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Re: [RC] Big Horn - Joe LongOn Sun, 23 Jul 2006 20:27:45 -0700, Bruce Weary <bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I find these sentiments very interesting, in that they are indefensible for the overwhelming majority of AERC members. First, unless there is a widespread decline in everyone's night vision, I don't think we are more dependent than we used to be on glow sticks. Except those of us who rode 100's before there were glowsticks. Believe it or not, we were actually able to find our way. We simply still like to see where we are going in the dark. In my book, a glow stick is just a night time version of a trail ribbon. Who wants to ride a trail in the daytime with no ribbon? Probably the most common complaint spoken in this sport is "Where in the hell are the ribbons?" It isn't practical to use as many glowsticks as you use ribbons -- nor is it necessary. Secondly, I don't think mountain trails get any darker after dark than flat land rides. Yes, anyone who rides a night ride should be prepared--to ride, at night, on a well marked trail. Anything less puts both rider and horse at unnecessary risk, and flies in the face of the cornerstone principles of this sport. And it's just plain good sense, besides. It isn't a matter of mountain vs. flat, but wooded vs. open. Although I find it easier to follow a wooded trail, because it's clear where the trail is -- not always the case in open country. Additionally, I'm for whatever makes it easier for ride management to put the ride on in the first place. Loops back to camp are potentially safer for the horses (and their riders) in cases of emergent needs--injuries, sickness, colic, etc.,. Heck, all my training rides at home, are, coincidentally, a loop back to where I started from. I'm used to it. Sometimes there's some mighty pretty scenery on those loops. I have to disagree. Multi-loop trails with all vet checks in camp are more convenient for ride managers and crews, and to some extent for the rider. But it almost always means repeat trail. I would much rather ride a single-loop trail like the Big Horn than any multi-loop ride I have ever been on. A point-to-point like Tevis is next best IMO. Some of the trend to rides having "all vet checks in camp" is the desire to make it easier -- a trend I've seen in this sport, and many other facets of modern life, for a long time. But to me, there's something fundamentally wrong with the concept of taking a sport where a major attraction is meeting a challenge, and constantly trying to "make it easier" to attract more participants. I'm really sad to hear of the loss of the horses at this year's Big Horn. I'm also saddened to hear the griping about the ride. This is a difficult ride, without the amenities (pampering?) many have come to expect these days. But what a wonderful (and beautiful) challenge! With challenging trails comes adversity, and some people rise to the occasion and overcome adversity. Others fall short, but come back and try again. Some, alas, find it too much for them and don't try again. Their choice, their loss (IMO). I've ridden in every AERC Region except Pacific Southwest, in more than half of the States, in every kind of ride format, terrain, and weather. The Big Horn 100 is my very favorite ride of them all. My hat's off to Tom Van Gelder. He is a patriarch of our sport, and makes a lot of personal sacrifice to keep this magnificent ride going. If he gives it up, or when inexorable time forces him to give it up, we will all suffer a loss. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.chiprider.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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