[cdt-l] Mountain bikes --> Backpacking stats

[Jonathan Ley]

One comment in this thread caught my eye - "...with declining use of the 
backcountry...".

I'd really like to know where this perception has its foundation. All 
anecdotal information I've heard/seen would indicate the opposite is 
true. There are various political groups and industries who have an 
interest in promoting the idea that people aren't heading to the great 
outdoors. Federal funding for outdoor recreation surely has taken a hit...

So, I did a bit of quick research on the subject. One of the more 
interesting reports I found was this one:
http://outdoorindustry.org/images/researchfiles/ParticipationStudy2006.pdf?27
(see pages 50-57 in particular)
It's from these people:
http://www.outdoorindustry.org/
 From this, it does appear the % of backpackers and "outdoor activity" 
is generally down slightly. Though the trends are pretty "noisy" - lots 
of up and down - and it depends a lot on which geographical areas you 
look at. I'm sure if you sliced it even further to look at areas with 
good access to great backpacking areas, the data would be more different 
still.

I don't think they'd have an agenda to spin the data, but I could be 
wrong.  Regardless, it's an interesting report.

If anyone has a good link to other reports on the subject, I'd love to 
see them!

-Jonathan


Paul Magnanti wrote:
> Ah...the mountain biking can of worms.
>
> I will preface this post by saying I *DO NOT* mountain bike.
>
>
>
>
> Most Eastern trails are not mountain biking friendly. Too steep, rocky and rooty.
>
>
>
> However, most Western trails are built a bit wider, plenty of
> switchbacks and tend to be graded nicely. Basically, I don't think mountain bikes have as much an impact on western trails as they would on (most) Eastern trails.
>
>
>
> Out West, there is more of a tradition with multi-use trails. As such, there does not seem to be as much an impact.  
>
>
>
> To be honest, with declining use of the backcountry, to keep mountain
> bikers out of trails is going to be extremely difficult. The majority
> of backcountry users are NOT backpackers at this point. Point blank: We
> don't have the political muscle to keep mountain bikers out of most areas.
>
> And to exclude people out of areas that they now legally enjoy is going to create some bad ju-ju.
>
>
>
> Rather than fight the other users, we should concentrate our energies on preserving what is out there.
>
>
> Do I want to see mountain bikers
> on the AT? No, I don't. Too old of a trail that would require major
> overhaul in many parts to accomodate mountain bikers. Like wise, I would not want to see them in Wilderness areas. There needs to be some areas that are foot traffic only. 
>
>
> On the Colorado Trail, CDT et al? They are out there already. To
> exclude them would also exclude people who could be allies. There are
> not many people into non-motorized recreation. Hunters, mountain
> bikers, anglers, equestrians and hikers also share a love for the
> outdoors (in different ways). The division amongst us only hinders
> everyone's ultimate goal: protecting the outdoors.  
>
>
>
>
> I do not mountain bike. But I don't see how excluding potential allies on trails already open to them would help us either.
>
>
>
> Just my .05 worth.
>
>  
>
> ************************************************************
> The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust 
> caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
> --Thoreau
> http://www.pmags.com
>
>
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