View Full Version : Drinking on the trails
BeaterToyota
10-28-2007, 09:07 PM
Locknload (Mike) and I were discussing at GWNF yesterday that it's pretty retarded how many people were drinking and driving (and carrying loaded weapons) on the trails at the Fall Colors ride.
larc68
10-28-2007, 09:31 PM
From what I understand, there were drinking more than just beer also.
jjrgr21
10-28-2007, 09:42 PM
whats wrong w/ weapons, if your legal.
larc68
10-28-2007, 09:51 PM
whats wrong w/ weapons, if your legal.
i think it was more that this guy was also drinking on the trail.
amgraham
10-28-2007, 10:27 PM
:mad: I'm disappointed to hear that that went on.. Has those involved been confronted on it?
Also, what is the legality of weapons on the trail? Last I checked it was OK to carry at least with a CCW up there.
jjrgr21
10-28-2007, 10:38 PM
oh, i went out w/ the group ace took out, and didn't notice anyone drinking. i had my pistol w/me, but i always do.
BeaterToyota
10-28-2007, 10:41 PM
I don't have any problem with drinking or with guns. I'm not into either of them, but I don't care if someone else is. My dad is recently retired from the FBI, so I grew up with guns around and I've shot several hand guns, rifles, and shotguns over the years.
The point is that there seemed to be several people drinking while on the trails (which means they were also driving on the road to get to the trails). It's just stupid.
Drinking while carrying a loaded firearm is just as stupid.
IMO the best way to handle drinking on the trails is to state up front in the event planning, that drinking on the trails is not permitted. That way the expectation has been set.
Virgina is an open carry state, so it's legal to carry. According to the NRA, National Forests follow the state laws when it comes to fire arms. I just read the rules on the GWNF web site, and it's sort of vague. So, I'm not sure.
Man, firearms + beer on Federal land could lead to some issues if Johnny law shows up.
jjrgr21
10-29-2007, 12:08 AM
there was a couple of guys acting like fucking idiots in our group, but i don't know if the were drinking.
drinking on the trails just contradicts the blue ribbon thing, and all that. some guy was standing on sliders while going down the trail too. it's just stupid and sets bad examples.
but guns ROCK!!!!!
axledeep
10-29-2007, 08:42 AM
On GWNF and other such areas, it is legal to carry. If you carry concealed, you need a concealed handgun permit. Otherwise, your piece has to be displayed. It gets a little tricky during hunting season...I believe they frown upon people carrying without a permit during hunting season if they don't have a hunting license. Make sense? Regardless, you can carry.
Now - it is VERY clear to EVERYONE who has gone through the process to get a concealed permit that you should not carry and drink at the same time (beside the fact it is illegal - duh). If you are going to have a drink while carrying, have the smarts to at least keep the piece concealed. That's like carrying beer into the woods while hunting...how freaking stupid is that.
Now X2 - if someone is careless enough to carry while drinking AND drive while drinking...well, I really don't know who they think they are. I enjoy a cold beer more than anyone out there, but have the self-restraint to wait until I'm not behind the wheel. I'm not sure if anyone was driving drunk, but still...WTF?
I kept my mouth shut while out there. Had something started to go wrong, I would have voiced my thoughts. I agree with the previous post saying the best way to avoid such occurances in the future is to make it clear upfront what the expectations of the group are.
Littletoy
10-29-2007, 08:57 AM
I agree with Ted. State the rules for drinking up front so those that are complete drunks can then decide if they want to come or not. My .02 for whatever it's worth is that the drinking needs to stay at the campsite.
As far as the firearms are concerned. All of you that have a CCW permit's you should know what you can/can't do. I'm not sure what the laws's are at GW, but as far as I know all the other events are held at places that are private property. In those instances you can't carry unless you have permission from the property owner.
Ace_Laserna
10-29-2007, 09:23 AM
We didn't have any problems with our group. (aside from the guy who didn't let us go up second mountain)
Beater/Ted: PM or e-mail me the vehicle descrip. of who was acting like idiots in your group. I have a good feeling I know who it is and neither are on this site. I will get in touch with them and straighten it out.
