The measure of a true off-roader, the saying goes, isn't always what they bring to the trail, but what they leave behind.
Alright, so that may not really be a saying - but it ought to be one. Because we can bring all the best trail equipment and have a fantastic day, but if we stop somewhere to camp and fail to clean up, well, that is really where we leave our mark.
Literally.
Thankfully it doesn't happen much, as nearly everyone we know is a responsible off-road caretaker, yet it does happen. Which is why Quadratec is sponsoring a trail clean up April 1 at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area.
"Quadratec has a long history of promoting responsible outdoor recreation through our Quadratec Cares Grant Program, and this event is another great way we can support that concept," said Craig Jaros, Quadratec's Director of Outside Events. "We invite everyone who can, to come out and help us keep these trails clean and accessible to the public."
The clean up event is part of Quadratec's partnership with Off Road Consulting, and designed to remove trash and debris throughout AOAA as the park enters its spring campaign. The event is free and runs from 8am-1pm. Lunch will be provided following the cleanup for all volunteers, and Quadratec is raffling off over $2,000 worth of product.
Those interested in attending the cleanup event can register directly with Off-Road Consulting here.
All volunteers will be provided necessary tools, gloves and trash bags. Following the lunch and raffle, all participants are invited to stay and spend the afternoon light four-wheeling on AOAA's trails.
"As an off road driver, we need to give back to the trails and the off road parks that provide us with legal, safe and beautiful places to enjoy our hobby," said Off Road Consulting owner Kyle Buchter.
AOAA is a nearly three-year-old family-friendly motorized and non-motorized recreational facility sitting on 6,500 acres of coal lands in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The property was mined heavily into the 1950s, but sat unused since then until the facility's May 2014 opening. While the land sat vacant for decades, many used it as a dumping ground.