[pct-l] Response from PCTA re: mountain biker encounter

[lucymann at comcast.net]

I have just received the following email from the PCTA regarding the problem of encountering a mountain biker on the PCT. I really appreciate the response. This should help allay fears that some have expressed regarding the PCTA's attitude on allowing mountain biking on the PCT. 



I have also sent this complaint to the Mt Baker Snoqualmie Forest Service office. I think that the least we hikers can do is to report every single incident to the PCTA and the appropriate Forest Service office. If we do that we will at least know that the Forest Service has to be aware of the issue. If we report every incident we encounter they will understand that this is a much bigger problem than they may currently think it is. That is the hope anyway. 



I thought later that I wish I had written down the biker's license plate number because he passed us on his way back and quickly threw his bike into the back of his vehicle and drove away. They may give false names and addresses if you confront them on the trail but their license plate numbers won't be lies. 



"Hi Lucy, 



Thank you for the information on illegal mountain biking and signage issues on that section of the PCT. I have sent the information along to the Forest Service and to the local PCTA office for the North Cascades Region. Our Regional Representative for that region has added the topic to the agenda for her upcoming meeting with our Forest Service partners for that section of trail. This is an ongoing issue that we are working hard with our agency partners to combat. Thank you for reporting your experience. Having that kind of information really helps us to address the issue with our agency partners. 



Leslie Sabin 

Administrative Assistant 

Pacific Crest Trail Association "