Don't be a Ghost Rider

Dear Ghost Rider,

  Well here goes, I know this post is going to make some folks mad but it needs to be said. I'm going to address horseback riding and camping. This can go for anywhere you ride not just Uwharrie. This is for all you "ghost riders"

   Folks at this point you are wondering what a ghost rider is. Well a ghost rider is someone who rides horses, pays very little if at all to ride and / or leaves a mess. This mess could be as simple as leaving horse manure in the parking lots for day rides or throwing your trash on trails , leaving your trash, hay and manure at a campsite when you leave. Why do you think this is ok?? These are the very same folks who complain  about the rules, trails closing or complain campsites are not to their liking. I mean really?
  Here's the deal, its up to everyone to save our trails. Its up to everyone to keep our campsites and trails open and clean.
  I went camping the other week in Uwharrie National Forest outside of Troy, NC. I was going to park in primitive camping. When I got there it was full!! I then took a chance to see if any sites would be open in Canebrake Horse Camp. Well I thought it would be full after seeing how full primitive was. Boy was I wrong. Now I know folks park in primitive for all kinds of different reasons. Just keep reading.. Canebrake to my surprise was about empty! I really didn't understand this. So I went and started asking questions. Why is Canebrake empty? Canebrake has everything you need. Full hookups, water for horses, bath houses and nice campsites. Then I realized why. It hit me like a slap in the face. Canebrake is not free and the host will make you follow the rules.
  Before you folks get fighting mad keep reading. You know what I'm saying is true. You can come up with a hundreds of reasons but you know this is true too.

Primitive camping at Uwharrie

   I got to say I'm guilty of this myself. Thinking I can park at Heathen Camp for free and do what I want too. Who cares. Well it hit me that weekend. I realized that this is not a good way to think.  Here is the thing, if you don't pay at Canebrake the state of NC doesn't know you ride there. They don't know you use the trails. What they do hear about is the trash, trash on the trails and no money coming in to help. They get calls about the host being a bad person and trash everywhere. Why keep the place open? Why put money into a place to fix trails? Fix camping? To even mow? Think about this because its an idea we all need to look into. Did you know 4wheelers put more money into Uwharrie? Well they do. 4Wheeler riders pay for a day pass or a yearly pass. That puts more money into Uwharrie. Horse riders do what? Pay to camp at Canebrake? Not if the place is empty. we don't have passes like that. But we need them. Did you know we could lose the right to ride at Uwharrie? We could if folks don't start doing their part. Now folks are sitting there going why should I pay to park in primitive? Well, Do you use the trails? Do you camp? Do you go to Canebrake to get water? To use the bath house? Why do you think you should not pay??
 
  There is a great group of folks working hard to save your trails and your right to ride. They are try to be your voice. They are the Back Country Horseman of Uwharrie but they need your help. You want better trails, better campsites, better marked trails? Well folks get out and help and pay. Its going to take us all. Because if all you do is camp at primitive and ride, and never clean up after your horse or your self you my friend are a " Ghost Rider"

You can pay fees at this box
in Canebrake. It even tells you
what to pay.

   Its time we all get involved with all our trails. See how we can help. Yes I'm even talking to myself.
Let's get the whole horseback riding world involved. Let's fill Canebrake, lets tell the ranger we are here to help do our part. Let's see if we can do a yearly pass or day pass. Until then go to Canebrake and get a pay envelope and pay for  primitive its not going to hurt you. Show them we are here. Show the rangers we can do just like the hikers, bikers, and 4wheelers. Let them hear your VOICE! This goes for anywhere you ride. We either use it or lose it. Its really that simple.

                           Sincerely,
      A fellow trailrider who is from this point on
             going to do their part.