Hikers Gone Wild

Discussion in 'Trail Advocacy' started by Cornholio, Feb 17, 2017.


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  1. Cornholio

    Cornholio iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    B
    Current Bike:
    Huffy
    They sure do have some lovely hiking groups up North, let's hope we don't see too much of this down here. In the Meetup description they even give Strava statistics and links.

    https://www.meetup.com//Hikers-Walk...-Parks/events/237568382/?showDescription=true

    Hike to Push Back Against Agressive Mountain Biking onthe Trails of Mt.Tamalpais
    • Sat Feb 18, 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
    • Mt Tamalpais State Park (Rock Springs)
      Pan Toll Rd & Ridgecrest Blvd, Southwest Marin, CAThis Hike Be Held Rain or Shine. Meet on time, we will leave promptly at 9:30am from the Rock Spring Trailhead (35 minute drive from Fwy.101 exits) The Google map here is accurate. Plan ahead so you are on time and don't miss the hike by being late.
    Want to go?
    Join us!
    (Please sign the petition to save Bay Area single-track hiking trails from being turned into mountain biking trails and subsequently ruined.) Both physically and from a hiking experience perspective.


    Push back against those who are aggressive in the mountain biking community and are damaging Mt.Tamalpais with their aggressive mountain bike riding. And also intimidating, if not terrorizing, especially elderly hikers and young families with their aggressive bike riding behavior in public places.

    Many believe we must push back against the, click for details> Marin Critical Dirt Mass, event,(MCDM) scheduled by the mountain biking community on this date. So we will!

    If for whatever reason the mountain biking community, MCDM event, is cancelled, date changed or however altered this Hike will still be held as detailed here.

    Let's make this a continuing workshop, field trip hiking event*, as the MCDM promises to be. (see bottom of this announcement for additional details)

    Let's hike to see the most mountain bike damaged areas, of Mt.Tam. And learn what we can do together to come to the aid of this beloved mountain.

    We will hike the Easy Grade Trail corridor, the richest area on Mt.Tam for rare, endemic Mt.Tam, Spring wildflowers. Click here for the CNPS wildflower list. for Easy Grade Trail.

    Next we'll hike Coast View Trail and finish up viewing the damage to the embankments done by the mountain bikes along Old Stage Rd and Old RR Grade.

    Well over 30% of mountain bikers are speeding in excess of 15.0mph on the fireroads and some of the single track they ride, as shown on Strava.com.

    https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/a/e/2/600_458191458.jpeg

    Click here to see the statistics for 3,260 separate rides, GPS recorded and uploaded to Strava.com for Ocean View Trail in the State Park. 40% of these rides are in excess of 15.0mph.

    Top downhill speed on this trail in the speed competition being held on Strava.com is 24.4mph.

    (Because of the hazardous conditions on this trail caused by mountain biking, Strava.com has closed down, mountain bike speed, goal setting by MBers, for this trail.)

    https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/a/6/1/600_458191329.jpeg

    Strava.com statistics for Easy Grade Trail, top speed 21.9 mph. click

    Construction is scheduled to start here next year, possibly late this year, to turn Easy Grade Trail into a mountain biking trail. California State Parks is aggressively pursuing its goal of converting this most precious wildflower and plant ecosystem area into a part of a future network of mountain biking trails for Mt.Tam State Park.

    Click here to sign the petition to stop Easy Grade Trail from being constructed into a mountain bike riding trail.

    The mountain bike trail planning and construction will continue to be paid for by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC), other mountain biking clubs and organizations, the mountain biking industry, including it's newest members; Bosch and Siemens industries, makers of electric mountain bikes. (Electric mountain bikes are legal in Calif.State Parks.) As well as money from the vacation and recreation industry.

    Future plans for the MTSP mountain biking trail network will be to add a brand new connecting mountain bike riding trail on virgin ground. This will be between the bottom of Coast View Trail connecting to the Diaz Ridge Trail. Paralleling the Heather Cutoff Trail to the east and Hwy.1 to the west. These are the plans being put forward by MCBC.

    Learn what you can do in constructive advocacy ways, to convince State and local land managers to preserve precious Mt.Tamalpais.

    Let's also hope to get together with some of the 60% of the mountain biking community who are not breaking the law, to talk about these matters.

    After hiking the Easy Grade Corridor we'll visit these scenes, see photos below:
    Permanently damaged Coast View Trail in Mt.Tamalpais State Park (MTSP). As long as mountain biking continues here, this damage cannot be repaired. It will only get increasingly worse. (Coast View was converted to mountain biking in 2005. At that time, after the reroute, the trail was in pristine condition.) 105 damaged locations were photographed along Coast View.

