Trail sanitization

[Jisch]

Riding at Shenipsit last night I came across several places where rocks were moved to make the trail more rideable. One short up hill that was changed has been a challenge for me. I've only made it twice before. Last night when I made it, it didn't feel very good, like I cheated because someone decided to make it easier.

Please, if you can't make the trail as it stands, leave it alone. Not only is it a bummer for someone who could make it, its also bad for our image as responsible users of the trails.

Off soapbox...
John

[huff'npuff]

Hi John, just wanted to say I agree with you. There are quite a few hills I can't make,but I'm not too proud to walk them. H*ll, if folks keep doing that, the forests will look like the Rails to Trails bike paths. (Which are great in their own right.) We shouldn't mess with the trails except in order to preserve them. Challenge is a GOOD thing!

[CouchingTiger]

Agreed completely! "Trail homoginization" (term coined by oldtime NEMBA activist Mark Wickersham back in the early '90s) sux a$$. You are not necessarily making a trail better by moving rocks or logs.

This has been happening since the dawn of time. People think they are "doing trail work" by clearing out that which makes it interesting.

Bottom line, if you want to ride a nice smooth, flat, wide superhighway stay on the bikepath! Oh yea, and while I'm at it, don't EVER braid trails by making a "sally-route" around an obstacle or by cutting between loops. What the hell is the point? You are out there to ride, so why cut of parts of the trail? It's not like they go anywhere that you really need to get to in a hurry anyhow. That whole concept just baffles me. People are, by nature, lazy and worthless ( check that, I think the average person in a decomposing state is worth roughly $8 in fertilizer or maybe $20 if ground/cut up for dog-food ;)

Have a nice day!

-Couch

[Mr_Cheeze]

Yea

[C.P.]

Yeah! >:( I agree too.
It's a strange thing...some people out there must think they are doing other trail users a favor making the trail a highway. They should stay on easier trails...
EG: I have been riding a challenging rocky section in Borderland, and every once in a while I come to it and someone has placed a few rocks in the toughest sections sort of "paving" the most challenging part. I always take the time to remove those rocks, and make the trail back the way it originally was...I often find that by the time I'm finished movin the rocks that the whole time I've been angrily mumblin' >:( at the person(s) that put them there...at least it makes my run through the challengin part rewarding after I put it back ;D

[huff'npuff]

EG: I have been riding a challenging rocky section in Borderland, and every once in a while I come to it and someone has placed a few rocks in the toughest sections sort of "paving" the most challenging part. I always take the time to remove those rocks, and make the trail back the way it originally was...I often find that by the time I'm finished movin the rocks that the whole time I've been angrily mumblin' >:( at the person(s) that put them there...at least it makes my run through the challengin part rewarding after I put it back ;D


Some day when I grow up, maybe I'll ride that trail. :D

[OldSloDoggie]

I agree with all of the above. Nothing more disapointing the to find a obstacle you sometimes clean sometimes dab has been removed. Where's the challange in that!!