On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 10:21:21 -0700, "Matt" <
[email protected]> wrote:
<snip>
>> > The point you are missing is that the number of available riding areas has been shrinking
>> > dramatically (especially here in CA) while (as you pointed out) the number of people seeking
>> > someplace to ride has increased. When you cram more and more people into fewer and fewer
>> > riding areas you run into exactly the kind of safety and sustainability problems we are seeing
>> > now in some areas.
>>
>> So, how much land do you really need? Or do you wnat to serially wreck it all as each parcel
>> becomes degraded?
>
>As some here have already pointed out, it works quite well to manage a riding area by rotating the
>trails (periodically close some, and reopen others). The closed areas recover very nicely, in a
>short time the natural vegetation takes over and the trails disappear. By doing this and managing
>runoff in hilly areas to prevent erosion by proper trail construction and repair, a riding area is
>totally sustainable. This is not feasible however, when you have a large riding public crammed into
>fewer and fewer, smaller and smaller riding areas.
Another issue not mentioned yet but is indeed a point of contention, at least here in Idaho, ya know
the state with more wilderness than any other state... Not many of the trails in all this wilderness
are ever cleared of deadfall. When is the last time anyone saw a hiker carry in a saw capable of
slicing through a fresh 36" Ponderosa? Without maintenance, pretty soon, the trail is only enjoyable
by the hard(er) core hiker. The other ones (hikers) seem to gravitate to those trails which *are*
cleared and maintained. Then they complain that the dirt bikes are spoiling their "forest
experience".
Have a peek here too see just in fact who is doing the clearing.
http://www.motosports-boise.com/rmd/lime_cr_june.htm
I guarantee nobody walked in to do the dirty and dangerous work that so many take for granted as
they leisurely stroll up/down the trail. When you hike by a fallen tree that is no longer blocking
the trail, do you ever happen to think about just who did the work? These trails are cleared by
dedicated folks on motorized vehicles for all to use, hikers, bikers, MTBers, equestrians, hunters,
fishermen, llama packers, goat packers, back country outfitters, ranchers, land managers,
researchers, rescuers etc...
Idaho's Parks & Rec department has a Trail Ranger program where men and women live in the forest and
ride, you guessed it, DIRTBIKES, to carry them and their tools along the trails. Close to 2000 miles
of trail was maintained last year by the Rangers. I'd really like to see some enviro-hikers get off
their lazy asses and actually do something to help maintain the very trails they hold so sacred.
A few years back I had the occasion to work with our local BLM office concerning an "Adopt a Trail"
program in which our local club was involved. As I was waiting in the lobby to see my contact, she
came walking out with a gentleman about my age (50s). They parted and as we walked to her office she
commented that the man leaving was from the local chapter of the Sierra Club. It seems they (SC)
wanted an interpretive nature trail constructed. Her comment to me was something along the lines of,
"I really wish all our 'user groups' were as committed as your (dirtbike club) members are. That
group wants the trail constructed but are not willing to do ANY of the work..." We had about 35
people show up at the work party just prior to this meeting. That's 35 people, each with a
$3000-$7000 bike, $300-$500 chainsaws, racks mounted on their bikes, paying their own way and
maintaining their own equipment.
David '03 KTM 200EXC djones<at>LSidaho.com
http://www.motosports-boise.com/rmd
"Soil Damage" is