ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] re: Trail markings (longish
[endurance] re: Trail markings (longish
Nina Lee Gibson (GIBSONNL@k1023.a1.ornl.gov)
Tue, 11 Jun 1996 13:59:58 -0400 (EDT)
I have to agree 100 percent with Tina. No, she was not the only rider who
got lost. Not by a long shot. My happy (?) little group wandered around for
about 30 minutes at an intersection and then decided to go back to the last
ribbon seen. When you came to this point in the trail, from the wrong
direction, you could see markings. You could not see them from the correct
direction. We turned around at least 20 people. We were told later that
their were ribbons pulled down off the trail. But that wasn't the case where
all of use got lost.
We have gone to the OD for years. And have had to defend it for years.
Some seem to find it a bit elitist. I really enjoy our trips up there. In
fact have ended up working the ride when my mother rode the 100 solo. But it
seems to want to be like a certain ride in the West known for bad trail
markings. Some Easterners went out West to this ride, and upon returning a
cartoon was drawn. Three rider managers sitting at a desk holding a forum.
The first manager said "I mark my trails with surveyors ribbon". The second
said "I mark my trails with pie plates and chalk". The third with a handle
bar mustache said "I mark my trail with my horses hoof prints".
There is nothing more frustrating than wandering around lost. Although the
trails down South (for the most part) are almost marked too well, you can
swing from the ribbons, the best marked trail I have ever been on was the
Wolverine ride in Michigan. They had pie plates with arrows no them.
Whatever way you went, the arrow pointed. Even around a curve. Plus they had
mile markers every 5 miles with the distance to go. And the last 5 miles they
had them every mile. So you knew exactly where you were at all times.
I, like Tina will be back. It is an adventure, to say the least. I think
everyone that got lost went and complained about the lack of markers, so maybe
it will be better next year.
I don't think an equal playing field is too much to ask. Without one who's
to say who the best horse is on any given day.
Vent session over!
Nina and Coujur (Who keeps me straight on the trail far more than I keep him!)
Tenn.