I love to hike. I love the outdoors. One thing that disrupts the flow on our hiking trails is the insurgence of mountain bikes ridden in an unsafe manner on trails where mountain bikes aren’t allowed to be that puts hikers and the mountain bikers at risk.
From the American Hiking Society’s website:
In recent months there has been an upsurge of organized mountain biking groups attempting to gain access to sections of National Scenic Trails where mountain bikes are currently prohibited. These trails – or in some cases, sections of these trails – were neither designed nor built for mountain bike use. Due to concerns about safety, sustainability, and the displacement of hikers on trails with heavy bike usage, AHS believes that the sections of National Scenic Trails, where mountain bikes are currently prohibited, should remain closed to bikes.
Request for donations to help stave off the onslaught of mountain biking groups from the AHS:
We are almost there. Nearly at the summit now. Our 2013 Save Your Trails Fund is in its final days. Won’t you help us reach the peak? This Fund supports American Hiking Society’s efforts to protect the hiking experience on sections of National Scenic Trails where bicycling is already prohibited.
That’s right, we need to fight to keep what we already have, as many of these sections have been directly and publicly targeted for a concerted effort aimed at gaining access for mountain bikes. Despite how these trails were originally built and designed, particular segments of National Scenic Trails such as the Continental Divide Trail (where mountain bikers want to create a “megaEpic” ride), North Country Trail, and others, are being viewed as potential multi-use trails, regardless of bad sightlines, hiker safety, etc.
Due to concerns about safety, sustainability, and the displacement of hikers on trails with heavy bike usage, American Hiking Society believes that National Scenic Trails, and/or sections of these trails, where mountain bikes are already prohibited, should remain closed to bicycles.
Liz Thomas, a “Triple Crown” thru-hiker, recently shared with us one of her encounters with fast-moving bicycles on her thru-hike of the CDT:
“As a young woman who has hiked over 10,000 miles, I’ve had my share of galling trail experiences. One such experience was a northern section of the Continental Divide Trail shared with mountain bikes. On a steep ridge, every few minutes for several hours, mountain bikes would come around a corner, whizzing towards me at up to 5 times my speed, breaking my rhythm and flow and forcing me to step to the edge of the already narrow trail. One of the reasons I hike is to find peace and to see wildlife. I found neither that day.
While the Forest Service can’t control other dangers of hiking like lightning or blizzards, they can prevent experiences like this from happening on the southern half of the CDT and other National Scenic Trails. Many of my best friends are mountain bikers, yet we all agree that while bikes on trails can be fun in some places, the Forest Service also needs to set aside special trails – like the Pacific Crest Trail – that can only be accessed by foot to allow for a worry-free hiking experience.”
As hikers we believe that mountain bikers should absolutely have plenty of places where they may enjoy their sport (many of us mountain bike too), but it’s also important to preserve the National Scenic Trails where you can still enjoy a hike without the fear of a high speed bicycle coming around a corner.
Your gift to the Save Your Trails Fund will enable AHS to meet with key decision makers across the nation, support hiking and trail organizations on the front lines, and work with various stakeholders to explore potential solutions that will protect these treasured trails. The urgency is clear and the time is now!
You can be sure that your gift will be used solely in these protection efforts. Your generous gift of $20, $50, $100 or more will greatly help AHS get right to work protecting these special trails.
As a token of our thanks, with a gift of $20 or more you’ll receive a free ChicoBag reusable shopping bag with the “Hike.” boot print logo. And with a gift of $50 or more you’ll also receive a free wicking shirt – soft as cotton, it’s the most popular shirt we’ve ever offered.
As an aside, the AHS wicking t-shirt (made in the USA!) is pretty terrific. If you’ve got the funds, support the AHS … or at least go on their website and buy this shirt!
You can make a tax-deductible gift HERE.
You can visit (and join!) the American Hiking Society HERE.