[pct-l] running on the PCT

[Brick Robbins]

2015-03-16 12:37 GMT-07:00 Tom Grundy <caver456 at gmail.com>:
> Scientific proof that there really is no trail user conflict.
> Deepest apologies for being 'unreasonable'.

I assume the use of the term "scientific proof" is sarcasm, so I won't
address it.

There are real trail conflicts, mostly having to do with over-use or
non compatible uses for the same stretch of dirt in the woods. The
main conflicts on the PCT have been between wheeled vehicles and foot
traffic, and the occasional equestrian or Sierra pack train.

The management agencies have to come up with reasonable rules to
handle this. This first step is understanding the problem. The numbers
I gave on relative speed of trail runners were an attempt at sharing
some information on the nature of trail running, which most hikers
have probably never seen. These are not high speed sprints. They are
slow steady endurance treks.

Disclaimer: I am a trail runner, and yes, I have participated in
permitted races on the PCT. Those races have never been scheduled
during the narrow window when "the herd" has been passing by. Event
directors, if only to provide a better race environment to their
participants, would avoid doing that.

So this question becomes a matter of whether there is significant
conflict between a pedestrian traveling at 5mph and a pedestrian
traveling at 3mph, and to many on this list, there is. Some people
seem to generally object to having any activity that increases the
number of people they will see on the trail.

The next question becomes one of overuse or impact to the environs of
the trail. Does a runner, without a pack, a tent or boots, who is not
camping, impact the trail environment significantly? What about event
infrastructure like course markings, and aid stations (which are
almost always at trail-heads or road crossings). A permitting process
for USFS lands already exists which has been taking that into account,
on a case by case basis.

Other people have a moral objection to any Commercial Use at all, but
non wilderness areas of USFS and BLM are regularly subject to
commercial use, so I'm not sure how this argument really applies

The issue here is that the PCTA is taking a position to restrict an
activity that is currently legal and that has been going on for years.
I really do appreciate their efforts to protect the trail, even if I
personally disagree with this one.