trail cutters

["Rick Forrester" <rwforest@eoni.com>]

from Mary.. Oh yes, they are out there. I was at a ride in Idaho a few years ago where a guy cut trail and finished 20 min ahead of the real winner.  It was a situation where the trail crossed other trails we had taken earlier in several places. The local ham radio club was manning these crossings, directing riders to take the correct turns, recording numbers, and radioing to camp. He rode into camp and was celebrating, then the real winner came in and said he didn't pass me, the ride manager checked with the radio list and 2 of the radiomen hadn't seen him. Apparently he was familiar with the area and knew some shortcuts.  He wasn't seen in endruance much after that. Although the purpose of the radiomen was to keep track of all the riders and report accidents or loose horses, they sure provided some extra service that day.