Re[4]: [at-l] Snow-Fitness

[daveh@xxxxxxxxxx (Dave Hicks)]

To be sure, "pointless" comes to a hiker's mind when the trail goes
up-down-up-down... on a very artificial path when it could just as easily
have been built more to the individual hiker's idea of what would have been
"good."

On the one hand, I too have know of places where the trail was routed (or
more often re-routed) off the contour for no good reason, which I can
fathom.

OTOH, I have been involved in the process of getting approval for trail a
re-route.  In fact I am in such a process right now and already see the
forces lining up to ensure that it will not end up as I wish.  It will be an
improvement, but not what in my opinion it should be.

Most hikers have no idea the approval process involved in routing the trail.
I have had the route dictated by endangered or threatened species (and in
some cases "good" game management), potential archeological sites, current,
or potential, viewshed issues, drainage/soil type issues, excessive
potential shortcutting issues, avoiding (or encouraging) access and loop
trails based on amount of congestion, etc, etc, etc.

There are always lots of folk involved in the approval process -- the ATC,
the local Maintaining Club, one or more government partners, and other
public land use organizations/interest (such as horse people, bikers, ATVs,
hunters, fishermen, etc.) and the local land owners.

I have yet to have a segment built the way I would have built it, were I
free to make the call.

Chainsaw

PS -- Anyone interested in the process should check out _Appalachian Trail,
Design, Construction, and Maintenance_  ISBN 0-917953-72-x
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Copeland" <charles@uswnet.com>
To: <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: Re[4]: [at-l] Snow-Fitness
>>

I think that people start throwing around "pointless" when the trail goes
up-down-up-down... on a very artifical path when it could just as easily
have been built to follow a contour.  I've never thought of it as a serious
complaint though - just somebody poking fun at the trail.
<<
SNIP