[pct-l] MTB Mindset and The Trail

[Barry Teschlog]

I can’t speak for the mindset of the bikes on the PCT crowd.  Ditto those that 
want to open wilderness to bikes (look around – there is plenty out there:  FB 
pages, specifically “Wilderness B = Wilderness with Bikes”, the IMBA, etc).
 
What these MTBers either don’t understand, willfully ignore, don’t care about, 
or what other reason motivates them is that their desire to open the PCT and 
wilderness to bikes is a zero sum game.  For them to gain, others necessarily 
lose.  

 
For what ever reason, they don’t care, understand, know, get that the mere 
presence of bikes on the PCT or in wilderness destroys the experience for a 
large number of hikers and equestrians.  I go to the wilderness to get away from 
modern society, to relax and reset.  To enjoy space unspoiled by machines.  To 
enjoy a slower pace of life in wildness that is quiet save for the sounds of 
nature.  To have to dodge hell bent for leather MTBers coming down the trail, to 
hear the piercing squeal of disc brakes, to slog along trail churned to mud – 
only one of these will ruin what is otherwise what I’m seeking in heading to the 
wilderness or out for a hike on The Trail.  Go to the Wilderness B FB page and 
read for insights into the mind set – the self centeredness in wanting to be 
able to go ANYWHERE is unmistakable.  All I want is my bit of peace and quiet 
left alone, which is too much to ask of the MTB crowd I suppose.  They have 
practically all of the forest outside of wilderness areas already - I guess 
that's not good enough for them.  

 
It’s been my experience that the MTB crowd is also willfully ignorant of the 
facts of the wilderness act.  They hide behind arguments that bikes were banned 
from the wilderness by rule and not by the plain text of the act (see section 4c 
specifically, to wit:  “no other form of mechanical transport”).  When 
confronted by this fact, they simply ignore the plain English in the act and 
press on like it didn’t exist.
 
In regards the recent discussion on fines, etc.  Wake up folks.  150, 250 or 500 
bucks is chump change to a MTBer.  The only thing that matters to them is their 
beloved ride.  Until the penalty is a fine AND loss of the bike, bike shoes, 
helmet, body armor, bike tools and accessories (all the MTB specific gear) that 
are illegally on a trail or in wilderness, they won’t respect the law.  MTBers 
spend a lot of time and energy into customizing their rides.  It’s the same kind 
of effort that we hikers put into our own gear selection and customization.  Far 
fewer of them would risk losing it all if that was part of the penalty.  Try 
this thought experiment:  How many thru hikers would risk entering fire closures 
if part of the penalty was loss of their hiking gear (pack, sleeping bag, poles, 
shelter, stove, etc, etc, etc)?  Yeah…not many.  The same dynamic applies to 
MTBers.
 
TC
 
Note:  The above is said as someone who loves some fine single track.  I was 
just out at Duthie Hill MTB park on Saturday (Issaquah, a bit east of Seattle).  
Talk about fun. It also highlighted that what is a great MTB trail is a lousy 
hiking trail – super elevation in the turns, winding and twisting tread, 
whoop-de-doos, jumps, etc.  And the mush that wheels make from the slightest bit 
of organic matter on the trail.