Don't judge me by the size of my tires

I'm an off-road enthusiast and a passionate environmentalist.

from the January 23, 2008 edition

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What I discovered is there are many reasons and faces behind land destruction and closure. It's all walks and wheels of life that refuse to stay on trail. Bureaucratic politics. Forest fires. Global warming.

Yet the Off Road Nation has long been the chief target of blame. That's why today, instead of just defending against criticism, more and more off-road drivers are taking a different approach: They're spearheading solutions.

Political activism is part of this effort. The US Forest Service is currently implementing the Off-Highway Vehicle Route Designation Project in every national forest.

This project may end up closing thousands of miles of forest roads and trails. That means these pathways to nature would be barred for nearly everyone, including off-roaders, photographers, campers, and bird watchers.

Off-road enthusiasts are responding as never before. They're raising funds for the Blue Ribbon Coalition, which is committed to working with the Forest Service to keep access open. And they're attending public meetings, not just for themselves, but the bird watchers, photographers, and campers, too, because when a trail is kept open, it is kept open for all.

This approach is getting results. On Jan. 10, the Forest Service reversed a decision that would have closed more than 14 miles of motorized trails in a northern California forest.

It's been hard for an environmentally driven girl with an off-road fetish to find her place in the outdoor world, but a home for the conscious off-road enthusiast is being built.

Magazines that once turned their back on vehicle-driven content are taking a new look. Last September, Ace Atkins was able to place an essay in Outside Magazine defending his big, bad, thirsty truck. He made a point about the growing misconception that being green begins and ends by scooting about town in a hybrid. Instead, he suggested that we judge energy abuse with broader criteria: home size, commute time, air travel, and use of electronic gadgets.

His point aligns with my own ethic: It's all about living an overall lifestyle that coexists with nature, and there's room for us all – even those with 37-inch Krawlers.

Katrina Ramser, a freelance writer and photographer, is a frequent contributor to Off-Road.com.

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