    This photo was taken just before the start of this rainy season. We will visit this same location to see the increase of damage after riders have been riding here when the trail is soaked. Be sure to bring your camera and smartphones for sending your photos to agency land managers. See email addresses below.

    https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/8/7/0/600_457830832.jpeg

    Photo below shows one of over thirty locations along Old RR Grade, Old Stage Rd. and Gravity Car Grade where mountain bikers go off the fireroad and onto the side embankments denuding the area of plants and making eyesores. Mountain bikers must volunteer to repair this damage. This type of riding is done to increase the thrill of their mountain bike riding.

    As hikers volunteer to maintain hiking trails which they are of course not purposely damaging. Mountain bikers must be required to repair the damage they are doing on purpose, or be forbidden to ride in these embankment locations they are damaging.

    https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/4/f/5/600_458189941.jpeg

    Below the very rare endemic Mt.Tam Jewelflower seen and photographed along Easy Grade Trail in the Spring of 2013, 14, 15 & 16.

    https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/8/0/2/600_458190722.jpeg

    Aggressive or confrontational behavior will not be tolerated on this hike. Or will inflammatory language or hate speak.

    Mt.Tamalpais Land Managers to contact:

    Ryen Goering, Superintendent (or acting) , Marin Sector, Calif.State Parks
    ryen.goering@parks.ca.gov

    Karl Knapp, Acting Deputy Director CSP (Designed Coast View Trail, Signed rejection of Easy Grade Trail conversion in 2007.)
    karl.knapp@parks.ca.gov

    Jay Chamberlin, Chief Natural Resources Division jay.chamberlin@parks.ca.gov

    Alexandra Stehl, State Parks Road & Trails Director, (Easy Grade Trail, initiated bogus documents to convert Easy Grade Trail to mountain biking, click here for information.) alexandra.stehl@parks.ca.gov

    Callie Hurd, Acting State Parks Road & Trails Director, [masked]
    </a>
    Rosanna Petralia, New Interpretive Specialist, MTSP rosanna.petralia@<a href="http://parks.ca.gov/">parks.ca.gov


    Bree Hardcastle, SP Environmental Scientist, (Easy Grade Trail, signed bogus documents to convert Easy Grade Trail to mountain biking, click here for information.)bree.hardcastle@parks.ca.gov

    Jason.Spann, SP Environmental Scientist, (Easy Grade Trail, signed bogus documents to convert Easy Grade Trail to mountain biking, click here for information.)[masked]

    Roberto Walton, Supervising Ranger, MTSP, (Easy Grade Trail, signed bogus documents to convert Easy Grade Trail to mountain biking, click here for information.) [masked]

    Michael Swezy, Watershed Manager, MMWDmswezy@marinwater.org
    MMWD

    Armando Quintero, President, Board of Dir., MMWDaquintero3@ucmerced.edu

    Calif Fish & Wildlife Jim Starrjim.starr@wildlife.ca.gov

    Ms. Liz McGuirk, Dir. Calif.State Parks
    Email: [masked]

    Deputy Director Park Operations
    Ms. Kathleen Amann
    [masked]

    Gavin Newsom, Liet.Governor
    gavin.newsom@ltg.ca.gov

    Here is what world-wide experts say about the Bay Area's environmental importance. [At ground zero, most unique and most important environmentally in the Bay Area, Mt.Tamalpais, where the most endemics are found and all (but desert and high alpine) California habitats are found in this one relatively very small place:]

    -The eighth most significant biological “hot spot” in the world; as found by The Nature Conservancy.
    -Among the six most significant biological “hot spots” in the United States, as designated by the US Nat’l Park Service*.
    -In 1988 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) created the Golden Gate Biosphere Preserve. The UNESCO Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in Northern California. It was created byUNESCO in 1988 and encompasses 13 protected areas in the San Francisco Bay Area. Of which Mt.Tamalpais is the center and most bio-diverse of all.
    -Bolinas Lagoon designated by the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance.

    -Bolinas Lagoon is located where the western slopes of Mt.Tam fall steeply into the Pacific. On the east side of the mountain is SF Bay; the largest estuary along the coast of N.&S. America.

    "The terrestrial landscapes are significant, diverse and rare, representing a high degree of endemism. Included are such diverse vegetation alliances as active coastal fore dunes, coastal terrace prairie, serpentine chaparral, serpentine bunchgrass, northern coastal salt marsh, coast live oak woodland, valley oak woodland, and ancient redwood forests. Nearly sixty federal or state listed threatened and endangered species occur within it as residents or seasonal migrants......" This is the Bay Area and at its environmental and ecological center, Mt.Tamalpais.

    *Finally attend the next workshop to pool our efforts for advocacy. Come learn the facts and talking points the Land Managers must hear from us, for change to take place.

