This was originally posted on Glamisonline.org by Ron @ Lazerstar. I really wanted the folks over here to read it so I stole it! I hope you don't mind!

PastorVor

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The following is a memo to the lady who arranges the ISDRA fly overs, from a guy that flew on 1-5-02. Some interesting observations...
My scheduled flight on 12-29 had been rescheduled (unknown to me) from 10 AM to 2 PM that same day. They apparently decided on the Thursday preceding that date that they needed to change the time of the flight. Of course I was in the 22nd wash and could not be contacted, so I drove all the way to Imperial airport from the washes only to hang around the airport for an hour and a half wondering if I was in the right place.

Anyway, here’s the memo:
Hello Jeri.

As you had arranged, I recently volunteered and flew with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over the Imperial Sand Dunes area, which is managed by the BLM. I was to represent “recreationalists” while a member of an environmentalist group would be along to represent their side of the land use issue. The purposes of the flights, done every weekend, are to do***ent area use. The presents of both a recreationalist and an environmentalist is probably intended to lend impartiality to the reports. I’d like to take some time to file a report on my first of four flights. It was very interesting and educational for me. I hope passing this information along will be of benefit to others as well.

The flight occurred Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002. The flight consisted of Mike, the pilot; Emit, with the BLM; a Ms. Castro with the BLM (sorry, I didn’t get her unique first name); and Laurie, a member of the Sierra Club. After being given aircraft safety instructions from Mike, we boarded the airplane. Mike of course in the pilot’s seat, Emit to Mike’s right in the co-pilot seat. Ms. Castro sat alone in the rear of the plane, in a single seat. That left Laurie and myself sitting side by side in the middle of the plane. Mike ‘s aircraft safety instructions noted that there was only one door on the right side of the craft. I assumed, as on commercial airplanes, the person sitting by that door may need to take emergency action. Having probably 35 - 45 pounds on Laurie with which I could manage the door if I had too, and wanting to be a gentleman, I opened the door and invited her to take a seat, which would be on the left side of the craft. She said, “No, you get in first. I have been told the right side of the plane has the best view on these over flights. I’ll be sitting on the right side.”

First lesson: The Sierra Club communicates very clearly to it’s members what is going on. The right side does have a better view as the plane circles the park. By the way, this was both Laurie’s and my first flight. Second lesson:
The Sierra Club is willing to take control to get what they want, leaving no options. Should I have said, “Well, I think I should be by the door.” or, “Well, I would like the better view.” or at least , “Let’s flip for it.”?
Nope. I did what we nice guy recreationalists always do. I said,
“Oh.ah.ya.OK.” I hope to get the right side seat next flight.


On the flight, I talked to Mike, the pilot. He is a pro. President of his own multi-plane company (contracted to the BLM to make these flights). He also works with the Forestry Service fighting fires throughout the nation. And he’s a Vietnam Vet; helicopter gunship pilot. Emit, with the BLM, is new to the job. He made it clear he has no agenda, he’s just doing his job. Along with other duties, he was to report and do***ent (via notes and photographs) land use with these over flights. Now, I was monitoring the job at hand as I felt I should. But these are good people. I was enjoying myself. And I hoped, by being pleasant, to show that we “recreationalists” are not such bad guys. Laurie said very little. Just a few sentences the whole flight. Maybe she was just shy. That didn’t seem to be the case regarding seating. However, she was very busy. She had a camera and was taking pictures. Lots of pictures. And taking notes. Lots of notes. She had a map of the area and a clipboard. She obviously did have an agenda, and it was better organized than mine. I was thinking helping out and working one on one. She seemed to be thinking more globally, more politically.

Third lesson: We had better start thinking more like political animals (pun intended) and how to sway the masses, who don’t know what really goes on, only what they hear reported the loudest. Forth lesson: We need to tell our people to sit on the right side, bring a camera, map, clipboard, and take notes. Because I noted some other interesting things.

We flew over the entire Dunes area. Many acres of untouched sand. However, Emit and Laurie only took pictures of tracks in the sand. Emit, only when the tracks would cross the protected area boundary. About four times or so. I can’t help thinking; we fly for over two and a half hours, and get only a few shots of confirmed infractions. No pictures at all of the untouched wilderness. So what does the report probably say? “Look, we’ve got pictures. We’ve got infractions. We’ve got problems here.”

So I asked, “When were the tracks we are taking pictures of made?” Well, Emit didn’t know. You see, the BLM sends out different rangers on these flights. Each one takes pictures of tracks on the wrong side of the boundary. So, do we have about four infractions after one of the busiest weekends of the year? Or is it reported as eight infractions over a two week period? Or is it twelve infractions over a three week period? Because, let me tell you, since a plane can fly at different altitudes, and in a 360 degree circle, it’s pretty tough to compare pictures of tracks in the sand in the open desert, and determine they are the same or different from another picture of tracks. Just ask the highly trained specialists in the military. Which got me thinking. If there are new tracks each weekend, then tracks in sand don’t last for “years and years doing damage to the environment”. If the tracks do last for years and years, then the reported infractions must be re-reports of old infractions. Both cannot be true.

