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Better yet, why doesn't WSTF repair and widen the trail?  I wouldn't think it would diminish the difficulty and challenge a bit to make the trail safer in some of those treacherous spots.

 

Barbara

----- Original Message -----

From: sherman

To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 10:25 AM

Subject: [RC] Mari Smultea finish Tevis?

Too bad WSTF doesn?t give an entry (non-transferrable, rider?s choice of year) to riders who give up their finish in cases like this, not just every case of helping another rider, since some riders really don?t need help. 

In the case of Roger, at the spot where he went over, there is no way that anyone without rescue equipment could help him. It was not safe for the other riders to stop with their horses and it?s impossible to turn around there, the trail is waaay too narrow to even think about that. Any attempt to turn around or stop on the trail could have lead to further injuries and disaster, not only to themselves, but everyone riding behind them and having to stop. I believe they did the right thing in keeping the trail clear and trying to get him help ASAP, regardless of the extent of his injuries. I don?t know if that is why they turned his horse loose, but might have been. One of the riders had been leading his horse, then dropped it. Later riders further behind asked where the horse was, and was told it had been let go, so one of them went back (not too far) to retrieve it & take it to Francisco?s. Not knowing at what point they decided to let the horse go, I can say I would never attempt to pony a horse on that cliff trail as ponied horses often tend to ride up too close which could cause kicking or other risky behavior, or ride to the side, which would put them in more danger of going over.

Just my opinion of that section of trail, which I have ridden too many times for comfort in full daylight when the danger is even more clearly visable. 

Kathy