[pct-l] Mt. Bikes on the trail

[Jerry Goller]

They only win against those willing to play by the rules......   ;o)
 
Jerry
 
 <http://www.backpackgeartest.org/> http://www.BackpackGearTest.org : the
most comprehensive interactive gear reviews and tests on the planet.
 

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From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Lars Nilsson
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 3:40 PM
To: Greg Kesselring
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mt. Bikes on the trail



Someday there is going to be an amendment to the Wilderness Act that could
be wide enough to drive a Mack Truck through.  Someone is going to sue for
access to wilderness areas using some form of wheeled vehicle because of the
Americans with Disabilities Act.  Some judge will rule in that plaintiff's
favor, and voila, motorized wheel chairs will be permitted.  Of course they
will have to be modified to travel further than a battery will allow and to
traverse rough terrain (wheelchair mounted on a Jeep chassis, capable of the
Rubicon Trail).

Rubbish?  Tell that to various places that now have to allow for more than
the seeing-eye dog - they have to accommodate companion animals some doctor
has prescribed to some emotional/mental need of that animal's human
companion.

For the record, I am not advocating unregulated access by Humvee's or
bicycles.  I just think that sometimes if we in the hiking community are
seen as being too strident and unyielding we might find ourselves being run
over by those more vocal and with more access ($$$) with law makers.  And at
the pace I hike, I'll probably be the first speed bump.

 

Lars Nilsson

TrailSnail

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From: Greg Kesselring [mailto:gkesselr at whidbey.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 11:46 AM
To: Lars Nilsson
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mt. Bikes on the trail

 

Unless you're able to get Congress to rewrite the Wilderness Act, there will
be no motorized vehicles inside Wilderness boundaries.  And the way the land
managers have interpreted the Wilderness Act, that also means no trail
bikes.  

I am a firm believer in, and supporter of, wilderness as defined by the act.
I believe we need to have some lands set aside where we have no machines.
The amount of land that's preserved in this way is a tiny fraction of the
total land that is this country.  If you want to see these lands, you're
free to walk in like everyone else.  If you want to drive everywhere, all
National Parks are driveable, most National Forest Land and BLM land is
driveable, State Park lands are driveable.  The vast amount of land that you
can see from a car or bicycle or motorcycle or trail bike far exceeds the
amount of land that you have to walk to be able to see and enjoy.

Wilderness Areas are the exception rather than the rule.  There's very
little Wilderness left out there.  I hope and pray that we will always have
the good sense to keep these lands wild, and that means free from machines.
You want to see what's in there, you can walk in like the rest of  us.  You
don't want to walk, then you have 99.99 percent of the country open to your
vehicle of choice.

Greg

==================================================

Lars Nilsson wrote: 

"There's an assault brewing on the parks here. The ORV and mountain bike
crowd are trying to get the Mill Creek Addition to Del Norte Coast Redwoods
SP opened to them. Do any of you have pictures of trail damage caused by
ORVs and mt. bikes, particularly in far northern California and southern
Oregon -- PCT or trails west."

I hike, but my sons bike.  They are courteous and stay mainly on fire roads
but do enjoy single track riding as well.  They resent the outright banning
of bikes on certain trails.  There are "bad apples" in all groups.  There
are wannabee ultralight backpackers who allow their alcohol stoves to blow
over in wind and start fires, causing far more damage than fat tires.  There
are hikers who insist they are "stealthy" enough that bears will never find
their food and so they don't need those pesky, heavy bear cans.  Too few of
us truly practice "leave NO trace;" do we ban backpackers or demand personal
responsibility and concern/respect for the back country from all who enter?

I am not suggesting that we pave the trails or put up neon signs, but there
should be some compromise that allows more people to enjoy the land in their
own way.  Woody Guthrie sang "this land was made for you and me".  As hikers
we recognize HYOH to mean that for some the fastest wins as does the last
one to Canada (assuming Campo is your trailhead). 

 

Lars Nilsson

TrailSnail

 

 





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