I agree with every word. There is room for every body. Bikers, Paddlers, and Hikers are natural allies, as well as horsemen. <br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 3:12 PM, Steven Camp <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:wingnut.hiker@gmail.com" target="_blank">wingnut.hiker@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">As a lifelong resident of Colorado, I have to say that comparing the<br>
potential for this new piece of trail to get overused by bicyclists as in<br>
the Monarch Crest is extremely misleading.<br>
<br>
The Monarch Crest bike ride is a travesty and a environmental disaster. It<br>
is a commercially supported downhill bike ride with 3800' feet of descent<br>
and of moderate difficulty. (A somewhat effortless downhill thrill ride.) It<br>
is easy to access, being within two hours driving time of 3 million people.<br>
A commercial shuttle operation takes cyclists to the top and they come<br>
screaming down, day after day.<br>
<br>
By contrast, the area where this 32 miles of trail is going to be built is<br>
very remote, much further away, and much less accessible. The nearest towns<br>
are Saguache and Gunnison, which are tiny population centers. The proposed<br>
new trail is not a downhill ride, but typical up and down trail terrain.<br>
There are numerous rides of the same caliber much closer to Denver. There<br>
is really no reason whatsoever to think people would travel 450 miles or<br>
more for a day ride that can be found in one's backyard.<br>
<br>
It this is built it will be part of the Colorado Trail. CT people will build<br>
it. They will adopt it. They will maintain it. It has always been the norm<br>
for the CT and other trails in Colorado to be open to bicycles except in<br>
wilderness areas. There are probably fewer than 100 or so people who ride<br>
the CT end to end every year. That number is a realistic one for how much<br>
use this new trail might get. A hiker might see a bicycle or two in this<br>
area, but probably won't. The two times I have been through here I never saw<br>
a cyclist other than myself.<br>
<br>
As someone who has both thru-hiked, thru-biked and been on trail crews<br>
building and maintaining the CT, I can tell you emphatically that it is the<br>
best built, best maintained trail in Colorado. The road walk that this new<br>
trail will replace consists of some nasty jeep trails which are just as<br>
unpleasant to mountain bikers as they are to hikers.<br>
<br>
<br>
Yours for non motorized multi-use, and sharing...<br>
<br>
Camp<br>
(PCT 2005 CT 2007, 2009 GET 2008, CDT 2010)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: <a href="mailto:cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net">cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net">cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net</a>]<br>
On Behalf Of Jim Wolf<br>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2012 8:38 PM<br>
To: <a href="mailto:cdt-l@backcountry.net">cdt-l@backcountry.net</a><br>
Subject: [Cdt-l] Lujan to La Garita CDNST Relocation<br>
<br>
The Forest Service has proposed to relocate the CDT for 32 miles in southern<br>
Colorado -- from Lujan Creek to the La Garita Wilderness. (This is in the<br>
Cochetopa Hills, south of Monarch Pass.)<br>
<br>
The new alignment would be a nonroaded route close to the Continental Divide<br>
and off the roads that have been used to date. Under the preferred<br>
alternative, travel would be restricted to foot and equestrian use, and<br>
mountain biking would not be allowed.<br>
<br>
Although we have some concerns about water access and details of the<br>
location, we generally endorse the Forest Service's proposal.<br>
<br>
Mountain biking organizations are urging the Forest Service to open the<br>
trail to mechanized users. With the nearby example of the bike freeway<br>
between Monarch Pass and Marshall Pass in mind, we are urging the Forest<br>
Service to hold to its understanding that mountain biking in this unspoiled<br>
and scenic setting would not be consistent with the nature and purposes of<br>
the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.<br>
<br>
We have submitted comments to the Forest Service.<br>
<br>
Our comments, with links to related information, have been posted in the<br>
What's New section of our website, <a href="http://www.cdtsociety.org" target="_blank">www.cdtsociety.org</a> .<br>
<br>
Please take a look at the materials we have posted. You can submit comments<br>
(address posted on our site) by December 17.<br>
<br>
We would appreciate your sending us your submissions or other thoughts on<br>
this matter.<br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Everything is in Walking Distance<br>