[pct-l] Bikes on PCT

[Gary Schenk]

Well put, L-rod. Thanks for stating what I am incapable of getting across.

Gary

On 5/5/2011 10:08 AM, Donna "L-Rod" Saufley wrote:
> Mendorider,
>
> I love you dearly, and I know you are the type of trail user that obeys
> the rules. There are many other hikers who also obey the rules and
> etiquette. But I know of way too high a percentage of hikers who do not.
> Everything Gary said about hikers is true, and then some. When I started
> out hosting, I had a very pollyanna-ish view of hikers. Over the years,
> what they've told me and what I've witnessed has changed that. Hikers
> are just people. They'll take the path of least resistance and bend the
> rules just like people everywhere do in life.
>
> It's hard for me to keep my cool when a hiker tells me they've had a
> fire ring every night since they started hiking, despite dire fire
> conditions and restrictions. As someone who lives here and has known
> plenty of hikers who have started fires involving acreage, I just want
> to strangle them. People who know the trail best and have hiked it more
> than anyone else have shared their disgust over the amount of trash,
> toilet paper, and human waste is being left in the open in recent years,
> in areas that only PCT hikers would frequent. Sadly too, many hikers try
> to avoid the bear canister requirements and boast of sleeping with their
> food (which is tantamount to training bears, who are very smart, to find
> food in tents where humans may be sleeping). The lack of preparedness
> I've seen for weather conditions and such has been downright disturbing.
>
> In between the rule benders and the selfish are jewels of humanity that
> I am privileged to meet and host. I love to be in the company of hikers,
> and still want to help them along the way. I simply have had to develop
> a more realistic view of hikers based on the evidence.
>
> L-Rod
>
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: Edward Anderson
>     Sent: May 4, 2011 8:40 PM
>     To: gwschenk at socal.rr.com, pct-l at backcountry.net
>     Cc: Donna and Jeff Saufley
>     Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bikes on PCT
>
>     Gary, I just read your post on bikes. It is disappointing to me that
>     you have that attitude and concept. You use the terms "we" and "us"
>     implying that most other hikers behave as you say you do. The vast
>     majority of hikers that I know do not build fires where it is
>     prohibited - when fires are prohibited there is good reason. When a
>     trail has been closed - there is a good reason. When bear canisters
>     are required - there are good reasons. Yes, it might be
>     "inconvenient" to obey the laws/rules, but, as users of the PCT, we
>     must. And it is also our responsibility to set an example for those
>     who are new to the PCT. What you posted yesterday might well
>     influence irresponsible behavior that will reflect on the reputation
>     of the PCT hiking community.
>     Regarding bikes on the PCT: Mechanized transport is expressly
>     prohibited by the Wilderness Act of 1964 - wheeled vehicles are not
>     permitted in Wilderness areas or on the PCT. They are illegal - and
>     for many good reasons. Just one of them is that wheels leave linear
>     tracks that water will follow, creating ruts.
>     MendoRider
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     *From:* "gwschenk at socal.rr.com" <gwschenk at socal.rr.com>
>     *To:* pct-l at backcountry.net
>     *Sent:* Tue, May 3, 2011 11:33:55 AM
>     *Subject:* Re: [pct-l] Bikes on PCT
>
>     It's hard for us as hikers to complain about bikes on the PCT when
>     we ignore trail closures, build illegal fires and refuse to carry
>     bear canisters when required. (This is not directed at James, but
>     all of us hikers in general)
>
>     How can we make credible complaints to stop the encroachment of
>     bikes and dirtbikes on the trail, when we ourselves are so quick to
>     ignore the regulations we find inconvenient?
>
>     I'm guilty as well, having camped in places where I shouldn't have.
>     I managed to rationalize that decision just like the mountain bikers
>     rationalize their decision to ride the trail.
>
>     So it goes.
>
>     Gary
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