Trailhead00:
Your right in some respects, we all enjoy using the outoors in different ways, its what brings variety and spice to life; I myself enjoy fishing, kayaking,and the occasional trail ride through the Pines. We should however find out about locations before we use them. Most people do find out about a location before going there right? And the Batona is marked as being just a footpath in more than one area. I understand Mt. Bikers want a challenge outside of a flat open path, and outside the trail in Brenden Byrne I dont think they have a lot of options for this, but designated trails are that way for a reason. The two guys I saw were ripping up the undergrowth off trail as much as on, although my wording of swath of destruction was a little over the top though
. The fact of the matter is though this was last Fall, and when I was out there in Spring the damage they did still existed. I'm sure it was more fun and challenging for them to use the Batona in such a fashion, but it was indeed ripping up trail. They rutted it and beat up the undergrowth something fierce, making the future walkers path tougher and a little less sightly. I've worked on more then one A.T. trail crew to learn that biker repair is hard work. Horses are even worse, nothing like playing landmine hiking for miles on end, they chew up more trail and make for less happy hiking then the bikers do. I just really think that when each of us, with our own prospective interest, have the ability to follow the rules and use the areas designated for them we should do our best to follow them. If for no other reason then to respect others in the woods around us.
You are 100% right about the Pines ownership thing, I've battled it for years within myself, looking sideways at some that are obviously from out of the area. And what are they usually doing; not littering or causing habitat destruction, but having a simple good time. The older I've gotten though, and the farther away I've explored, I've come to see real peril in this line of thinking. While hiking the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee locals "fishhooked" the trail, trying to catch hikers and injure them. What did it get them? Less people? NO WAY, just hikers leaving the area with bad opinions about the locals. We often think more people will equal more problems, if not less isolation. I really believe however that if the State markets and protects areas the way they should be we will find an area cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for all.
Hope to see you on the trail....unless your on The Batona on a horse or bike then its gonna be
:jeffd: 
......jk
Your right in some respects, we all enjoy using the outoors in different ways, its what brings variety and spice to life; I myself enjoy fishing, kayaking,and the occasional trail ride through the Pines. We should however find out about locations before we use them. Most people do find out about a location before going there right? And the Batona is marked as being just a footpath in more than one area. I understand Mt. Bikers want a challenge outside of a flat open path, and outside the trail in Brenden Byrne I dont think they have a lot of options for this, but designated trails are that way for a reason. The two guys I saw were ripping up the undergrowth off trail as much as on, although my wording of swath of destruction was a little over the top though
. The fact of the matter is though this was last Fall, and when I was out there in Spring the damage they did still existed. I'm sure it was more fun and challenging for them to use the Batona in such a fashion, but it was indeed ripping up trail. They rutted it and beat up the undergrowth something fierce, making the future walkers path tougher and a little less sightly. I've worked on more then one A.T. trail crew to learn that biker repair is hard work. Horses are even worse, nothing like playing landmine hiking for miles on end, they chew up more trail and make for less happy hiking then the bikers do. I just really think that when each of us, with our own prospective interest, have the ability to follow the rules and use the areas designated for them we should do our best to follow them. If for no other reason then to respect others in the woods around us.You are 100% right about the Pines ownership thing, I've battled it for years within myself, looking sideways at some that are obviously from out of the area. And what are they usually doing; not littering or causing habitat destruction, but having a simple good time. The older I've gotten though, and the farther away I've explored, I've come to see real peril in this line of thinking. While hiking the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee locals "fishhooked" the trail, trying to catch hikers and injure them. What did it get them? Less people? NO WAY, just hikers leaving the area with bad opinions about the locals. We often think more people will equal more problems, if not less isolation. I really believe however that if the State markets and protects areas the way they should be we will find an area cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for all.
Hope to see you on the trail....unless your on The Batona on a horse or bike then its gonna be
:jeffd: ......jk