Mountain Project Logo

Use Trails Please

Andy Hansen · · Longmont, CO · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 3,130
Andre Dupas wrote:Best thing about the desert is there is more sand under the sand.
The desert is not just a wasteland of sand. It's a fragile ecosystem and those of us who live in the desert wish to preserve it. Saying something like this is ignorant.

I understand that living in the Canadian Rockies you might be spoiled with vast amounts of untouched wilderness for you to get "off the beaten path." But, as others have said, this particular area of the desert and it's beauty is, in fact, a finite resource.

What I had intended to do with this post was to just remind folks who are using the First, Second and Sandstone Quarry pullouts that there are trails designated in certain areas because those areas are so heavily trafficked. This heavy traffic can have massively devastating effects on said fragile desert environment and frankly all the braided trails are an eyesore to many.

There is plenty of wilderness space to explore out here and those who wish to fulfill their sense of adventure can do so and should do so responsibly. And Andre, you should most certainly have sexual relations with your wife on the trail at the First and Second pullouts. I hope you're not camera shy.
Marc H · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 265

I'm going to go out on a short limb here and agree with Andre. While the desert resources are finite, they are also quite vast. It's difficult, but not impossible, to get climbers to adhere to certain trails and avoid others; it's almost impossible to get all of the visitors (climbers, hikers, tourists, etc) to do that.

In order for that to work, you would basically have to rope off areas that you don't want people in. While that may be mostly effective, it looks like shit.

I applaud those that are trying to educate others to stay on the correct trails. But to be honest, when it comes to areas like the first couple pullouts in Red Rock, people are going to go where they want to go. To some extent, I think we should be happy that the vast majority of visitors to RR stay within a couple hundred feet of the road. That means the areas close to the road are going to get trampled something fierce, but the areas far from the road are going to be conserved a lot better.

As some have pointed out, if you want to go to an area that doesn't have miles of social trails and tons of whuffos, take a walk. A longer walk. It sucks that so many visitors trample the areas close to the road, but I think it's good that people are outside having fun and not sitting at the blackjack tables for endless hours (but that's another discussion unto itself).

I think the point that Americans are starting to lose their sense of adventure is a very valid one. Even if that means walking a couple hundred feet from your vehicle and scrambling around on a 30 degree pile of choss; to some people that's the most epic thing they've done all year. While that may be a sad statement to a lot of people (myself included), I think it's pretty accurate.

Social trails are inevitable in areas like RR close to the road. I think it's quite admirable that some value their natural resources to the extent that they don't like to see them trampled unnecessarily; I also think it's a lost cause. I think peoples' efforts might be better spent on projects other than trying to keep other people on the exact trail that someone else decided they're supposed to be on. Especially when there's shit tons of concrete and asphalt just feet away.

Just my $0.02

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425

IMO there are two confilicting ideals here; preserving a sense of adventure and preserving our resources. Why can't there be both? A big concern is obviously a lack of "eco-sense" not necessarily based on stupidity (can be), but also a lack of awareness. Hence placing certain restrictions, to protect our environment from ourselves.

Quite honestly if we allowed it, most ordinary citizens would climb, walk, rub, steal and wear down our natural resources till they were gone. Not always intentionally, but with the mindset "there is more" or "it's just a short cut". If everyone acted responsibly, there wouldn't be a need for restrictions. Let's face the truth though...

I'm ALL for the Everett Ruess mentallity, but until we can get everyone aboard to protect our resources it looks like we'll have to police ourselves...or be policed.

Jeff Chrisler · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 145

It's pretty easy to stay on the trails that are close to these pullouts. It's also easy to police this sort of thing. Put up a few signs stating a fine, and put an occasional ranger out there to start writing them.

What sense of adventure does one get when using a short cut social trail about 20 yards from the pavement? I don't get any. It's when I can't see the pavement and hear the noise that there's an adventure. That's also when it doesn't matter if you stay on a trail as much because that's when there are far fewer people. Stay on the damn trail when you're close to the tourists... go off when you're not. Simple.

Eric-D · · Las Vegas, nv · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 300

The area below the second pullout looked like a skating rink this past weekend with people wandering all over the place.

I noticed some new cattle fencing had been recently installed that looks like it will help. I would volunteer my time and efforts into helping to install more of the fencing at the trails that won't die. The barricades at the parking area really need to be extended to try and force people to use the main approach.

Tzilla Rapdrilla · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 955
Mike McHugh wrote: If you wanna see a rocky mountain public lands employee flinch, say "prebles jumping mouse".

I hear ya on that one. In a past career I was a federal land manager where we just happened to be the first who discovered the supposed species. TAt our first meeting the Fish and Wildlife Service didn't want to be distracted from their fascination over the "rarest mammal in North America", when I inquired during the meeting about the exact nature of science that led to the logging of the "species" in question. After noting that the only science were 4 skulls found by a New Mexico researcher that seemed to have different dimensions than other jumping mice, they went back to how cool it was that they found such a rare species, and the rest is history.
-sp · · East-Coast · Joined May 2007 · Points: 75
Andy Hansen wrote:After last month's efforts by the local climbing community to rebuild the trails in the pullouts, the trails have already seen significant signs of deterioration. Those skinny, brown trail markers that clearly have the word TRAIL crossed out of them mean something. This time of year will see a lot of visiting climbers in the Red Rock so please help out and stay on the designated trails...
Here are a few observations after just coming back from 10-days at Red Rock:
- For every 1 climber I saw there were at least 5-10 hikers. Most everyone was on a trail with the exception of kids who were (as expected) pretty much oblivious to the concept that that staying on a trail was a good idea (environmentally speaking).
- I don't remember seeing a single sign with the word "TRAIL" crossed out.
- I also don’t remember seeing any visible guidelines that recommended staying on marked trails.
- I did however, see multiple cairns all over the place. Often several were in view at a time indicating different directions. Curiously, more than a few were placed in the dead-center of a clear fork in a trail.
- And finally, I consider myself a guest when I visit and I make a very conscious effort to follow established trails, yet I found it nearly impossible to retrace my approach route upon exit. This was especially true when coming back from Juniper Canyon to the Pine parking lot and from First Creek as you exit the canyon.
I would like to be part of the solution, rather than the problem, so what would you recommend?
Darren S · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 3,388
Jeff Chrisler wrote:It's pretty easy to stay on the trails that are close to these pullouts. It's also easy to police this sort of thing. Put up a few signs stating a fine, and put an occasional ranger out there to start writing them. What sense of adventure does one get when using a short cut social trail about 20 yards from the pavement? I don't get any.
In answer to your first part, I would imagine that most pullout visitors are not repeat customers, so the idea of the occasional ranger will only impact those there on that day. Tourist there the very next day may have no idea there was enforcement at any time.

The second part about thrill of cutting a trail....look at the people who we are talking about...average tourists.

I feel like when we only hang out with other climbers, we forget how inept the average person really is.
Michelle Locatelli · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 265

Unless you're a little kid I'm not sure how much adventure you can find 100 feet out from the outhouse. I've been hiking remote and trail-less areas most of my life and yes, I do love the freedom of that kind of adventure. I just have a hard time with the guy that's gonna' save two steps with the shortcutting. The two hillsides in question are becoming denuded of the vegetation that holds them together, and looking more and more like gravel pits. My father is a concrete contractor in Santa Cruz, specializing in seacliff and redwood forest erosion projects, so maybe I'm just more sensitive to something that can so easily be repaired.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
Post a Reply to "Use Trails Please"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.