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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - - Passion -
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MROSD, Skeggs, and possible closures (5 posts)
|  MROSD, Skeggs, and possible closures | Darwin
Apr 22, 2002 4:53 PM | | Here's an email that a riding buddy of mine sent me. Please take care when you ride at Skeggs not to lock your tires, ride illegal trails, or scare hikers (who should know better than to hike in a mtb dominated park with not great hiking - but that's another story). This is the third run in I have heard of or experienced with MROSD this month alone!
"So saturday XXX and I went up for a little ride at Skeggs. Climbing up manzanita, looking at the big skid-divots before each switchback, I realized how torn up this trail has gotten since I first rode it freshman year.
Then on the way back to the parking lot, as I slowed down for a brave, anomalous pair of hikers, some arsehole blew past me, screaming "on your left" and skidding his rear wheel the whole way.
When I got back to my car, there was a little yellow slip of paper underneath my windshield wiper. At first I thought it was a parking ticket, but as I read it I realized that it was in fact a notice from MROSD, the agency that manages Skeggs. Here are a couple of quotes:
"The National Marine Fisheries Service, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California Department of Fish and Game have determined that sedimentation originating from the roads and trails at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve (ecdm) may be adversely affecting populations of steelhead trout, a federally threatened species which spawns in the lower reaches of El Corte de Madera Creek"
"The district recently initiated a project to assess the preserve's road and trail system to identify and prioritize sources of sedimentation. Based upon the findings from this assessment, the District will develop an implementation plan to reduce sedimentation through a variety of design, maintenance, and management measures. The goal of this plan will be to maintain the multiple use road and trail system, while ensuring the long-term integrity of the preserve's natural resources and protection of critical wildlife habitat."
While any attempt to shut down ECDM to mountain bikes would meet with significant resistance, the endangered species habitat argument is a powerful one, and in this case probably legitimate. Just because mountain bikers feel like they own skeggs doesn't mean that we should be complacent. The best thing we can do to prevent closure is of course to minimize our impact, which in this popular riding spot is quite substantial. We can do this by:
-Not riding when the trails are wet.
-Not skidding. We all know ECDM well enough that we should be able to ride smooth as well as fast.
-Exploring other areas to ride. Skeggs receives an incredible amount of traffic, while less-known trails in the area receive little.
To prevent closures, we should also be considerate to hikers when we see them. This applies all the time, of course; the hiker we almost run over at Arastradero may be the same one that shows up to testify against bikes at a hearing on ECDM.
We should also keep tabs on MidPen and this study they're doing, so we don't get caught by surprise. " |
| Thanks. | Finch Platte
Apr 22, 2002 6:36 PM | | Appreciate the heads-up.
fp |
| Thanks for the heads up. This is important, but... | Biking Viking
Apr 22, 2002 8:17 PM | | ..."who should know better than to hike in a mtb dominated park with not great hiking"
What hiking experience do you have with ECdM?
I have parked down at Star Hill Road and hiked El Corte de Madera, up Resolution, down Fir and Methusela with my kids. It's a great hike, and even on a Sunday in the summer, the park is big enough for everybody. When you hike your favorite riding trails, you see them in a whole new perspective. One thing you don't get to do when you ride a bike, is to look UP. With the redwoods and Doug firs towering above you, that really adds to the experience.
Have you ever stopped to take a look at the airplane parts scattered around from the 1953 crash on Resolution? If not, that's one of the things you're likely to miss when you bomb down fixated on a patch of trail 10 feet ahead of you.
We both agree, though, that we need to do whatever it takes to save this place as the great mountain biking park it is. Losing Skeggs would be a major blow to riding on the peninsula.
BV |
| Thanks for the heads up. This is important, but... | Darwin
Apr 22, 2002 9:11 PM | | My point in saying that ECDM isn't great for hiking is that there are much better places to hike in the skyline area - places that are more scenic, less crowded, and don't have riders bombing down at them. For instance, Purisima is right next door. It affords amazing views on clear days. Although it is open to bikes, it isn't nearly as dangerous to hike on due to less bike traffic. Other reserves in the area that have banned bikes are also better hikes.
My comments were more personal opinion than anything else. I'd be my own preference to hike at other places than Skeggs. As for hiking the trails I usually ride on, I used to do this on a regular basis where I lived previously by trail running. You're right, it really does open your eyes to things you don't normally see.
On another note, BV your new Id is seriously sweet! If I had the money for a new bike, I'd pick that same setup. |
| MROSD makes off-trail in ECdM a misdemeanor, even without a bike | Fletch
Apr 23, 2002 3:12 PM | | MROSD has passed an ordinance making all off-trail travel (yes even walking out 20 feet from a fireroad to piss behind a tree) in El Corte de Madera a criminal misdemeanor offence. That means if you get caught poaching any illegal trails now they can arrest you.
Big Brother is here, and he is ugly.
f- |
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