[pct-l] Horses on PCT

[kcristler]

Wow! Amanda. You sound like Sarah Palin!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Amanda L Silvestri" <aslive at sbcglobal.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 8:50 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Horses on PCT


Ed

Me thinks that you are a bit defensive. I said nothing against horses 
themselves or their riders. I just shared my feelings. I even gave credit to 
horses for working maintenance on the trail. I only said that I don't like 
walking through their leftovers.

That was all I was going to say because I know they have every right to be 
out there and they ain't going to go away just to make me happy. Hick, 
horses are a BIG part of the story of the West, anyone would be a fool not 
to recognize that. But you got yourself a real holier than tho attitude 
there Ed. Clearly I hit a button.

I guess it is easy to say "step over it" when you are sitting atop a horse 
and not walking through it. Yea, I have to adjust my behavior because you 
can't put a dooty bag on your animal.

But I was not speaking of just a pile or two dropped here and there, I can 
step over that, and don't even mind too much when there is a trail of well 
dried droppings. I was thinking more of those (admittedly not too often 
occasions on the PCT) when I have had to watch every step, to those times 
when a group of horses who aren't assisting in trail maintenance are just 
ahead of me and who let it go every time we come upon an incline. Ugh! It's 
like hiking through a horse toilet. Because someone with the money to own 
and keep horses would rather ride than hike.

And, yea, I know why the rules say step down-slope and let the horse pass, I 
just resent it when I am working so hard to do my hike and some lazy 
day-riders come by and I have to get off the road only to follow behind 
their fresh droppings. That is my button pushed. And yes, I admit that I am 
displaying a holier than tho attitude here too. Because I am just as capable 
of being a horses ass as the next person and I admit it.

And as far as horse trails being around before cars is concerned, well Ed, 
walking trails were around long before the Spanish brought the horse to 
America.

One can plan on the season, spend hundreds of dollars on the right gear, 
take off from work or quit their job for a real once in a lifetime 
adventure, buy and dehydrate your food, package your meals, organize a 
bounce boxes, plan for 0-days, bring Deet and a bug net, a bear bell and 
plan all you want and still not be able to avoid having to walk through 
miles of horse manure. Ah, such is the beauty of the trail where even a 
ranting horses ass like me can go for a hike grumbling about horseshit till 
the sun goes down.

You have a good day Ed and the next time you are out riding and your horse 
poops on the trail, think of me a chuckle to yourself.

Yours in the dust

Amanda


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