Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Can I make a suggestion from a newbie but an experienced trail rider. One of 
the most important things you can do is take someone down your trail who 
doesn't do that often. When you know the trails, the markings are obvious. 
If you are new to the trail, it is easy to miss trail markings. a good map 
with waypoints that will be obvious to a beginner are a must. A board at the 
parking area that clearly shows which trails are closed and the alternate 
rout are great.  I have ridden interconnecting trails, only to come out at 
the trail head and find a sign that the trail was closed. The sign was 
obvious at the trail head. But that was the only sign. The other 15 access 
points to the trail were not marked. Hold some classes in your area on trail 
marking. We want more people to ride the trails. Often its the rider who 
just can't read the trail markings yet who gets into an area that should 
seem obviously off limits. It is a skill that must be learned and if no one 
is teaching it, people will make mistakes.
april
byhalia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karen Sullivan" <greymare56@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <Sheila_Larsen@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 3:43 PM
Subject: Re: [RC] Trail Closures a little long but imo important to think 
about


> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <Sheila_Larsen@xxxxxxx>
> > Unfortunately, although horses may be the most natural users of all, I am
> > increasingly concerned about the lack of concern may equestrians have 
> > with
> > regard to trail usage............... Many people may look at that see
> grassland and go what sensitive resources......... I don't see any.  Well
> what they may not be seeing are rare and sensitive
> > plant populations that can't withstand the trampling of hooves or the
> > erosion that may be caused by the now bare soils.   Equestrians are not
> > going to make themselves welcome if we partake in this behavior.
> >
> >  .................>
> > I guess I just want people to seriously consider the consequences of 
> > their
> > actions when they create social trails by riding/hiking/biking off trail
> > and perhaps help educate those that might do so on why they shouldn't. >
> > Man I am scared to hit the send button LOLOL
> >
> > Sheila
> Sheila, really hard to trim your post since all of it was relevent and
> important; based both on science and common sense; I support what you said
> 100%. Sensitive resources deserve to be protected; and if the public is
> uncaring; and unsensitive, then the trails need seasonal closures, or even
> permanent ones in some cases.
>
> As a member of a small group maintaining and trying to develop more trails
> in our area, and protect sensiitve areas and the original, badly planned 
> and
> somewhat fragile trails....we have seen that riders totally ignore both
> common sense by riding and tearing up trails in the muddy season; make 
> their
> own trails when trees are down ( by riding up and down very steep
> banks)...to downright ignoring closure signs planted right in the middle 
> of
> trail junctions; over and over....
>
> Some trails we initially flagged we moved, due to realization of fragile 
> and
> mushy areas...we will see what the public does.....
>
> > From both an avid rider viewpoint, and I hope environmentalist; I value 
> > and
> enjoy riding into natural  areas to enjoy the wildlife and native plants;
> if those are destroyed by inconsiderate users; or invasive exotic plant
> species...you might as well be riding in a groomed park on graveled hard
> paths; which does not interest me one bit.
>
> What I don't understand about the endurance riders who are 
> anti-environment
> or just don't care about damage inflicted, or natural
> ecosystems........well, they might as well ride 100 miles on a dirt 
> frontage
> road along a freeway.....or go around a racetrack a million times....and
> they spoil the sport for everyone else.
> Karen
>
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
> 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!!
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=