 |
Re: [RC] LMMR part two - Barbara McCraryHeidi written an excellent message regarding trails and damage, all of which I agree with. We've had decades of experience both building new trails and repairing damaged trails. Her observations are right on target. Regarding 2), we too have noticed that horses create stairsteps (Heidi used the term "cup", same thing) and bicycles create ruts....bad news. I hate to slam bicycles on trails, although I'd really prefer they didn't share horse trails. I have to think about what's fair to all. The bicyclists are a strong voice in our area against the typical public attitude of keeping everyone but hikers off the trails. They are the horsemen's allies in our fight to keep our public trails open, so whether we horsemen like them or not, we need them as allies. In some of our state parks there are allowed bicycle trails and designated horse trails. The occasional bike riders will ride where prohibited, but I haven't seen an epidemic in the parks where WE ride.....perhaps in some of the other parks. Then again, there is one state park where horses are forbidden by requirement of the people who gave the property to the park system, but where bikes are permitted. The horsemen are unhappy about this, but the recourse is to give up the land back to the family. They are adamantly opposed to horses in the park they gifted to the state. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <greymare56@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <mmieske@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 7:54 AM Subject: Re: [RC] LMMR part two 1) Whether this is an issue depends a lot on the soil types. I've worked in areas where horses could go through and make a muddy mess like this and in two weeks, you'd never know anything had gone on there. 2) Erosion is also an issue. If the area is relatively flat, then you are not apt to get erosion from the traffic, hence no issue. If it is steep, it is a whole nuther story. Additionally, horse tracks tend to cup the water, whereas wheeled vehicles cause ruts that REALLY start erosion going--so horse use in such instances is far less of an issue than, say, a bicycle race... 3) Many times the "damage" issue is blown WAY out of proportion by regulatory agencies and is an excuse for them to flex their muscles. In any event, you have to know your area and know how "real" the threat of long-term damage is. In many cases it IS real. But in many other cases, it is negligible. Heidi ============================================================ Of course things aren't perfect, perfect doesn't exist on this earth. Doesn't mean we won't go on trying to get better at what we do. Besides, if everything was perfect today, what would you do tomorrow? Slamming each other doesn't get anything done. ~ Dot Wiggins ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================ ============================================================ And remember, an arab's fourth gait is the spook! ~ Jeanie Miller ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
|