- Reduce regulatory burden
- Speed up energy and land-use projects
Follows rollback of older NEPA rules by the Council on Environmental Quality

Del’s Trail Take

This is one of those changes that could go either way depending on how it’s used.

Potential Upside:

Faster trail projects
Quicker wildfire mitigation (huge for access)
Less “analysis paralysis”

Watch-outs:

Less process can mean less public input if folks aren’t paying attention
Still need strong advocacy and engagement to ensure:
- Responsible recreation is considered
- Access stays on the table

What We Should Do

Stay engaged in NEPA comment periods (they’re still there)
Watch local Forest Service projects closely
Speak up early — faster timelines mean shorter windows to be heard

Simple Takeaway:

“NEPA just got streamlined—faster projects, less red tape. Good for access… IF we stay engaged.”
Link to USFS press release.
More on Presidential Executive Orders relating to land use.

PEACE OFFICER'S MEMORIAL DAY - HONORING THE FALLEN

2025-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

📝 Peace Officer’s Memorial Day – Honoring the Fallen, Supporting the Brave

By Del Albright

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

Every May 15th, we pause to honor those who gave their lives in the line of duty as peace officers—guardians of our streets, our freedoms, and our daily lives.

Peace Officers’ Memorial Day is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a solemn reminder of sacrifice. It's a day when we, as a grateful nation, pay tribute to those who wore the badge with courage and commitment—many of whom never returned home.

These men and women stood on the thin blue line, often facing the unknown with unwavering resolve. Their work wasn’t just about enforcing laws—it was about protecting peace, defending freedom, and often, making the ultimate sacrifice in service to us all.

As someone who’s dedicated much of my life to service—whether through the military, wildland fire, or advocating for responsible land use—I feel a kinship with anyone who dons a uniform and steps into harm’s way for the greater good.

So today, I encourage us all to:

Fly the flag at half-staff.
Thank a peace officer.
Remember the fallen.
Support the living who carry that weight daily.

Let us honor not only their sacrifice but their spirit of service—a spirit that continues to protect our way of life every single day.

#PeaceOfficersMemorialDay
#NeverForgotten
#ThinBlueLine
#HonorTheFallen
#DelAlbright

CINCO DE MAYO; MEXICAN CULTURE

2025-05-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

CINCO DE MAYO; A CELEBRATION OF MEXICO'S CULTURE AND COURAGE

By Del Albright

Cinco de Mayo, celebrated each year on May 5th, is more than just a day for tacos and mariachi music—it's a vibrant recognition of Mexico’s rich heritage and enduring spirit. While many believe it marks Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the Mexican Army's unexpected victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

For those of us who explore the American Southwest, desert trails, and historic routes once walked or ridden by early Mexican settlers, this day is a chance to reflect on the cultural threads woven into our shared landscape. From mission-style architecture to culinary traditions and off-road trails with Spanish names, the imprint of Mexico’s culture is everywhere.

This year, take a moment to honor the courage of those who stood their ground in 1862—and the traditions that continue to inspire generations. Support local Mexican-owned businesses, enjoy authentic cuisine, attend a cultural event, or simply raise a toast with friends while recognizing the roots of this meaningful holiday.

And as always, respect the land you travel—leave no trace, stay on the trail, never drink and drive, and celebrate responsibly.

¡Viva México!
www.delalbright.com