What Pisses Me Off...

[Superb Man]

In the same vein as the thread on unwarranted trail modification..

You think building up a log is bad--how about getting out in the woods at 6 am (in sub 32 degree weather i might add) to clean-off and maintain your beloved trails that you and your buds sweated into existence only to discover that someone has actually-closed off your lines and cut whole new ones (straight shots where long rocky turns once existed)! Though it seemed that bikes had been riding the new lines I suspect hikers are the culprits because of what else I discovered that also pisses me off..

Along the same stretch of trail there were Chest High Branches wedged between trees from which they did not fall (also because the re-route was done in the straightest and laziest manner possible).

THIS IS A BIKE SPECIFIC TRAIL BUILT and painstakingly maintained BY BIKERS FOR ALL NON_MOTORIZED USERS (whom we welcome and encourage--well not so much horses-but they are allowed, just not encouraged)-with our tools, Our Money, and our precious time!

At any rate, Myself and the Wendell Workhorse (Big Mac) buried the illicit 'enhancement', quickly and thoroughly re-opened the proper turning line, and removed tthe anti-biker sticks. And went on to really punch-up the trails at Wendell--but damn-the whole episode really Burns my Onion!

Anyone got a line on the Culprits--I want to know-

Grrrrrrrr.

Liam
ginaliam@mac.com

[BigMac]

Deer?, Moose?, more than likly it was the Locals, the same ones who take all the tread , paving stones out of our trails that we spent hours, days, full weekends putting into place to build those stupid rock towers on the edge of the trails (does anyone know if these are supposed to mean something???-=a belief???) any how it did not take us very long to fix everything as it should be, so come on out and enjoy the spring like trail conditions in wendell.

[Mr_Cheeze]

But why would hikers create a straight path? That doesn't make any sense. What would they have to gain?

Having not seen the offending trail, my guess would be some ignorant beginners, maybe some dad wanting to santitize the trail for his kiddies. Why would a hiker need to straighten a trail?

[Superb Man]

Because--as is evidenced by every hiker built trail in MA (M&M-Appalachian, the R. Frost) They're more interested in getting to a point (a look-out, a summit, a pond, a lean-to) then just enjoying the trail itself-hence the ubiquitous straight up the fall-line path choices of their trails--and yes-when they find themselves hiking along a twisty biker-built single track they will often cut-off climbing turns, or any turns if the straight line approach get's them back on the trail up ahead.

Also-if it was the work of merely trail saboteuurs--they wouldn't have constructed another line-they'd only screwed the existing ones-but the fact they cut a straighter one eliminating a portion of trail (or so trying anyway) tells me they meant to use it--hikers, man.

This ain't new news---

but in any case--it still burns me up a bit to find the lines we created lamely closed up and new-shorter/ straighter/ LAZIER lines cut in.

Oh--and there aint no way it was a beginner or dad with kids sanitizing this trail at this point--it is about 2.1 miles into a very technical bike trail that is beyond sanitatio and if they made it that far it would be unlikely they'd puty in the sanitizing effort. This is the Hannah Swarton.

[Husqvarna]

Very common problem, on hiking biking trails. It is human nature to take the easiest path. I would guess it's more than likely bikers. One lame rider short-cuts it a few times because its an easier route, then the trail begins to appear that it goes that way. Then even the advanced riders start riding it, because they may not see the original line.

Typically a hiker would not take the effort to reroute a trail, because they usually just bushwhack through the shortcut. The only reason a hiker might move something is if it is a blockage that is to high to step over and there using the trail frequently.

The user group on FOMBA Singletrack is almost 100% bikers. Yet its a constant effort to block off shortcuts and prevent trail widening. You wouldn't think a tire only 2" wide would need a path 4-5 feet wide, but it happens. Some of it could be blamed on a trail design that is to techinical for the average rider. But most of it occurs because someone wants to avoid riding over a 5" high rock. So they ride to the side of it. However the trail flows best if the rock is ridden. So now you have the trail widening where the rider tries to recover to the original flow of the trail.
But it wouldn't be fair to place all the blame on the less skilled rider. There's always the more advanced rider looking for a challange. So they go off the trail to ride over a boulder or to do a drop or whatever it may be, creating a new line. So now you have another new line, that some intermediate rider thinks they can ride. But they can't ride it as it is, so they have to modify it to there own skill level. So now we pile logs and rocks in a big unstable pile that we borrow from the nearest stonewall, it gives the rider the advantage they need to feed there ego and then they move on. Leaving behind a big pile of unstable rocks and rotten downfall and a stonewall that is half riped apart and destoyed.
In the end it requires alot of time to repair the damage and takes time away from the developement of new trails.

[peterdbikes]

Amen!

[huff'npuff]

I don't get it. If you're on a trail and can't handle the rocks,roots, or logs, get off and walk. Redesigning a trail to fit one's particular ability is selfish and ignorant of the hard work that others did. Hell's bells man! Don't be too proud to walk!
* brought to you by a wimp that does a LOT of walking *

[BigMac]

anyhow, the people or people doing this will eventually realize that these short cuts-when come upon by myself, or any others who built these trails, will always put them back no matter how much work it entails. Especially after the man hours we put in desigining, layout, cutting, and maintaining these trails.
We have put alot of time into wendell "bringing it back to life" and it makes us all happy to have a unique, fun and challenging area right here in Franklin County to get away from the everyday headaches for a "Sweet Ride" for a couple hours a couple times a week.
Nemba will continue there relationship with park rangers here in Wendell State Forest, we will continue to build many new trails, and properly improve on all existing trails in the park.
For all who have not been out to Wendell, I encourage you to pack up your bike and all your buddies and come on out and ride wendell, it has a unique mix of moderatly challenging trails. You will love riding wendell.
Mark Courtemanche,