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[RC] Multi-use trails - Sheila_LarsenOk as a government regulator (I am ducking now) these are my thoughts on the photos shown and my opinion on this has been shared in the past on ridecamp, but at the risk of being repetitive I will say it again. We ALL need to take care of our trails. These photos need to be taken to BLM not necessarily to have them remove the motorcycles from the trail but to make BLM aware of the damage caused and perhaps (read that perhaps) hold the race organizers responsible for fixing the damage. In addition, perhaps BLM can fix the trail prior to the rains (yes I know it is the desert but if they can fix it prior to any rains it would be better). Merri is correct that if this is a trail used by motorcyles they will then move to the side. As a biologist I know as the trail widens, animal burrows will be crushed, vegetation dies, and depending on the sand/soil type the crust holding the sand in place is broken and it changes the ecology of the area. With that said as riders we need to be equally considerate and not make social trails and/or cut trail. At Cronin Ranch out of Cool there is a trail that switches back on itself and riders have decieded that they need to not take the switchback but cut down the trail about 75 feet from the turn. It struck me as odd because wouldn't you think we would want to be on our horses longer LOL not a shorter amout of time. Are we really in that much of a rush to get back to the trailer. People (of whatever recreation ilk)abusing trails are a nightmare for land managers as it take money out of their budget to fix it when that money may be better spent repairing trails, putting in hitching posts, improving staging areas, etc. And it sure doesn't make us popular with other users. I don't want to hear that the bicycles do it and that horses are "natural like deer" so they don't cause damage, as riders we are equally responsible as the motorcycle rider to not cause damage. Endurance rides need to remove ribbons, pie plates and chalk marks after the ride so it doesn't seem that we were there at all. Hey if no one can tell we were ever there how can they complain.... : ) Yes we have a right to use trails and we need to maintain and fight for that right but we all need to be responsible for our actions. I'll go away now.... And Allah took a handful of southerly wind, blew His breath over it, and created the horse.... Thou shall fly without wings, and conquer without any sword. Oh, horse. ~Bedouin Legend =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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