-Ace
locknload
10-29-2007, 10:41 AM
I was pretty diassapointed seeing people not only drinking on the trail (Open Container in a vehicle) but drinking and driving as well. This would not be tolerated at an off road park but people seem to think it's ok on federal land. I don't think TLCA allows open container on the trail at their events nor do any other half-assed organizations. I'd like to believe we are at least 3/4 assed and should act like we're 100%.
Were these people confronted? Not by me. I've confronted drunks (or drinkers who thought they were in the right, shocker) in the past and it never ended nice. I will most certainly not confront someone drinking with a loaded .44 mag on their hip. Who knows how that could of ended up.
We as four wheelers have to be responsible if we want to be taken seriously. We can't afford to lose anymore land use privledges. It's already been happening.
Ted's right. Along with some other 'guidelines' that need to be stated up front in a driver AND passenger/participent pre-ride meeting, Alcohol needs to stay off the trail.
Fort Knox
10-29-2007, 11:06 AM
I agree with Ted. State the rules for drinking up front so those that are complete drunks can then decide if they want to come or not. My .02 for whatever it's worth is that the drinking needs to stay at the campsite.
As far as the firearms are concerned. All of you that have a CCW permit's you should know what you can/can't do. I'm not sure what the laws's are at GW, but as far as I know all the other events are held at places that are private property. In those instances you can't carry unless you have permission from the property owner.
Agree 100%. I didn't notice anyone drinking on the trails in the group I was in (Ace's group), but that doesn't mean nobody was. We're all out there to have fun, but to me....4wheeling is fun. I don't need alcohol to have fun on the trail. Now, back at camp is a completely different story.
In the future, a simple warning/advisement during the driver meeting needs to be made where we tell folks to leave the drinking for when we get back to camp. I don't suspect we'll get anyone on this thread who will either admit to or defend drinking on the trails, because there is no defense for it.
On the weapons issue, admittedly I have no idea what the law is in the GWNF. If someone has a license to carry and it's legal where we are then by all means, that's their right. However, if it's illegal, that's a different story. As I said above, there shouldn't be ANY drinking on the trails, but if someone has a weapon and is drinking, well....I'd rather not ride the trails with that guy.
Littletoy
10-29-2007, 01:19 PM
For whatever it's worth, here are the laws regarding firearms at George Washington:
Fireworks and Firearms
Fireworks are prohibited throughout the forest. Do not set off fireworks or other explosives within campgrounds and other recreation sites.
Weapons are not allowed on national forest lands outside of hunting seasons. ( See State Game Regulations.) Firearm ranges are the exception.
Firing a gun is not allowed: a) in or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area; b) across or on a road or body of water; c) in any circumstance whereby any person may be injured or property damaged; and d) outside of hunting season, unless a specific supervisor’s order exists stating otherwise.
Laws Regarding Firearms on National Forest Lands
First, the primary laws governing possession of firearms and other weapons on National Forest are State Laws. These laws were developed by the states following establishment of our Cooperative Wildlife Management Agreements. Most notable of the state laws concerns controlling firearms on the National Forest are “cased gun laws”.
Cased Gun Laws: As the name implies, this law requires that all firearms on National Forest be unloaded and kept in a case. Virginia and West Virginia have similar “cased gun laws”. In order to allow hunting, these laws make an exception.
It is legal to have loaded firearms on National Forest during the authorized general firearms and muzzle loading gun seasons for bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey, or waterfowl. This exception is very specific and applies only during the period when it is legal to take these listed species and doesn’t include carrying the loaded weapons in a vehicle.
Because hunting on Sunday is prohibited, carrying a loaded gun on National Forest is not legal on Sunday even if it is the Sunday in the middle of the general firearms deer season.
The second exception to this law allows people with a concealed weapon permit to carry a loaded, concealed, handgun either on their person or in their vehicle while on National Forest. This does not apply if the person is engaged in a primitive weapons season or chase only season.
