Mountain bike influencer and athlete Remy Metailler is feeling some pressure from his Instagram followers and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Moab field office after posting videos of himself riding illegally off-trail to his account.
In early October of 2022, Metailler posted a video of himself riding down a massive rock feature in Moab and into the area’s delicate cryptobiotic soil.
“Sound on! I tried to break the sound barrier and went for the speed record on this iconic line!” read the original caption. “Also that was the very first thing I rode while in Moab. A good warm up for what I did next…” The video had been viewed over 90,000,000 times, according to Instagram.
On January 5, 2023 however, Metailler reposted a clip of the footage with a statement about riding illegal trails. Metailler declined an interview with Singletracks but confirmed in comments on his public Instagram profile that the BLM wrote the statement and that both parties thought it would be a good way to spread awareness about riding illegally in the area.
“Illegal line, do not ride. Most of you have seen my videos from Moab, Utah, including a clip of this fin that went viral, but I would like to take some time to make a statement about it:
Back in October, I visited Moab for the first time. I had been dreaming about riding down there for a good ten years, and was stoked to have the opportunity. The line featured in this video had been ridden prior, but it is an illegal route. It is off the trail and should not be ridden. Unfortunately, by riding down it, I broke the rules of the place I visited and I should not have done it.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has regulations in place to help manage and protect public lands. Mountain bikes and motorized vehicles are restricted to designated roads and trails on BLM land in the Moab, Utah area. The only non-motorized free-ride area is Bartlett Wash, accessed via the Bartlett/Jedi Slickrock Trailhead. These regulations are in place to preserve the place for all users to enjoy. Off trail riding causes damage to the fragile desert environment including cryptobiotic soil and rare plants. Violators can face fines or a ban from visiting federal public lands. I have been in contact with the BLM and am working with them to help spread awareness about off trail riding in this area and ask riders to stay on the designated trails, which is what I will do the next time I visit Moab.”
At the time of publishing, the video received nearly 450 comments with mixed opinions from viewers. Some lauded Metailler for his humility to share that he was wrong for riding off-trail. Some said no apology was necessary for making a great video or riding public lands. Others thought posting another video of himself riding the line with the statement that others shouldn’t ride it was hypocritical.
“I post that because I acknowledge a mistake I have done and because the BLM and I thought this would be a good way to spread awareness to illegal riding in Moab,” wrote Metailler in a comment. Asked by commenters why the video wasn’t removed, Metailler said the decision was the BLM’s and it would be more impactful to leave the video and raise awareness.
The BLM was unable to respond to questions from Singletracks or confirm the details of their arrangement with Metailler ahead of press time.
According to the Grand County website, biological soil crust, also known as cryptobiotic soil is living crust of algae, bacteria, lichen, moss, and fungi that covers much of the soil surface around Moab. “The crust is essential to desert life. It holds sand together, retains water, and makes nutrients needed for larger plants to grow.”
It can take over a century for this crust to reach full development, Grand County notes, and foot prints and tire tracks not only wreck the crust but create ruts and erosion.
“Going off trail in a vehicle is illegal. Going off trail with you own feet is not, though the signs might not suggest such is the case,” notes a Moab Times article. BLM documents online and signage across the area advise trail users to stay on the trail.
“When on land governed by the Bureau of Land Management, using your own two feet to leave the trail will not get you fined or imprisoned,” the article also notes. “That’s according to the Moab Field Office, which said that there is no law that forbids backcountry hiking on BLM land.”
Moab has struggled with skyrocketing tourism in the past decade and with finding ways to keep the recreation mecca’s visitation sustainable. In a Utah Office of Tourism and University of Utah survey, most Moab residents’ attitudes were negative regarding tourism in the area, according to Moab Times. Almost 60% of residents felt their quality of life had declined due to tourism and 69% of residents felt that the effects of tourism on the natural environment are negative or very negative.