Regarding the boundary, it is vertical markers with red tops, stuck in the sand. The sand dunes. The shifting sand dunes. I’m trying to be fair here. But come on. The markers get buried. They fall over. They are tough to see from the air. At ground level, uneven ground level, people are going to occasionally make errors. Because they just won’t be able to see the boundary. I was amazed that after the New Years Holiday, how well respected the boundary was. It was obvious that in some areas the boundary is only known because the tracks follow along were the markers must have been at one time.

Another lesson, on fairness: The BLM has one very tough job to do. They do not have enough people or budget to do anywhere near the job being demanded of them. Emit and Ms. Castro are fine people. They care about the land, and about people. But they have to straddle both sides of the political fence, (another pun intended, and a very uncomfortable position for them to be in) while trying to get some kind of budget with which to work. I once thought about working for the BLM. Not anymore.not now-a-days. (I came to this conclusion before this flight.) Laurie probably cares too. However, many “environmentalists” seem to see people as the enemy. Well, “environmentalists” are people too. So locking everyone out does not seem to me to be the best solution. By the way, I have considered myself an “environmentalist” before the word was even used. But I enjoy the environment live and in person, not in books.

The last lesson, regarding Mike, the pilot. I hope he will forgive me for taking liberty with him here, and talking about him. I don’t know Mike’s agenda or political leanings. But I think Mike is an honest to goodness hero. He is a fighting vet. He co-ordinates fighting forest fires now. He’s a very successful business man. He is a great pilot. And as far as a person, I hope to be honored to get to know him better. Now I don’t know if Mike enjoys the desert, forests, fields, or not. But I’m going to ask him to come along with me sometime. Because, one final note: Mike the pilot is paralyzed from the waist down. Due to a helicopter crash. He flies fixed wing now with special equipment. Mike can only get to see the desert from the air. Or from a motorized vehicle. He doesn’t get to go hiking anywhere, God Bless him.

Respectfully Submitted,

Christopher P. Millunzi


Ron Scott
Weekend Concepts

ASA Endowment Committee/Forum Moderator
rscott@weekendconcepts.com
www.weekendconcepts.com



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May the Dune Gods Smile Upon You
ShiftingDunes.com

That was very well written. I'm glad to read that there were so few infractions over the holiday. I'll bet my banshee that the sierra club figures out a way to blow it out of proportion and make it look like no one was paying any attention to the border though.

Well, the one point about the pictures really told it like it is...

They took pictures of the ONLY tracks they saw... Four of them. Rest assured those are the ONLY pictures that will be shown.

Not the MILES AND MILES of closures that were not tracked. or the signs that have fallen down.

I would give my eye teeth to go on one of these fly overs and take video. I'm told that they are completely booked.

Bummer


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May the Dune Gods Smile Upon You
ShiftingDunes.com

No pictures, just video. That would tell the "whole" story. Next time you fly you should arm wrestle for the right side seat!

Great article!!!!! Your report is honest, and well taken.I just wish the environmentalist could be so objective,and we would all get along just fine!!

Great article!!!If only the environmentalist could be so objective and honest we could all get along just fine!!Good attitude and we can all learn a lesson from you ,and the info

YA KNOW- I WONDER HOW HARD IT WOULD BE TO GROOM THE SAND. GET A STRIP OF CHAIN LINK FENCE AND TOW IT FOLLOWED BY HEAVY PIECE OF PLYWOOD TO MAKE THAT NICE SMOOTH LOOK. I WONDER HOW IT WOULD LOOK FROM A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET UP... HMMM, THAT 200X MAY JUST COME IN HANDY....
I MEAN, WHAT WOULD THE SIERRA CLUB THINK IF THERE WERE NO TRACKS AT ALL. I WOULD GIVE MY "EYE TEETH" TO SEE THE EXPRESSION ON THEIR FACE WHEN THEY REALIZED THERE WERE NO TRACKS AT ALL!

Personally, I feel the very low amount of tracks found argues OUR side. First, there ARE legitamite reasons for the BLM and the Border Patrol to enter the clousure. Rest assured they do.
Secondly, only four tracks? Out of HOW MANY duners? I'd say that was pretty good compliance!

PastorVor

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May the Dune Gods Smile Upon You
ShiftingDunes.com

And those 4 tracks were possible made at night when on a NIGHT RIDE in the dunes.

I did witness some tracks in the small closure area from behind Olds. Hill last Sunday morning. Man, I wanted to go wipe them clean...

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Do It In The DUNES!
ARE YOU AWAKE YET???

That was very good and well understood. But thats how all things work. Take something small and blow it up to get leverage. Her's the money maker. Invent a brush or giant sand blowing turbine fan that hooks to the back of your quad or buggy that sweeps away the track as you ride.
Always thinkin....loooooop holes

OHHH SANDSHARK! WHAT AN IDEA!! WE CAN HEIST ONE OF THOSE THOSE BIG TRACK BLOWIN MACHINES THEY USE AT THE NASCAR RACES! SWEET!!!

Let the enviromentalist sit on the right side by the door.....mid flight it pops open and she'll get a rapidly increasing better view.

we should rent a chopper and buzz the tracks in the sand to make them disappear since most of the tracks are from eco-terrorists making night runs through the closures to help their case. How many of the tracks were from sand rails and bikes? All of the narrow ones were prolly blm or other 4x4's..



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"If you are not part of the problem, then you are part of the solution."

hey, if the Sierra Club rep falls out of the plane, messing up the "natural environment", shouldn't the sierra club get fined for it?