[pct-l] What do you say to mountain bikers on the PCT?

[Brick Robbins]

document the violation with pictures and video, and your notes on
where/when and other circumstances then report it at

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/pct/home/?cid=stelprdb5361615

On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 4:23 PM, marmot marmot
<marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com> wrote:
> The section south of Belden was completely chewed up from mtn. bikers for miles & miles.   Every switchback had deep groves. Can't remember is that section L? After getting water from mtn bikers on the CDT, I was trying to be more tolerant but that really pushed me back. I'm taking pictures.  If nothing else it might make them uncomfortable.  Marmot
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Oct 26, 2013, at 12:23 PM, "Eric Martinot" <eric at martinot.info> wrote:
>>
>> While hiking CA Section L southbound a few weeks ago during the
>> government shutdown, I was passed by about 18 mountain bicyclists spread
>> out over two days, all going northbound.  The trail tread ahead was
>> entirely bike tracks.
>>
>> I spent considerable thought mulling over what to say to them.  Early
>> encounters were treated just like encountering other hikers, discussing
>> trail conditions ahead, water, general hiker comments, have a good day.
>> And I was happy to see other humans on the trail in late season, to see
>> other people on remote isolated sections of trail. And I had respect for
>> their strength and skill to be biking such a difficult and remote trail.
>>
>> But presuming they all knew they were not supposed to be there, what
>> does one say?   Nothing? Or take a hard-line attitude: "Get the f--- off
>> the trail, you are not supposed to be here" (?)   Or:  "You're causing
>> too much trail erosion and turning the trail into a difficult-to-hike
>> ditch." (?)   (I wondered if that is true, bike tires vs. feet vs. horse
>> hooves.)  Or perhaps, "from your presence, I've lost the serenity of the
>> trail because I'm constantly having to be aware of what might be
>> barreling down a narrow steep section of trail towards me so I can jump
>> out of the way to avoid a collision, and can't listen to music and zone
>> out as I usually do on the trail."
>>
>> Then towards the end, I met a day-hiker who lived locally, and I asked
>> him whether so many bikes on the trail was normal for this part of the
>> PCT, and shared my dilemma of what to say to them.  He said no, normally
>> the potential $500 fines and mid-season influx of hikers kept the
>> bicyclists off the trail, but that the government shutdown had removed
>> that threat and the bicyclists were having a field day in the absence of
>> authority. Not sure if I believe that fully, but interesting if true,
>> and makes the question of what to say less important than I had thought!
>> So, never mind!
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