An NPR article from 2021 also notes that some see a lack of enforcement regarding environmental rules on federal public lands. Between the increase in tourism, an old lodging tax law that requires tax revenue from tourists to be spent on more tourism marketing, and a town that has been built on tourism, Moab leaders are often in a precarious spot when managing situations like this.
Editor’s note: Updated to include Youtube links and a video referencing the Leave No Trace “Don’t Bust the Crust” campaign.
Glad to see Remy and the BLM attempting to use this opportunity to encourage responsible riding and to educate the public about sensitive ecosystems. I forget sometimes that trail closures aren’t just about the fun police saying no, in a few places there are good reasons not to tread.
As one reply down here states it seems a bit hypocritical. The video is still posted. This guy still gets the exposure and the video. Seems a picture not the whole video would suffice even if BLM thinks it is helpful. So this guy gets to ride what no one else can or should, gets the exposure and then look like a hero for taking a stand against himself and avoids the fine or any punishment for his illegal action. Seems like a double standard for a ‘famous’ person. I don’t care about the fame but what does bother me is that this guy gets to ride what is no open to others and all he needs to do is say ‘sorry’. Strong message it is easier to ask for forgiveness than get permission or just follow the rules/law.
Good!
They need to show a close-up of the type of damage this guy’s little run caused. Otherwise it is pretty hypocritical to show his ride while telling the rest of us not to do it.
The damage is just a line in the sand. Visually it looks like nothing. But that entirely misses the point of crypto-biotic soils.
Should we do the same enforcement to protect the mycelium in forested areas?
I’m no biologist, but mushrooms grow pretty quick, don’t they?
True, are these crypto soils endangered? In the vastness and desolation of the desert, it makes sense it grows back slow because of conditions.
Is there any evidence of the long term effects of mtn biking on these soils?
Typical self influencer. REM, I hope they throw the book at you. You have to give respect to receive respect. You give all of us a bad name. Actions speak better than words. Your silly I’m sorry article means nothing when you’ve done nothing to back it up!. Your article said nothing about giving back to the environment. One wrong must be corrected with two rights. Hope you prove me wrong. Until then. Your nothing but a tool.
So you are a land management simp. Got it. They make all these awful trails with no features so I don’t blame Remy for “breaking” bs l A ND management rules and I would go out there and ride the same thing because people cannot tell me where I can and cannot ride.
So you’ve apparently never been to Moab. “They” don’t build the trails, and there are plenty of trails in the Moab region that would make you sh!t your pants.
No, I haven’t been to Moab. Why would I go across country to go mountain biking. I have a job unlike yourself apparently.
They don’t want you to see the good stuff. Tell you to worry about plants and soil when everyone’s got a celly with rare earth metals and a 2 ton car. Some with batteries, but still needs that juice.
So why don’t “they” want us to see the good stuff, is it about safety?
For the safety of the crypto soil, which is much more important than any of us. But if you have the correct NGO license, access would be granted however.
Meanwhile, “land management” lazily creates awful trails with no features. That’s communism. No one tells me where I can and cannot ride unless they want to get shot.
Are you 15 years old or just staying in Georgia where “we ain’t dumb”? “Land Management” does not create the trails, professional trailbuilders do. BLM has authorized lots of technical trails in the Fruita/Moab area that are loaded with features that would scare even a tough guy like you. Educate yourself, please.
They do create the trails. Sounds like you need to educate yourself. They post online about what they create. Try again moron.
Also, there’s a reason why mountain biking isn’t popular in Georgia and that is because it constantly does rain so people can’t go out on the trails because the land management forbids it. I am only talking about my experience with them here in Georgia. It is very communistic and simp like to defend land management
Agreed. Seriously, land management is nothing but bs.
Yet here in Georgia, they don’t have hardly any trails worth riding. Meanwhile, the “Land management” feels the need to tell people where they can and cannot ride. Guess what, it rains all the time in Georgia and people just ride even though they aren’t “supposed to”. If you’re so worried about damage caused to the land then build an indoor mtb park where people can practice their skills. I call complete bs on those land management douche bags.