    Next Workshop: Wednesday, February 22, 6:15pm.

    address: 4340 Redwood Highway,
    San Rafael, CA 94903

    From Hwy.101 take the Smith Ranch Road Exit, east, Make a right turn onto Redwood Hwy. stay on Redwood Hwy.
    Look for a building with Palm Trees at the entrance of La Plaza Garden Offices, Meeting Room Suite F-138 (Take either of two entrances into parking lot. Drive all the way to the back, rear. Suite #138 is in the middle to the right of the handicap parking spaces.)
    Click for Google Map of Meeting Location

    (This Workshop is not to be attended by anyone from the Mountain Biking Community. It is a private Workshop, on private property.)

    Meetup event title: Hike to Push Back Against Agressive Mountain Biking onthe Trails of Mt.Tamalpais

    Note: This hike is not sponsored by the Calif. State Park cooperating association, Friends of Mt.Tam.
     
  2. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    Best part ^^^^^^^^^


    Yes, the Sierra Clubbers up there are on the edge of fanatical.

    My understanding is that Mt Tam is only fire road accessible to mtn bikes anyway....and has been for a long time.
     
  3. Danimal

    Danimal iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    Epic Evo
    It's Marin. Nothing else need be said.

    I believe this was/is the stomping ground of Mr vanderman...A rabid anti bike activist who was convicted of hitting mtb'ers with a saw on the trail.
     
  4. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    It works both ways... Let's hope we don't give hikers a reason try to clamp down on our riding.

    There's a lot of rude riding behavior out there on shared use trails, including rider/rider situations. Couple that with our apparent need to publicly share stats, and...

    I have mitigated sympathy for us as long as we (read: a distinct minority of us) keep exercising such selfishness and obtuseness. On the positive side, everyone I ride with observes ROW and shows courtesy to hikers, and most engage them in positive ways. Thanks to all you spokeheads who understand this is important if we are to be taken seriously.
     
  5. HBkites

    HBkites Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Huntington Beach
    Name:
    Sharone
    Current Bike:
    Why S7, Revel Rascal, Spark RC
    Bells..... we need more (cow)bells!



    I got bells on all my bikes, and use them more than I like.
    Show respect to other users, if we want them to respect our "right" to use public land for MTBking.
     
  6. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
     
  7. Andy

    Andy Well-Known Member

    Location:
    The OC, Calif
    Name:
    Andy
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Chameleon

    Might be worth mentioning -

    http://sharemtb.com/bike-bell-program/

    ...and I have a few spare if anyone is desperate for one, just msg me
     
  8. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    I tried the mounted cowbell thing. It drove me absolutely nuts even though it has a magnet to silence it when needed. I guess I am sensitive to noise pollution even though I understand the purpose in this case.

    Therefore, I have handlebar mounted manual ring bells on all of my bikes. If those I am approaching don't hear me coming (they usually do), I ring the bell a few times. Works just fine.
     
  9. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    After a little while you just tune the bell out. Eventually I no longer heard it. I mounted mine under my saddle, so maybe that silenced it a bit for me. At times I had to check to make sure it was still there since I wasn't hearing it. I didn't have the magnet to quiet it. Now, on the other hand.....it drove those I rode with nuts.

    Now I just use the Incredibell on the bar. I ring it when I get near known blind spots.
     
  10. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    ^ Yes, Incredibells are what I have also.
     
    Sasquatch9billion likes this.
  11. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    I just tune the baer bells out like parents tune out there kids. :eek:
     
    LLPoolJ and Cornholio like this.
  12. pperrelle

    pperrelle iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Oracle, AZ
    Name:
    Paul
    Current Bike:
    Ripley V4 & Ripmo V2
    Older video, but it looks like the battle still goes on.

     
    jaime and mtnbikej like this.
  13. sir crashalot

    sir crashalot iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    laguna beach
    Name:
    gary fishman
    Current Bike:
    2018 banshee rune
    I hate the bells. It's noise pollution. I always slow down for other trail users a simple friendly "on your right, thanks" or so suffices.
     
  14. littlewave

    littlewave Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Newport Beach
    Name:
    Brett
    Current Bike:
    GG Smash (Alu)
    You may hate them, but almost every single hiker appreciates them. I would just as soon ride without them too, but I'd rather engender some kind of good will.

    I use this:

    [​IMG] [​IMG] 8825969_orig.png
    Turn it off unless I am going downhill.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0184TO7NY/?tag=imtbtrails-20

    That link was using the amazon search below, btw!
     
  15. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    So then the law still prohibits machine guns mounted to the handlebars? :devilish:
     
    Faust29 and Runs with Scissors like this.
  16. Oaken

    Oaken Well-Known Member

    Location:
    OC
    Name:
    CeeJay
    I like this one:
    (This Workshop is not to be attended by anyone from the Mountain Biking Community. It is a private Workshop, on private property.)

    I would critical mass the heck out of that event.
     
