[at-l] Enhancing the AT Blaze

[ellen at clinic.net (Bob C.)]

>"...They ain't that hard to figure out for anyone who has two brain cells to
>rub together."

Those of us who have worked on trails and who are regular hikers have figured
out the off set code, to be sure.

 But for the person who sees one for the first time, it is not always intuitive
that it's the top offset, not the bottom that signifies the new direction. The
ATC vote to allow offset blazes passed by a very narrow margin for this reason
-- and because some of us are stick in the mud traditionalists. FWIW. The ATC
"rule" requires maintaining clubs to choose one blaze method or the other, to
minimize hiker confusion.

Also. Those of us who seek to keep the trail as wild as possible tend to prefer
the simple, one atop the other blaze. The simpler the blazing is, the better it
blends into the background. Finally. As Rick pointed out, there is nothing wrong
with forcing hikers from time to time to pause and think about the trail and the
trail environs.

Weary