When's the next official trail run?

[what now I broke it]

I get that it's summer and we're all busy doing tons of stuff. But when's the next "official" red highlighted trail run?

Just asking because when i was looking at the by laws it looks like there's section D-4 stating that there's a goal of doing 1 a month... or am I reading that wrong? Or is goal used very loosely?

 

[DomOfTheDead]

For the typical Rising Sun calendar year, official runs are usually as follows:

1. The official snow run
2. Cruise Moab
3. Blow off work and go 4 wheeling BOWAGO
4. season opener of adopted trail Argentine pass
5. season opener of adopted trail Kingston peak
6. season opener of adopted trail Jenny creek
7. season close of adopted trail Argentine pass
8. season close of adopted trail Kingston peak
9. season close of adopted trail Jenny creek
10. spooky run
11. Holiday party: thanks for the reminder @MountainGoat

As the verbiage in the bylaw states: Goal of 1 Official club event per month- Here is the explanation as decided by the club officers: for the average number of members, the wheeling season is May to October, (depending on opening and closures dates set by our friends in the forest service), that 10 official runs covers a vast majority of this seasonal window of opportunity, as well as gives a few other runs spread out through the year.

Please understand that all Officer and committee positions are volunteer positions, these people take time out of their lives to get these amazing events going, but we all have lives and sometimes commitments cannot be met. We, the volunteers, get busy and some things just don't work out, and sometimes things happen during the year that affect those commitments unexpectedly.

In addition, there is always an issue with having enough trail leaders. We never have enough volunteers, no matter what the event or how many times it is requested.


As for the 2026 calendar year, we have had these official runs:

1. the Official snow run: did not happen, issues with record low snow pack and scheduling
2. Cruise Moab: be there or be square! this is becoming a world renowned event
3. St. Patricks day parade: our first time being featured, thanks to @Curly for getting this going! This was a new one.
4. BOWAGO: always has a good turn out, thanks to @Hulk for setting this up!
5. Argentine season opener: thanks to @nakman for setting this up!
6. Kingston season opener: Set up by me
7. Spooky run: in process of getting this posted
8. Holiday party

As it is the beginning of September, we still have time to set up closure runs on our 3 adopted trails, these would count as Official runs and towards our all-access program of membership cost reduction.

 

[DomOfTheDead]

As Event Coordinator, I recommend the following for setting up ANY trail run:

1. Pick a trail - uncertainty creates confusion, with vast variables on trail difficulty and distance, no one likes a surprise that they can't handle

2. pick a date - a solid date sets an easy way for people to check if they are availability or not

3. set expectations - overall plan for the day, reminders about essentials (food, water, clothes, sunscreen, ect), expected arrival time and departure

4. establish limits- max # of vehicles, dogs and children welcome or not, experienced drivers, ect

5. awareness- an event post done too far from the date causes people to commit and forget, too close to the date and no one can plan ahead. Know your fire bans, if OHV permits are required and the status of closure on the trail

If anyone ever has any questions about guidance on setting up a trail run, please ask myself or any of the officers, we would be glad to help you

 

[MountainGoat]

Also note that the Holiday Party counts as an official club event. That makes the total for usual years 11.

 

[Hulk]

Should we have more "official" club runs and events than we do now? We could set guidelines for what needs to be done before and at the run/event to earn the official designation.

We went from "any run qualifies, even if it is two dudes hitting a trail to go camping" to "Only a limited few runs/events per year are official." Seems like we could find a comfortable spot in the middle.

 

[MountainGoat]

Agreed. Probably something for the officers to take up and work out a plan.

 

[nakman]

Should we have more "official" club runs and events than we do now? We could set guidelines for what needs to be done before and at the run/event to earn the official designation.

We went from "any run qualifies, even if it is two dudes hitting a trail to go camping" to "Only a limited few runs/events per year are official." Seems like we could find a comfortable spot in the middle.

No. threre are already 11 per year, and it's a struggle to find leaders for more than 6 or 7 of them. There are plenty of opportunities to get on an official run, and as we continue to beat the mantra of there's no need to join right away it's ok to hang out for a while to see if this is your people, etc. there is no cause to accelarate that process.

But if these aren't the right 11 events for the club to be focused on, or if these 11 events no longer support the club's intent, then yes as officers by all means discuss changing it. But don't just add more stuff just to further dilute/distract from what was alread established as the events we want new members to participate in.

 

[HoneyBadger]

Yotaronomy 18:20
"For where two or three are gathered in the name of Rising Sun, there also the spirit of Rising Sun shall be."

I was always under the impression that this was our vibe.

 

[what now I broke it]

It seems i ruffled some feathers... Thank you for posting and clarifying this for me. I wasn't meaning to be rude. I just was wondering when the next run is and being sarcastic.

and as we continue to beat the mantra of there's no need to join right away it's ok to hang out for a while to see if this is your people, etc. there is no cause to accelarate that process

Hint taken. Can I get a refund on my shirt?

 

[nakman]

Hey I got no beef here, man, we're good. it's great to see some enthusiasm honestly, and it's awesome you took the time to read the bylaws. The process might not be perfect, but the intent is to first give newcomers a realistic preview of the club and its members, second make sure the behaviors of prospective new members align with the club's values (i.e. participation in adopted trail efforts) and third sign on new members and take their money. Without this, and before the current process as written, new members joined who didn't care one bit about helping to keep trails open, and the active encumbent members felt like the same 10 people are having to do everything, a burden that led to a bunch of burn out and resentment.

My only push back here is on the somewhat precipitous suggestion to change this, or revert back to a looser, lesser standard, knowing how much effort it took to even get to this point, and this process vetted and written how it is now. So if I have beef with anyone it's with @Hulk, but it's really not that deep he and I have been friends for 25 years and we'll hash this out next month the next time we go camping together.

 

[60wag]

Isn't the 40's run the next scheduled run? (trying to get back to the original question)

 

[MileHigh80Guy]

Bit of a drive, technically a collab, but:

Trail Run Planning - Dinosaur Ntnl Mnmt Area - Sept 18-21, 2026 - Cool Cruiser Truck Club Camping Collab Continued - Please read first post

Hey great gals & guys, In 2024 & 2025, Dino Double Cruiser Club Collab were great. For historical reference, check links: https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/thr...asatch-cruisers-club-ventures-planning.35435/, and...

risingsun4x4club.org

 

[nakman]

Isn't the 40's run the next scheduled run? (trying to get back to the original question)

Bit of a drive, technically a collab, but:

Trail Run Planning - Dinosaur Ntnl Mnmt Area - Sept 18-21, 2026 - Cool Cruiser Truck Club Camping Collab Continued - Please read first post

Hey great gals & guys, In 2024 & 2025, Dino Double Cruiser Club Collab were great. For historical reference, check links: https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/thr...asatch-cruisers-club-ventures-planning.35435/, and...

risingsun4x4club.org

the OP was about the next official run, as in what could potentially qualify one towards membership. Neither of those qualifies.