    Fueledbyex8, kioti, Faust29 and 3 others like this.
  17. Luis

    Luis iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Sylmar
    Name:
    Luis
    Current Bike:
    La Diabla
    Courtesy goes a long way in my experience. Even when encountering a couple of hikers in Palm Canyon on Wednesday. A little thank you for allowing us to intrude and pass by, and wishing them a fond adieu hopefully left a positive impression.
    Wearing a bell especially when descending is very much appreciated by the hiking folk I've encountered. Not one has complained that my bell drowned out the romantic sound of commercial airliners overhead or the distant sound of traffic on the highway. A bell with a shutoff feature is key if the constant ringing bothers you.
     
  18. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    I always wondered if folks hiked that ride. Were they down low or up in the wilds?
     
  19. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Anyone who has ridden with me while passing hikers knows I go out of my way to accommodate, to thank, to say something funny to make them laugh at me. I want them to know I'm human and a decent person and I wish them an amazing hike.
    Many see us like this:
    stormtrooper.jpg

    Although... I would MUCH rather see this!:
    female-stormtrooper.jpeg

    My mom taught me to kill people with kindness until they like you. I have to be honest. It works 99.9% of the time.
    And use a bell!

    That is all!
     
  20. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    Both, actually.

    Great posts, @Luis and @Mikie :thumbsup:
     
  21. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Another note of interest...
    To all you guys out there that support and assist with High School Mountain Bike Racing Teams. My Helmet is tipped in your direction. We are building an army of new mountain bikers who are respectful and competitive.
    EVERY group of young MTB'ers I have come across have been conditioned to say thank you, and good morning, and learning trail advocacy as part of their language.

    As well, if anyone has noticed. more and more car commercials have mountain biking as part of outdoor activities when buying new semi offroad vehicles. Like it or not, Mountain Biking is here to stay!
     
  22. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Verboten in California, but actively encouraged throughout the south. :thumbsup:
     
  23. AKAKTM

    AKAKTM Well-Known Member

    Location:
    SCV
    Name:
    Tony A
  24. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    In Texas, "he/she needed killin'" is a valid defense.:whistling:
     
  25. Kreature

    Kreature Newbie with Hope!

    Name:
    David Kries
  26. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
  27. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    Also means don't be a trail d!ck when you are wearing your club kit.

    Can't tell you how many times I remember run ins with the old Sho-Air riders on the trails. Don't be a prick when you are representing a team...makes it way to easy to track you down.
     
    SCPivot, herzalot, Mikie and 8 others like this.
  28. Cornholio

    Cornholio iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    B
    Current Bike:
    Huffy
    Their shop up in the Chapman/Jamboree Albertsons lot didn't last long, not surprised given what they charged me for a CO2. Turned into ridebiker or something like that which seems to be some massive club that Sho-Air absorbed into. I would never be in a big club like that so I don't know much more about all that stuff.

    What you describe is similar to the asshats who drive company trucks like aholes, I've called on a few over the years. The best is when it has the "how's my driving" sticker/phone number on back.
     
    SCPivot, Mikie, Faust29 and 6 others like this.
  29. kioti

    kioti iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Jim Jennings
    Current Bike:
    ibis ripley
    And predictably the comments have anti-roadie/anti-'cyclist in general' statements, which shows the kind of prejudice we're up against.

    If the story's true, IMO this biped has sociopathic tendencies and should be medicated or institutionalized. I think this is news because it's a rare occurrence.

    In all my year's of riding, the only anger I've really experienced was from immature drivers when I was a roadie (they threw things, yelled or tried to run me off the road), and a couple anarchistic mountain bikers during a Forest Closure-- who bunny hopped and landed on some our trail work crew's wheels while descending from Old Camp).

    Trail runner to mountain biker? In Orange County? As close as I've seen to that are the indifferent hikers in Peter's Canyon, or clueless walkers on lower Black Star.
     
  30. sir crashalot

    sir crashalot iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    laguna beach
    Name:
    gary fishman
    Current Bike:
    2018 banshee rune
    Last thurs wife and I went hiking at santa rosa plateau wilderness preserve. Saw a guy smoking on the trail while "hiking" with his 5 year old kid, and a 19-and-counting type family group collecting tadpoles at the vernal pools (most endangered habitat in the freaking world, and absolutely protected in the reserve) and a bunch of girls on the only rockyish trail wearing flip flops, high heels, ugg boots, etc.
    Yay "hikers"!
    To be fair that was only along the short stretch by the pools. the rest of our 6 mile loop was very peaceful. Getting a mile or two from the car is a wierdo filter.
    On a side note, on my short after work ride in aliso on monday I saw 3! ebikes (one of which I kept up with on cholla), guys riding without helmets, a goth chick sitting near the bottom of Lynx smoking, and saw a rider drop a gel wrapper.
    Everyone's nuts.
    So glad I ride mid week!
     
    SCPivot, blixet, herzalot and 11 others like this.


As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?