[cdt-l] stock use

[Ginny & Jim Owen]

You'll find that a lot of the CDT is not good for horses. Have you been in 
contact with Joanne Lennox, who thrurode the trail a few years ago?

The new BLM section south of Cuba would not work for horses - you walk the 
edge of a cliff for much of the section - gorgeous, but dangerous for 
horses, then climb straight up the Mesa Chivato - impossible for horses.  In 
Colorado there are some sections that have a lot of talus - i.e. James Peak. 
  I don't think you can get a horse over  that section.  On the 
Montana/Idaho border we frequently back and forth went under the fence.  I 
seem to remember that Glacier had some iffy sections as well.

For the Malpais - you could have simply stayed on the west side and hiked 
the Chain of Craters Byway up to Zuni and Bonito Canyons.  Still roadwalk, 
but not highway.

It is possible to ride the Divide - but you have to be creative and 
preferably talk to people (BLM or Forest Service or Backcountry Horsemen) 
who can give you ideas for alternate routes.  The nice thing about the CDT 
is that as long as you 'connect the steps' it's a thruhike - regardless of 
the route chosen.



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>From: <erin at ridethegreatdivide.com>
>Reply-To: cdt-l at backcountry.net, erin at ridethegreatdivide.com
>To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: [cdt-l] stock use
>Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:43:35 -0700
>
>
>I'm in the process of a thru-ride with my two mules
>
>right now and became very frustrated with the CDNST
>
>yesterday.  My understanding was that the Trail was
>
>designated for foot and horse traffic, so imagine my
>
>surprise when I found that a section of the official
>
>trail was closed to stock use and likely impassable
>
>anyways.
>
>
>
>I'm aware that I'm probably the only rider on this
>
>list, but I hope that y'all can understand my
>
>frustration especially after riding 25 miles up
>
>highway 117 yesterday instead of the Zuni-Acoma trail.
>
>After just barely resisting the temptation to cut
>
>some wires and ride it anyways, I spoke to the ranger
>
>station to try and find a way out of riding the
>
>highway.  I discovered that another section of the
>
>official trail through Hole In The Wall isn't closed
>
>to horses but is considered impassable.
>
>
>
>I know stock users do not compose the bulk of trail
>
>users.  I'm also aware that many hikers, fairly or
>
>unfairly, have a negative impression of stock in the
>
>backcountry.  However, this group of trail users
>
>deserves equal consideration and respect.  Many riders
>
>are switching to low impact stock use methods: using
>
>light weight gear instead of traditional equipment,
>
>tree saver straps, tying stock at night, restraining
>
>away from water sources, etc.)  In additon,
>
>organizations like Backcountry Horseman do significant
>
>trail maintenace to keep trails open.  I am very
>
>disappointed that the BLM decided to place the
>
>official route in an area closed to stock.
>
>
>
>I am not suggesting that this section of the trail be
>
>entirely rerouted.  I understand that the Zuni-Acoma
>
>trail offers a unique landscape, historical
>
>significance, as well as an unusual challenge to
>
>hikers.  However, an official horse alternative needs
>
>to exist.  Stock users should not be cut out of this
>
>trail.
>
>
>
>I know many hikers do not enjoy travelling through
>
>areas frequented by horse traffic.  However, I don't
>
>think the CDT is in danger of receiving significant
>
>stock use except in areas where it's already
>
>established (i.e. Bob Marshall Wilderness, Wind Rivers
>
>etc).  To the best of my knowledge, no thru-ride of
>
>the CDT has ever been completed and it may not happen
>
>this year :)  The trail is simply too challenging for
>
>the stock themselves for many to attempt it.  Hikers
>
>will always be the dominant presence on the CDT.
>
>
>
>I have been frustrated for much of this trail because
>
>of horse inaccesabilty.  Until this point I haven't
>
>had much right to complain.  I've been following Jim
>
>Wolf's route, and he makes no claim that his trail in
>
>southern New Mexico is horse friendly.  In fact the
>
>number of times the phrase "squeeze through the
>
>tightly woven fence here" appeared let me know I'd be
>
>adding a lot of extra miles finding gates.
>
>
>
>However, the Zuni-Acoma is on the designated trail.
>
>Permanent trail routing decisions were made in Glacier
>
>based on stock accessability.  Why not in New Mexico?
>
>I hope that the BLM can take horse users into
>
>consideration and perhaps have two routes through the
>
>area.
>
>
>
>Treehuggin' Cowgirl
>
>Erin Zwiener
>
>


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