[pct-l] RE: Bikes on the PCT

[spiritbear2k@hotmail.com (Ginny & Jim Owen)]

Not quite, Rich - I was talking about the PCT, not the JMT - and I don't
remember that kind of horse damage even in the Sierras.  Nor do I remember
it in Oregon where horses are a way of life.  Maybe it's my memory that's at
fault?  Doesn't matter - that still doesn't excuse bikes on the PCT.

I DO remember that kind of damage in the Smokies on the AT though.  The ruts
were 18 - 24' deep.  Since that time the horse people have apparently
started doing the maintenance on that section of trail. I believe they moved
the trail as well, although I haven't been back there recently.

And yes - I've also repaired horse damage - as well as ATV and mt bike
damage.



Richard Calliger
>
>At 09:56 AM 12/6/02 -0500, Ginny & Jim Owen wrote:
> > And the horse usage IS high in some areas - but I didn't see that
> >those areas were any more damaged or any less maintained than other
>sections
> >of the trail.  Maybe you should actually get out there and do some
> >maintenance - you might find out how much work is done by horse people
>and
> >how tough maintenance on the PCT would be without those horses.
> >
>
>
>hmmm..THAT is totally in error!! There is a very famous set of
>pics from Yosemite that the FS uses...it shows RUTS 14 inches
>deep-- caused ONLY by horses (from the barn to the T-meadows
>trail)...since it is NOT used by hikers the damage is
>exclusively done by horses. Havign done the JMT twice once]
>on my thru hike and once for fun it is easy to see the
>SEVERE damage done exclusively by horses! The wear ruts
>at least 10-15 inches deep in the softer area...
>
>a person with a backpak, even if it is 50 lbs does no
>where any kind of damage like that..even 1000 people...
>one set of pack animals goes down 2-3 inches and
>damages the very infrastructure of the trail substrate
>(I know..been there repairing it!)
>
>Rich
>
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