Since we're all still coming off the fun of this year, I wanted to throw out up update and some info on next year's event.
The big change for next year will be permitting through the BLM. As I think many of you know, we have been skirting the edge of needing to get a permit from the BLM to hold the event. The rig cut off has been 50 for the past few years and we are always right at that number. Well they are changing the cutoff to 25 and there's no chance we can fudge that limit.
There are going to be some good things and some bad things associated with getting a permit. The biggest down side will be cost; we are going to have to charge a registration fee. At this point I know for certain the permit will cost each vehicle $15 minimum. In addition to the permit we will be required to have insurance for the event and that's the big question mark. I'm estimating it may cost each person an additional $20-25. The insurance is only to cover spectators, not participants and their vehicles. Just so it's clear, we're still not going to use the event to make money. I will charge no more that what's necessary to cover our costs
The upside is that we will be completely legit. This means we can safely provide some of the fun stuff like event t-shirts and more event stickers and some other similar stuff. In the past we have kept this stuff to a minimum in an effort not to draw too much attention to the event. In an effort to grow the event we plan to offer a few more things we haven't before.
The BLM tries not to have more than one event on a weekend, so it's looking like using the same weekend next year will be the best option. So the tentative dates for next year will be Sept 18-20.
kgblazer has pointed out to me that there's a bicycle event in town that same weekend - as there was this year too. I would say that once I can tell you those dates are firm, the sooner we can get reservations made the better. For example we're going to try and get the normal park for BB09, so we'll be reserving that as soon as possible.
Standby for more info.
Also, I'll be looking again for any trail leader volunteers, so please don't be shy. FYI, I don't even require that you've run the trail before, just that you are willing to be the person responsible for way finding and making sure everyone is taken care of and gets off the trail. The last 2yrs I've led 4 trails unfamiliar to me and we did just fine.
The big change for next year will be permitting through the BLM. As I think many of you know, we have been skirting the edge of needing to get a permit from the BLM to hold the event. The rig cut off has been 50 for the past few years and we are always right at that number. Well they are changing the cutoff to 25 and there's no chance we can fudge that limit.
There are going to be some good things and some bad things associated with getting a permit. The biggest down side will be cost; we are going to have to charge a registration fee. At this point I know for certain the permit will cost each vehicle $15 minimum. In addition to the permit we will be required to have insurance for the event and that's the big question mark. I'm estimating it may cost each person an additional $20-25. The insurance is only to cover spectators, not participants and their vehicles. Just so it's clear, we're still not going to use the event to make money. I will charge no more that what's necessary to cover our costs
The upside is that we will be completely legit. This means we can safely provide some of the fun stuff like event t-shirts and more event stickers and some other similar stuff. In the past we have kept this stuff to a minimum in an effort not to draw too much attention to the event. In an effort to grow the event we plan to offer a few more things we haven't before.
The BLM tries not to have more than one event on a weekend, so it's looking like using the same weekend next year will be the best option. So the tentative dates for next year will be Sept 18-20.
kgblazer has pointed out to me that there's a bicycle event in town that same weekend - as there was this year too. I would say that once I can tell you those dates are firm, the sooner we can get reservations made the better. For example we're going to try and get the normal park for BB09, so we'll be reserving that as soon as possible.
Standby for more info.
Also, I'll be looking again for any trail leader volunteers, so please don't be shy. FYI, I don't even require that you've run the trail before, just that you are willing to be the person responsible for way finding and making sure everyone is taken care of and gets off the trail. The last 2yrs I've led 4 trails unfamiliar to me and we did just fine.
