First of all I'd like to tell Tanya, my heart goes
out to you, I am so sorry for your loss. I think in hindsight it's easy for
people to say she should have done this or done that. I've riden that trail
many times, I don't recall any safe places to pull off and let people pass
there. I did the ride when Potato put it on a few years back and I agree it's a
dangerous place to start a ride. My horse and my friend's horse were so amped
up that we decided to start at the back of the pack and got off and
lead our horses down the narrow switchbacks. She may not have been aware of how
dangerous that part of the trail is. It's easy for us to say she should have
spoke up and told the guy to back off, maybe she did, I don't know, I wasn't
there. But it sounds like others tried to help her by telling the guy to give
her space. I think if we learn anything from this sad experience, it is to
be more forceful in voicing our opinions when we see an accident waiting to
happen. And for gosh sake, if you're in a dangerous situation, there is nothing
embarrassing or wrong about hopping off your horse until you feel the situation
is safe again. It's better to be safe then sorry.
