4-WHEEL FREEDOM 4x4 Driving Tips					Taking a break during the BlueRibbon Coalition Annual Trail Ride
	The Subject:   Preserving our natural resources FOR the public instead of FROM the public.
	Sometimes wintertime recreation means breaking out the the Hi-Lift jack.             If you're hauling a trailer off-road, consider using a pintle hitch. It's more forgiving than the ball-type hitch.				TIP #1:   The BlueRibbon Coalition is a nonprofit organization made up of environmentally oriented off-road recreationists, manufacturers of off-road recreational equipment, employees of the US Forest Service and BLM, and others. The BlueRibbon Coalition teaches ecologically-friendly off-road skills to the public, and networks with governmental agencies to keep trails open for outdoor recreation.
				TIP #2:   Members of the BlueRibbon Coalition include 4x4 owners, snowmobilers, trail bike riders, ATVers, and anyone who uses an off-road vehicle to get where they need to go to enjoy the outdoors - such as cross-country skiers, hikers, rock climbers, and mountain bikers.
	TIP #3:   The BlueRibbon Coalition is headquartered in Pocatello, Idaho, with its members coming from all over the United States. If you're an off-road recreationist interested in keeping land and trails open for the enjoyment of the public, you should definitely join The BlueRibbon Coalition.					If you've got a favorite tip you'd like to see published here, email it to: 4-Wheel Freedom. Be sure to include your name, city, and state, so we can acknowledge the contribution.
		TIP #4:   This is the BlueRibbon Coalition's Code of Ethics:   1. I will respect public and private property and respect the rights of all recreationists to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. 2. I will park considerately without blocking access to trails. 3. I will keep to the right when meeting another recreationist and yield to traffic moving uphill. 4. I will slow down and use caution when approaching or overtaking another. 5. I will respect dosignated areas and trail-use signs. 6. I will avoid blocking the trail when stopping. 7. I will not disturb wildlife and will avoid areas posted for the protection of wildlife. 8. I will pack out everything I pack in. 9. I will adjust my travel speed to be in line with my equipment, my ability, the terrain, the weather, and other traffic. I will volunteer assistance to those in trouble. 10. I will not interfere with the rights of others. I recognize that people judge all trail users by my actions. 11. If I meet a horseback rider, I wil pull off the trail if possible and shut down my engine. If I'm wearing a helmet, I will remove it and greet the rider.
	TIP #5:   Off-road recreationists, both motorized and non-motorized, are facing more and more land closures that prevent them from enjoying the public lands that belong to all of us. By applying ecologically-friendly principles to your outdoor recreation, you provide leverage that encourages the Forest Service, the BLM, and the NPS to keep trails open for off-road recreationists. Join your local 4x4 club, snowmobilers club, or trail bikers organization and participate in its activities. Establish communication and rapport with your local land managers. Show them that your club is interested in using its resources to help them maintain trails, repair winter damage, and participate in search and rescue operations in remote areas.   Above all, use environmental common sense: 1. Ask permission to travel and camp on private land. 2. Stay on established roads and trails. 3. If you open a gate to pass through a fence line, close it afterward. 4. Avoid "spooking" livestock and wildlife. Keep your noise level reasonable. 5. Stay out of meadows, stream beds, and other environmentally sensitive areas. 6. Avoid spinning your wheels. If you're having trouble making headway across a difficult section, it's better to use your winch rather than tear up the trail with useless wheelspin. 7. Don't dump oil or other harmful waste on the trail. Follow the principle of: "Pack it in - pack it out." 8. Yield to less powerful users. Mountain bikers yield to hikers. Snowmobilers yield to hikers and cross-country skiers. Jeeps yield to snowmobiles. All motorized users yield to horseback riders. In other words, respect the rights of others.						The mid-point of the BRC Annual Trail Ride.
	Yellowstone National Park. Buffalo by the road. Avoid "spooking" wildlife.		TIP #6:   If you enjoy the outdoors, join The BlueRibbon Coalition and participate in its efforts to keep public land open for the public's enjoyment.It's only $20 a year. Call 1-800-BlueRib to join. Visit the BlueRibbon Coalition WebSite by using the hyperlink on the HotLinks page. See also the 4x4 Driving Tips page about TREAD LIGHTLY!, another environmentally oriented organization for supporters of outdoor recreation.
	4x4 Tips:
	Snow & Ice	Vehicle Fires		The Map Page	Taking a break on the Moab Rim.
	Water Crossings	Hummers		Order & HotLinks
	Mud	Hills		Home
	Tread Lightly!	Readers' Tips
	Pinzgauers
	4-Wheel Freedom: The Art of Off-Road Driving. By Dr. Brad DeLong. The definitive book on 4x4s, off-road recreation, and all-weather driving. ORDER NOW at 1-800-4X4ROAD (494-7623). copyright Dr. Brad DeLong 2005