People muzzle loading or bow hunting may carry a concealed weapon as long as they possess a concealed weapon permit.
Discharging a firearm, crossbow, or bow and arrow in or across a road or within the right-of-way of any road is prohibited by both State and Federal Law.
Any person convicted of a felony may not legally possess firearms on National Forest.
Reckless use or handling firearms: It is a violation of both Federal and State law to handle any firearm in a careless and reckless manner or hunt while under the influence of intoxicants or narcotic drugs.
TARGET SHOOTING - Target shooting is prohibited on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests by an Order signed in February of 1996. Target shooting on National Forest should be accomplished only at approved ranges.
dtrailtaco
10-29-2007, 03:25 PM
I don’t recall anyone drinking on the trail...I think possibly when some stopped at spots were we taking breaks for about 45 mins or so there may have been. I thought it was a good time; I got to meet some nice folks and wheel with some new people I have never met before. And I got to meet some of yall I have only talked to on the intranet... but IMO I don’t think drinking on the trails shouldn’t be allowed. Alcohol and vehicles isn’t a good combo.... my girlfriend just lost one of her best friends due to a drunk driver....if she saw someone drinking she definitely would have told me but we were in the back of the pack for most of the run
locknload
10-29-2007, 04:43 PM
Who's group were you in?
dtrailtaco
10-29-2007, 04:45 PM
Who's group were you in?
whoops sorry bout that i was in Ace's group
BeaterToyota
10-29-2007, 06:35 PM
IMO the best way to handle drinking on the trails is to state up front in the event planning, that drinking on the trails is not permitted. That way the expectation has been set.
Yep. I wasn't starting this thread to start shit, or to act like a prude or whatever, just to point out that there was some shit that wasn't cool. We'll just post the necessary info before hand next time.
BlueX
10-29-2007, 09:13 PM
Yep. I wasn't starting this thread to start shit, or to act like a prude or whatever, just to point out that there was some shit that wasn't cool. We'll just post the necessary info before hand next time.
the club should get all that out a head of time
\no drinking unless your at the campsite
Donkey
10-30-2007, 07:31 AM
I hope Gadget was not in that group that was drinking and driving. That's pretty stupid to be doing that.
Littletoy
10-30-2007, 09:20 AM
I hope Gadget was not in that group that was drinking and driving. That's pretty stupid to be doing that.
No he wasn't. He was in Ace's group.
Donkey
10-31-2007, 08:10 AM
Ted or Mike. Your pushing it with the Hasellehoff crap. I do know where you both live.
locknload
10-31-2007, 08:17 AM
It's not me, though I do have the same poster in my bedroom.
larc68
10-31-2007, 10:20 AM
It's not me, though I do have the same poster in my bedroom.
And the truth finally comes out...
Ace_Laserna
10-31-2007, 10:29 AM
It's not me, though I do have the same poster in my bedroom.
I bet yours isn't signed like the on Ted has
Eazy-E
10-31-2007, 11:02 AM
Well thats not cool drinking on the trails:flipoff1: Glad nobody was injured:uzi::catfight:.
I had a good time will do it again next year:D.
I bet yours isn't signed like the on Ted has
You told me my secret was safe with you.
Donkey
11-01-2007, 07:35 AM
It's not fair picking on computer handycapped people!!!!!!!!!! Now repent you sinners.
It's not fair picking on computer handycapped people!!!!!!!!!! Now repent you sinners.
Hint...User CP top of page.
fourwd1
11-02-2007, 11:42 PM
Glad I didn't make it, from this thread it sounds like a total cluster f%^.
And speaking of drinking/carrying on federal land, how many of you know that you were tiptoeing on the edge of an NSA installation? If you crossed over the mountain into WV you weren't un-noticed. :rolleyes:
And since when weren't we very vocal about drinking on the trail? Always been before.
Afterwards is one thing (OK we're a drinking club with a 4wheeling problem), but before or during? That's BS.
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