Re: Sierra Club

[ctyler41@juno.com (Carrie Tyler)]

On Mon, 28 Sep 1998 15:10:36 EDT CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com writes:

>I'm sorry if Tevis crews proved to be an exception, but my experience 
>is that
>I can go through ride camp or vet checks after my rides and find 
>almost NO
>trash to pick up, unless it has been specifically bagged and left as
>instructed.  You have to remember that Tevis is a big, well-known 
>event and
>draws some folks that are not regular endurance riders; also that some 
>people
>have non-endurance folks helping them out as crews.  The sort of 
>scenario you
>describe is simply unheard of in my area.


Probably why I'm so shocked. I'm simply not used to it. I'm also not so
sure that most people associated with Tevis Cup crews aren't general
endurance enthusiasts. Larry went to great lengths (at the pre-ride
meeting) to impress upon us that working with the forest dept was most
important. Oh well, just my pet peeve. I don't know the why(s) it just
really bothered me. 

I see Jackie (Fire Mtn. Arabians) posting here from time to time. As I
recall she announced at the '93 Eastern Sierra Classic that the Forest
Dept. had been hassled by environmental enthusiasts over the ride
covering part of the public lands. Claims had been made that we (the
riders) were trashing the trails and flora. The Feds then monitored the
ride and reported back that the endurance ride had almost a ZERO impact
on the trail and surroundings. 

Back in '91 or '92 there was a USENET cross posting campaign on so-called
multiple trail use perspectives. I see several people posting on ridecamp
that I remember from that WAR.  It seems that mountain bikers hate horse
poop. Much the same reaction that was described by a ridecamper's Sierra
Club BF earlier today. It went on the find people from Wreak-Eq. being
stonewalled and horribly flamed by the rec.backcounty and mountain bike
groups. It was awful, but really brought to a head the amount of
misunderstanding there is between differing groups that use our natural
resources.  

Actually there is progress being made. The save the trails campaign of
the early 90's where equestrians, bikers, hikers et al banded together to
turn old railway paths into usable multiple use trails. Thank Susan
Gibson for a lot of publicity on that. I see the Western States Run as a
great stride in understanding between groups. I've enjoyed riding both
Barbara's and Boyd's rides along with runners. Though it's a little
disconcerting to be passed by a human runner. :) I suppose we can also
thank ride and tie people for much help in bringing the endurance and CTR
cause to runners.

Had it not been for Wendell Robbie's dream of a half century ago many of
these trails wouldn't be open for anybody. If it weren't for the Western
States Trail Foundation a vast and historic piece of trail wouldn't exist
for anybody. Hooray for endurance riders (in general).

Carrie in Las Vegas


     

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