The Sun Is Out!!!
I don’t know about you, but I was beginning to think spring would never get here, and the sad part is, it’s almost summer… based solely on the calendar, not the recent weather. For everyone, myself included, riding into the back country has been nearly an impossible task. Snow depths are unreal, high water and combined with our almost daily summer snow fall this week of nearly 22” in the high country, it may still be awhile before crossing those high mountain passes. Until the snow melts I’ll have to ride the front country trails. Now, there is nothing wrong with low lying front country trails, in fact they are closer to home and I burn way less diesel and daylight getting there. They are great for an after work ride. The obstacle one must overcome is there are more trail users on these trails. Along with more folks on the trails there is also more types of user groups on those trails: equestrian, foot, mechanized and motorized. We all want to get out and enjoy a day in the long awaited sun in which ever way makes us the happiest. Thus this brings up trail etiquette.
Trail etiquette is the fancy way of saying we have to all get along. If multiple users and multiple user groups are going to share the trail, the number one concern should be safety; not who truly has the right of way. Yes, there are rules governing right of ways on the trail…but don’t worry about that, always think safety. Foot traffic yields to horse traffic, empty stock yields to loaded stock, downhill yields to uphill, and the poor motorized folks yield to everyone.
Communication is the key in all of this. If you are out hiking, and see horses coming, step off the trail on the down hill side of the trail. In doing this, if the horses spook they will go uphill, which is way better than down hill! Also, talk to the riders and pack stock when they are passing by; horses may not recognize you as a human with that back pack on, but they will recognize human voice. If I’m riding my horse down the trail and a biker comes rolling up behind me there is no reason for him to idle along at 3.5 miles an hour. I’ll be happy to find a wide spot and pull over allowing the bike to pass. A bike should never just pass a horse and rider with out an ok to do so. Once contact has been made, that bike should back way off. I pull a pack string. Each horse is eight feet long plus 2 feet of lead rope between each animal so lets call it 10’ per animal. If I’m pulling 10 head plus my saddle horse I’m 110’ long! I have no clue what is happening back around the corner. If you are the biker, hang on, I’ll see you in the next straight away and pull off so you can pass. Motorized? Sorry, you just need to shut it down and let the stock traffic pass.
I was out riding the other day at Herron Park west of Kalispell and a young gal came jogging by pushing a bright pink baby stroller with a big bubble type lid. I tried to get out of her way. She never slowed down, never missed a beat, never said a word. My stock were a little wide eyed (don’t see to many pink strollers in the Bob Marshall Wilderness). I guess she thought I had it under control. Don’t guess on safety, communicate with each other and make it a safe day on the trail for everyone.
Happy Trails,
