[pct-l] running on the PCT

[Andrea Dinsmore]

Drew.....I am not a hiker or trail runner. I don't understand your
reasoning on scheduling the trail runners at the same time the herd is
heading north. Kind of like having a speed of 55 for semi trucks and 70 for
cars on a one lane road. Another thought....why should a slow hiker be
asked to side step the faster trail runner coming up from behind ??

Andrea Dinsmore

On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 9:40 AM, Drew Smith <jdrewsmith at gmail.com> wrote:

> I think this is the right approach - managing the problem rather than
> trying to solve it.  People who try to solve problems invariably create new
> ones.
>
> There is no way to ban trail runners, even if it were desirable, so the
> question here is what to do about organized trail running events.  A
> reasonable approach would be for the PCTA to reach out to the organizers
> with our concerns and propose some mitigations that would give everyone
> what they need (not necessarily all they want).  For example, we could
> propose to limit the size and number of events; schedule around peak PCT
> herd times; and most importantly, educate runners on trail courtesy and
> best practices, as well as stewardship and volunteering opportunities.
> I'll bet that most of the runners who have behaved rudely simply were off
> in their own little world (just like hikers) and didn't realize the impact
> of their behavior.
>
> This approach would create allies rather than adversaries, which is always
> a lot more effective in the long run.
>
> Happy Hour
>
> On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 9:44 AM, Tom Grundy <caver456 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Just had a thought as to a potential way to address the conflict.  But,
> > it's probably already been done, so let me know if it's stale bread?  The
> > nice thing is any of us could do it without any need for organization or
> > overhead:
> >
> > invite a thought leader or decision maker from the faster / competetive /
> > timed user group to accompany you on a hike (a member of the slower /
> > non-competetive / non-timed user group) during a competetive event or
> > anywhere that there's been a high density of conflict.  I.e. invite the
> > Timberline Marathon organizer to go on a day hike with you on the day of
> > the marathon.  Let him/her bring buddies so they don't feel too awkward
> or
> > whatever is needed.  Just go out there with the purpose of enjoying the
> > trail and doing an experiment - not with the purpose of lecturing them.
> >
> > Has anyone tried that?  If so, how did it go?
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 7:16 AM, James Vesely <
> > JVesely at sstinternational.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > When I come upon someone who is walking a lot slower than me I have
> never
> > > ask for them to move out of my way rather I wait till they sense that I
> > am
> > > there and then I have the patience to wait for them to move over or I
> > wait
> > > till I come upon a section of trail that allows me to pass them.
> > >
> > > Expecting and or demanding for someone to jump out of your way, is in
> my
> > > book always rude and uncourteous.
> > >
> > > It is not about who is hoarding the trail 365 days a year it's about
> > being
> > > courteous to other people using it and having the patience to accept
> > that.
> > >
> > > Jim
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > I love running on the PCT. I did so with my pack on multiple times
> during
> > > 2013 as I was simply so exhilarated by the surroundings and my level of
> > > fitness, that I just couldn't help but break into a run.
> > >
> > > I think it's a bit of a hoarding or selfish attitude for someone to say
> > > that others shouldn't use 2,670 miles of a public resource for all 365
> > days
> > > of the year because of the few days when that person wants to use it,
> > they
> > > want everything to be their way. If we find a way to all share the
> > resource
> > > safely, there will be more of us donating time and labor to maintaining
> > > that shared resource and the resource will be healthier for that shared
> > > love.
> > >
> > > Whether it's me and a bunch of friends having a friendly competition to
> > > see who can get to town first or whether it's a bunch of strangers
> > showing
> > > up to tow the line, I see this as a healthy activity that would benefit
> > the
> > > trail and I would support continued competitive events along the trail.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > 1Pint
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