spanky

[bluerail]

I spent a bit of time sat trying to cover this section, that area just seems to have proven not to be able to support the amount of heavy use its been getting, soft and loose and relatively steep , it is quickly coming apart

Maybe we can all do our part to stop the abuse on that section of the red hill.

****.
I want to make it clear...I am not doing this as a "bitchfest" with any hiking club ....honestly, the more people I see hiking the happier I am, I am trying to correct a big mistake I made in terms of trail conservancy...this is just a bad issue and not directed at any person.....it is obvious what is happening if you stop and look at that area....please folks, just that one area.....I made the mistake, please help me correct it.

[DancesWithTheMountains]

God and the whole eco system of the trail, blesses you! I'm glad that
we are all taking responsibility for the demise of this most beloved trail.
Its one thing to have a few of us use these short cuts, but when groups
of 10 or more get on these trails it just ruins everything. I strongly advise
all of us to try and take our large or small groups on the regular trail
and stay away from the short cuts. We owe it to skyline and the many other
hikers still yet to come. In the 10 years of hiking this trail, I have never
seen so much unnecessary damage done to this trail. Every time I am on
skyline, I see more and more hikers confused as to where the trail is.
Its not necessary to have 2-3 different short cuts in the same area. This
is what is damaging this trail so much.
Lets become the "keepers" of the skyline trail and not the "destroyers".
Happy trails to all and God bless you all
Doreen

[bluerail]

I'm no angel here.... I'm as bad as they come about shortcuts...but that area just can't handle it. With this amount of traffic on that cut it will be a disaster...two years ago fern and I spent hours rebuilding a section right there that people walk over daily...it had completely washed out..

I think some areas can handle traffic....this one can't

[drndr]

Where exactly (or even approximately) are you talking about?

[bluerail]

The red hill .appoximately 4700-4800,

Btw.....this post is directed. Towards large group leaders that will know exactly what im referring.. to.

If you have the energy at that point....stretch your muscles out and run the trail right there...it will do you and the hill the best at that point.

[guest]

Thanks for the post Steve, and the comment Doreen, I totally agree.

I've mentioned to many people I see on shortcuts that their just making the climb harder & longer by taking most of these, but their ego, or whatever, must tell them their being studly to take these routes, and in so doing, causing much erosion. (I know several people, including myself, who have clocked a 4 - 4:20 or quicker to the notch by using the "main route", so the term "short-cut" on this climb is a misnomer).

Yes, I'm also guilty, (and accept a bit of the blame) but I have to say, when a few of us began these several years ago, they were vague, and fairly benign. We did our best to leave the main trail where it wasn't to obvious. Experienced hikers, and those in good condition, can tread lightly if they care too. Even Steve & Fern couldn't see some of mine until they hiked with me, and vise-verse. Then the groups & leaders came along, as well as those that only cared about how quick they could summit, even cutting 3 ft. off stupid little areas, trampling bushes so they didn't have to actually turn 15 degrees to allow the plant to grow.

Average hikers struggle on these steeper sections (I've passed dozens), slipping, stopping, losing the trail & making even more trails, removing rocks & brush to make it easier, (then why even take them, eh?!).
I've put branches & rocks in front of some of these, but every week, people remove them! Then, those that would want to use the "main" trail and keep a good pace with a more moderate gradient, don't know where the old trail is.
Sad thing is, I continually pass many of these folks who have spent their energy on these cuts and reach Flat Rock, manzanita or the trees, and now their toast, when they may have had a much more enjoyable, (and even quicker) trip up the mt.

I'm sure they'll be plenty who disagree, say it too late, live with the "new trail" cause that's the way it's going to be. That's fine, but a few of us who have hiked it well over 20 years still care, and hope others do too, and just maybe we can make a difference.

ss

[bluerail]

I've done a 3:10 without that cut....you can make better time moving quickly around the point ...I. trully am sorry for having people I know accused of being bitches, because they care...

Never meant for this to get personal, just wanted to appeal to everyone that cares.

[cynthia23]

I'm not sure I know the back story here (who got called bitches, by who? I hope it was me ) (And what is 'spanky? Enquiring minds want to know?) but I'm sure no one will be shocked to hear that I too am horrified by the ever-increasing shortcuts and I'm really pissed by the group leader a few weeks ago who was proudly showing everyone in his huge group each and every stupid shortcut. Sir, UR A MORON.

It's not that the original trail is perfect--there are a few shortcuts that actually make sense--but by and large it is well designed for the purpose of preventing erosion. This is what the shortcutters don't get--the twisting switchbacks are not there for the purpose of annoying hikers, but engineered to keep the mountain from falling down. Shortcutters are like people who keep knocking down structural walls in their house so they can get to the other rooms faster. One day the whole thing starts to come down. Especially given this severe drought and the resulting lack of vegetation, the erosion is becoming really severe in some areas.

Sometimes I imagine a scenario where all interested parties--like, everyone on this board-- take a large, slow, group hike up the mountain and discuss each and every shortcut until we could come to some kind of consensus on which should become the 'real' trail and which should be covered over--and then we all take two vows.

Vow #1 To never ever take any of the bad shortcuts, ever again. It just doesn't work if some people, even a few people, keep taking them. The vegetation is too frail here to regrow. All the bad shortcuts should be covered over with rocks.
Vow #2 To never ever tell anyone else our time on the trail. PRs should be kept secret. IMHO it is the 'time-telling' which has led to the pointless evil of the shortcutting--no one wants to look slow, so everyone is driven to try and 'improve' (even though it's fake and delusional and nonsensical) by taking the shortcuts.

If none of this works, I suggest embedding mines in a few of the shortcuts. It would only take one or two explosions to get the message across.

[Hikin_Jim]

If none of this works, I suggest embedding mines in a few of the shortcuts. It would only take one or two explosions to get the message across.

Um, can you wait until after Saturday? Not that I want to take a short cut, but us Skyline newbs haven't got a clue which is trail and which is short cut.

Maybe I can tie some weights to Scott2, Steve, or Fern (so they'll travel below the speed of sound) so they can show me the real route. I figure if they carry my daughter and my pack, I might have a fighting of keeping up.

HJ

[HH8]

what is 'spanky? Enquiring minds want to know

Isn't that a port-a-potty company? [snicker]

we could come to some kind of consensus

How about a straight cement staircase for those incapable of understanding the purpose of switchbacks?