"shortcuts" on Skyline

[bluerail]

YES !!! SNOW !!!

[cynthia23]

I agree with Zippety that online testiness does not translate to real wolrd enmity: I feel I could trust anyone in these forums with, pretty much literally, my life. I still remember how everyone rushed to volunteer to search for Ellen when she went missing--that was truly heartwarming. And I don't doubt that everyone in this forum does far more for the environment than the average Joe at the mall. That's the good news. The bad news is, it's still unacceptable, Ze, to say to me, "you're losing your mind" simply because I disagree with you. That's crossing the line. And I never said anyone was purposely ruining the mountain!!! I mean, WTF?? Nor did I accuse any person of "immorality." I said, and I still say, that it's immoral to damage the mountainside for the purpose of competition.(although, as the OP pointed out, even that doesn't make any real sense, as shortcutting is not actually improving your time.) Many people know (I've never hidden my opinion!) that I think the whole emphasis on PR, time and competition is too aggressive, has gotten way out of hand, and is causing all kinds of problems, from rescues to erosion. That's my opinion. It doesn't merit a personal insult, and you were out of line.

[halhiker]

I do not murder ducks. I gently return the rocks to their more natural state, the way God intended.

Tone is difficult to set online; I've been accused of extreme rudeness when I was joking. I've learned not to take anything said online personally. I figure if people were really rude they'd be at a Tea Party event and not on this board.

[AlanK]

If people were really rude, our esteemed moderator would boot them. It's happened, but one really has to push! This thread seems pretty tame, although it would do no harm for it to get ratcheted back even more.

[Dave G]

It’s the dang internets that are at the root of the problem, I tell ya!

Seriously though, the Web and GPS have made many routes accessible which had been previously unknown and/or too remote for many hikers. A couple of examples that come to mind (besides Skyline) are Register Ridge on Baldy and the Mountaineer’s Route on Whitney—both trace trails just a few years ago; now major thoroughfares. It’s simple—you put more boots on the ground and there’s going to be more boot prints. And if there is no established, maintained trail then there will be multiple paths, hopefully with one or two eventually prevailing (as Zip stated). You can try educating people about erosion and wilderness ethics and “morality”, but if your aim is to have the area return to how it was in some earlier time, then regulating usage and/or constructing a “real” trail (and I’m not advocating either) is likely the only solution in the long term.

As far as blaming the shortcuts and switchback cutting on those trying to improve their PR, I wonder if that’s the case. I mean, can you really go faster slipping and sliding on all fours uphill than you can by jogging up a properly built trail with switchbacks? You’d save time going downhill for sure, but there is a point of diminishing returns when climbing.

I’m not sure where the real trail is either (I just go the way Cy showed me ), but I think that we can all agree that Tina’s Christmas tree needs and deserves our love.

[zippetydude]

I do not murder ducks. I gently return the rocks to their more natural state, the way God intended.

You're a Godly man, hal. I can't say I'm totally convinced - would you plea out to "duckslaughter"?

z

[AlanK]

I’m not sure where the real trail is either (I just go the way Cy showed me ), but I think that we can all agree that Tina’s Christmas tree needs and deserves our love.

If Cy showed it to you, it's the real damned trail.

No argument about Tina's tree, of course!

[Zé]

off trail hikers are under attack. people who sometimes like to go fast are under attack. Generalizations about both are creating a vitriolic environment that may lead to discrimination and hate crimes.

therefore I am creating a new organization. Brotherhood Of Cross Country Explorers (BOCCE). The tenants of BOCCE

1) Thou shall not cut switchbacks
2) Aside that, thou shall take the straightest, most direct line between two points
3) Thou shall enjoy brush, rocks, and picking up mylar balloons
4) Thou shall attempt to bowl rocks as close to a tree as feasible at least once per trip. Loser must carry mylar balloon and other litter
5) Thou shall stand up for each against generic, slanderous accusations that our actions are immoral and ruin the environment

BOCCE will not give an apology to those that make harmful claims by stating they they are losing it. Instead, BOCCE demands an apology to thy person making discriminatory remarks implying BOCCE's negligence and claim BOCCE acts "immorally".

BOCCE also suggests the following for an undesired landscape

1) Put up trail signs
2) Reduce usage

While BOCCE only has 1 member, others that would seemingly fit as members have been known to contribute to maintenance of the "trail".

BOCCE also believes in some form of a regulated free market for trail design. If a current trail is found inefficient by many, naturally forming bypasses are totally acceptable, and may eventually take over the old trail, using trail signs to indicate best route, older paths will go back to a natural setting.

[zippetydude]

That word is already in use, and comes from a game designed to make people wander around all over the place. We don't want that. You might consider this:

Zébra = Zealots excepted but realists accepted

That way you can cleverly include your own name while forming an acronym that will confuse most but still still annoy Cynthia! (Sorry Cynthia, couldn't help myself!) Also, I have an affinity for words that start with z.

z

So hal, you ready to make that plea deal?

[SDathlete]

Lets not forget there are roughly 18 MILLION people within a 100 mile radius of this mountain...it's gonna get some use!