[pct-l] What do you say to mountain bikers on the PCT?

[marmot marmot]

The section south of Belden was completely chewed up from mtn. bikers for miles & miles.   Every switchback had deep groves. Can't remember is that section L? After getting water from mtn bikers on the CDT, I was trying to be more tolerant but that really pushed me back. I'm taking pictures.  If nothing else it might make them uncomfortable.  Marmot

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 26, 2013, at 12:23 PM, "Eric Martinot" <eric at martinot.info> wrote:
> 
> While hiking CA Section L southbound a few weeks ago during the
> government shutdown, I was passed by about 18 mountain bicyclists spread
> out over two days, all going northbound.  The trail tread ahead was
> entirely bike tracks.
> 
> I spent considerable thought mulling over what to say to them.  Early
> encounters were treated just like encountering other hikers, discussing
> trail conditions ahead, water, general hiker comments, have a good day. 
> And I was happy to see other humans on the trail in late season, to see
> other people on remote isolated sections of trail. And I had respect for
> their strength and skill to be biking such a difficult and remote trail.
> 
> But presuming they all knew they were not supposed to be there, what
> does one say?   Nothing? Or take a hard-line attitude: "Get the f--- off
> the trail, you are not supposed to be here" (?)   Or:  "You're causing
> too much trail erosion and turning the trail into a difficult-to-hike
> ditch." (?)   (I wondered if that is true, bike tires vs. feet vs. horse
> hooves.)  Or perhaps, "from your presence, I've lost the serenity of the
> trail because I'm constantly having to be aware of what might be
> barreling down a narrow steep section of trail towards me so I can jump
> out of the way to avoid a collision, and can't listen to music and zone
> out as I usually do on the trail."  
> 
> Then towards the end, I met a day-hiker who lived locally, and I asked
> him whether so many bikes on the trail was normal for this part of the
> PCT, and shared my dilemma of what to say to them.  He said no, normally
> the potential $500 fines and mid-season influx of hikers kept the
> bicyclists off the trail, but that the government shutdown had removed
> that threat and the bicyclists were having a field day in the absence of
> authority. Not sure if I believe that fully, but interesting if true,
> and makes the question of what to say less important than I had thought!
> So, never mind!
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