[pct-l] C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S / And the Mountain Bike problem

[Penny Melko]

Here is the link to the ORV Watch Kern County new video, "Private Property 
Signs Won't Stop Us." Several dozen rigs with toy haulers staged in Mojave 
on November 3&4, just south of Highway 58, West of Sierra Highway. Over the 
Thanksgiving weekend, about 300 off-roaders staged in the same area. The BLM 
parcels here are checkerboaded between private parcels. No permission was 
granted by property owners for this activity. There is no open OHV riding 
permitted on these BLM sections. Illegal OHV riding, llegal campfires, 
fireworks, and trespass took place in full view of the highway for days, 
with impunity.
A Mojave Deputy on duty at the time told ORV WATCH, "I've been riding my 
dirt bike there for 30 years. They can ride there if they want."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH8Idq9Wr6M&feature=share&list=UU1F94SnekN4oZ-gSG8nykjg

Thank You,
ORV WATCH KERN COUNTY
http://www.orvwatchkerncounty.com/
661-878-7838
------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sun, 12 May 2013 15:40:58 -0700
From: Stephen Clark <rowriver at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S / And the Mountain Bike problem
To: jason povey <golobos_55 at yahoo.com>
Cc: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID:
<CABAzAtH7zUv2FORt4pyQOcFAVAUe-xDXHZmJ5vN14UZC4863MQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

This may be true however the cumulative effect, hundreds upon hundreds of
bikes vs. a handful of horses, doesn't even begin to compare, and a horse
won't run you down around a blind corner at 35 mph.


On Sun, May 12, 2013 at 3:27 PM, jason povey <golobos_55 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Well then we need to lobby congress because bikes do far less damage to a
> trail than horses.
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
> To: "gary_schenk at verizon.net" <gary_schenk at verizon.net>; "
> pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2013 12:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S / And the Mountain Bike problem
>
>
> Hello Gary,
>
> I also break up and scatter illegal fire ring rocks.
>
> You also mentioned that you aren't concerned about illegal mountain bikes
> and dirt bikes on the PCT. Here are three reasons why they should not be 
> on
> the PCT.
>
>      1)  They are illegal - it is against the law, designated by an act of
> congress in 1968. Wheels are not allowed anywhere on the PCT. It is for 
> the
> use of hikers and equestrians only.
>      2)  Substantial tread/trail damage can result from the lineal groves
> left behind by wheels. The worst groves are those left by bikers who brake
> hard, locking the wheels, and dragging the tires down.
>  This is especially noticeable on slopes - when it rains, water will run
> down those groves,which become ruts - which become ditches. As a Back
> Country Horseman trail maintenance volunteer,
>  I have personally observed this. Of course, we repair the trail by
> filling in and putting in water bars. There are places on the PCT where
> illegal wheeled vehicles have caused very serious damage.
>      3)   Mountain bikers pose a very serious threat to equestrians.
> Riders and horses have been injured and killed when a mountain biker
> suddenly comes flying (for the thrill) down a winding and narrow
>  trail causing a horse to spook. If there are also steep drop-offs, there
> might be a disaster. I will briefly describe my own "close call" 
> experience
> during my PCT ride. It happened about 50 miles north of
> Agua Dulce.  It was on a trail as I described above. I was riding down
> hill when a MB came up at high speed behind us. Primo, my horse, spooked
> forward. Fortunately, he had room ahead on the trail to
> go. The mountain biker, to avoid running into us, swerved and tumbled into
> the rocks and brush below the the trail. He was badly scratched and also
> bruised. I think his bike was also damaged.
> I watched as he took his time getting up and looked over the damage. He
> would live. He was lucky there wasn't a cliff there.
>
> I have been taking pictures of illegal bikers on the PCT.  About a year
> ago I was helping BCH Ray Drasher clear some down trees that were blocking
> the PCT south of Guffy Camp. On our way back,
> going north, we came upon illegal mountain bikers going south towards
> Cajon Pass. They expected us to yield to them. No way. We informed them
> that they were on the PCT - and that bikes are not
> allowed.  Of course, they claimed innocence - that they did not know that
> they were on the PCT, or that bikes weren't allowed. I started taking
> pictures as we spoke and told them that they must turn
> back. They did. It turned out that we were only a short distance (about
> 300') from where the PCT crosses a dirt road. The usual PCT post was there
> and the bike symbol with the red slash through it
> was obvious. There were four bikers. They certainly had to have seen it.
>
> MendoRider-Hiker
>