by Matt Konkle
Torque Managing Editor
One of the key principles for anyone who loves motorized off-road recreation should be to ensure its accessibility for future generations.
Leaving trail areas better than you found them is one way. Participating in trail clean-up events, and helping remove trash or other debris is another.
For members of Mohawk 4x4 Adventures, this also meant constructing an Earth Day cleanup at one of its most significant locations — Old Florida Road.
And the organization turned to Quadratec’s 50-for-50 Trail Restoration Grant Initiative to help accomplish the project.
Old Florida Road is slightly more than four trail miles that pass through the Savoy Mountain State Forest in Savoy, Massachusetts — right in the upper northwestern part of the state and about a 70 minute drive from Springfield.
It is a historically significant 4x4 trail with famous bedrock obstacles, some mild double-track dirt areas and a water crossing that runs from mild to daunting, depending on the weather.
Member of the Mohawk 4x4 Adventures organization have been working to the permanent closure of this trail, and suggest groups limit themselves to a small, manageable size to prevent overuse of the trail. Additionally, the group recommends things like winches, lockers and aggressive tires to help overcome obstacles, as there is no legal go-arounds on the road.
This past Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd, the organization sent 12 volunteers to the road who removed dumping debris, old tires and damaged plastic vehicle parts. In all, they packed out 1,200 pounds of trash for the day.
“What a fantastic experience, collaborating with Tread Lightly!, Quadratec, Massachusetts DCR, neighbors and especially the club members and volunteers to clean up this area and leave it better than we found it. What an amazing job by an amazing group of people,” said Michael White, President of Mohawk 4×4 Adventures and Tread Lightly! Member.
This Old Florida Road National Forest Cleanup Project was the 16th of 50 total trail and public land restoration events that Quadratec will help sponsor through the end of 2023.
So far, through its supported projects, the 50-for-50 Stewardship Grant has accumulated 4,516 volunteer hours with a total value of $134,672, pulled away 78,155 pounds of trash and improved 452 miles of trail.
Quadratec’s ’50-for-50’ stewardship grant fund helps project managers pay for equipment, fees, volunteer support, food, fuel, signage and other miscellaneous costs.
Quadratec has been a supporting partner of Tread Lightly! for more than 20 years, and a longtime fundraiser for Tread Lightly!’s stewardship programs. The company has also promoted Tread Lightly! and other trail restoration efforts through its Quadratec Cares ‘Energize the Environment’ program.
Clubs and individuals are required to be active, supporting members of Tread Lightly! to be eligible to apply for ’50-for-50’ grant funding. To learn more about the Quadratec ’50-for-50 program, visit Quadratec's 50 for 50 Trails Stewardship Grant Initiative.
Related Articles:
Quadratec, Tread Lightly ’50-for-50’ Trail Cleanup — Coal Township, Pennsylvania
Quadratec, Tread Lightly! ’50-For-50’ Public Land Cleanup — Lansing, West Virginia
Quadratec, Tread Lightly! ’50-For-50' Cleanup — Brooksville, Florida
