[pct-l] Re: SNOW CREEK

[matt at mattmaxon.com (matt maxon)]

Don
There are many reasons for the long grade, 1st off the "standard" for trail
construction is a 5% grade with short portions not to exceed 15%, the
original 8 miles was about 17.75% way too steep even for a permitted "steep"
portion, 13 miles would be 10.93% quite steep for 13 miles, the current 17.2
miles is 8.26% which I think is a good compromise between excessive
steepness and length, the 5% would make this Segment 28.09090909 miles long.

The reason for these standards are safety, maintenance, and environmental.
For the trail to be suitable for ALL intended users IE: hikers and
equestrians, 13 miles of 11% grade, and would lead to lots of erosion.
Erosion is a major problem with steep trails and has serious enviromental,
safety, and maintenance issues associated with it.

I agree lots of switchbacks can be tiresome, but having worked on laying out
a few trails over the years, I can only say it's difficult to know the
undoubtably good reasons this segment is the way it is, my guess is,
Enviroment, Time & Money.

Perhaps it would help if we all where to contact our representatives in
government and urge them to support increased funding for this important
enviromental, social, physical, & mental health resource we are blessed
with!

Matt Maxon

> From: "Don Line" <DON@roel.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] SNOW CREEK
> To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <sedb1eda.040@mail.roel.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
> Fuller Ridge to Snow Creek   17.2 miles   should have been 13 miles!
> WHAT'S UP with this trail ?       got dizzy walking round and around
> and..........
>
> ------------------------------