I am a 50-year-old Utah native and have loved the mountains and deserts of this incredible place. I am also a professional botanist who has spent the past 25 years studying the vegetation that covers the incredible land formations that make our state famous. The changes that have occurred during the past five years particularly, because of off-road vehicle use, sicken me. Not only does the sound of their engines but also the smell of their exhaust destroy the aesthetics of any peaceful outdoor experience. We have catered to their call over and over until they truly believe they have a "right" to destroy the landscape and everything that depends upon it. I find few places to hide anymore.
I hope every day that the places that once offered refuge in the San Rafael Swell, west desert, Wasatch plateau and Utah's Dixie will return to the places that had qualities to enrich our lives. I hope for something better than a sacrifice zone for ORVs.
Renee Van Buren
Salem