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

[Carol]

Good advice, Brick, and thanks for the link. Very balanced approach. And personally, I'd smile and wave and be pretty obvious about filming them. So much for their anonymity, even if the government is shut down.

Carol

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 26, 2013, at 6:31 PM, Brick Robbins <brick at brickrobbins.com> wrote:
> 
> document the violation with pictures and video, and your notes on
> where/when and other circumstances then report it at
> 
> http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/pct/home/?cid=stelprdb5361615
> 
> On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 4:23 PM, marmot marmot
> <marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> 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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