[pct-l] Bikes and Horses

[Deems]

> In Sept 2011, my friend, Bill Roberts the veteran USFS Horse Packer for 40
> years on the Klamath NF was severely injured while riding the trail north 
> of Seiad Valley. His horse bucked him off when a hiker come up from behind 
> and surprised his horse for basically no reason. Bill suffered a broken 
> pelvis and internal injuries from the rare event. Fortunately Scott 
> Williamson and Bill's partner were there to help him get airlifted out, or 
> he would have died.  If bikes start riding the PCT, there will be many 
> horse rider/hiker events with injuries incurred due to the inevitible 
> surprise. Horses simply spook for no reason at all (imo).  Bikes are fast 
> and will cause mulit-catastrophic issues, and the PCT is no place for all 
> three to agree to be...The current PCT use rules are logical, and should 
> remain.
> http://users.sisqtel.net/losthiker/pikastove/The%20Pct%20Rules!.jpg
> ~~~
> I agree with all of the advice that you have posted. I will just add one 
> thing. IF it is safely possible, move off the trail on the downhill side. 
> Some horses will be frightened if you are higher up.
>
> The only problems I have had, both on and off the PCT, has been with 
> Mountain Bikes - because they are sometimes approaching very fast, 
> downhill, and on blind curves. Motorcycles (Dirt Bikes) have not been a 
> problem for my horses since they can be heard from a long distance and I 
> have time to get safely off the trail. Where I come from, most of the 
> people riding Dirt Bikes were polite, stopped and even shut off their 
> engines so I could pass. There were a few exceptions.
>
> MendoRider-Hiker