Appalling

As I was making my way from Yuma to Salton today my route along Interstate 8 took me past a place called Imperial Dunes Recreation Area. What I could see from along the interstate was just a small part of this particular state "park" and 3 of something like 21 total camping areas within the park's confines. In this area a few miles long there were easily over 500 motorhomes, trailers, or campers. Accompanying each of them, of course, was 1 or more ORV's (off road vehicles in the form of jeeps, ATV's, dune buggies, sand rails, and dirt bikes).

I knew that so many of those vehicles couldn't be a good thing but the real shocker came as I was driving back to Yuma along the same route this evening. Though the sun had already set, these 2 and 4-wheeled marauders were still going strong. So much so, in fact, that traffic on the interstate had to slow down to between 45 and 50 MPH because the dust cloud being raised by these vehicles racing through the desert made it seem like you were driving through a thick fog. It was unbelievable. Thinking about it now, I should have taken a few pictures.

There is just no way in hell that this can be good for the landscape (just speculating but what would it take, a century or more to regenerate itself?). I'm sure there are rules about staying on designated trails and such but can the state really employ enough people to police that? And when do we say "enough" and begin establishing strict limits on how many can participate on a given weekend? Sure everyone should be allowed their recreation, but when it is so damned destructive . . . it just makes me angry.

Update 11-25: I confess that I now have some doubt as to weather the poor visibility on the interstate was actually dust kicked up by the "off-roaders". As I was making my eastward this morning I did in fact encounter some ground fog in some of the agricultural areas east of Yuma. Having said that, the reason I am still doubtful is that, for one thing, the area in which I encountered the fog was not agricultural and, two, the ground fog would most likely (I believe) turn up after a night of flooding the fields. Not to mention the fact that this visibility problem began and ended in the immediate area of heavy ORV use. Regardless of whether or not the "limited visibility" was a direct result of the activities in question, the fact remains that some entity, federal or state, should begin to heavily regulate off road vehicle use. (At least in my opinion. I'll get off my soapbox now)