Post deleted by KTM_rad

Couldn't make it Saturday but did it Sunday. Great road, saw many Chucker!

This Birch Canyon sounds like it would be fun. Where is it located?

The Birch Canyon Jeep Trail is easy to find. It is shown on the Inyo forest map (California). It turns north from Highway 168 in Deep Springs valley on the East side of the White Mountains. The turn is very close to the bend in the highway in the middle of the valley (N 37 19.694, W 118 02.593). It goes through a gate in an electric fence that has a BLM sign that says "BIRCH" and shows it open to Jeeps, Quads, and Motorcycles. The 8 mile road is very easy in a Jeep with decent tires and only requires 4WD in a couple of places. It switches from the sand wash to a cut road up on a bank several times which are easy to miss. It passes a very interesting cabin at the Southbend Mine and an old International Scout. After going over Robert's Ridge, it drops down to Robert's Ranch in Wyman canyon (also shown on the Inyo map).

the Birch Canyon Trail goes through an area being considered for Wilderness designation. Question: Should we go in and widen (and maybe reopen) the roads in this area, or any area with Wilderness potential?

Why would you want to widen the road? Using the road won't widen it.
Areas with roads should not be considered for wilderness potential. By definition wilderness would not be a roaded area.

Sounds like you've never off-roaded before--ever see a drive-around? they widen the roads. ever see a group broke down in the middle of the trail having a beer party? do you drive around or back out?

after some years, some roads can return to their natural state of non-roads, especially in wetter climates. As a responsible off-roader, I prefer to find roads that are designated as part of a route network. If I see other folks breaking the rules and straying off the road, I write down their license #, videotape them and make a citizen's arrest--yeah I learned about it from Jeepn Del--you should too.

OVnative
I hope you realize that with the exception of the very few Open areas, the only routes that are legal for motorized use are ones that are designated by the land managing agency for that purpose. When you say that you prefer to use designated routes it sounds like you do not always exactly follow the law?