Dear HCN, Sorry, but this is one
of the most ridiculous debates I know of (HCN, 3/3/03: Get off and
walk — wilderness is for wildlife) (HCN, 3/3/03: Let bikers
in, and we’ll atand behind wilderness). Mountain bikers in the
wilderness? I am a llama packer. Our worst problem is people who
bring poorly behaved dogs on trails — dogs who do not know
how to behave around others, particularly stock. There are lots of
horror stories and we deal with that problem all the time. The very
next-worst problem on trail is mountain bikers — not
motorcyclists. So many of them feel the trails are something to be
conquered.
Though we have met many slow and courteous
bikers, we have also had some hairy experiences with riders who
come around corners quickly and scare loaded pack animals. It is
such a problem that we usually stick to wilderness areas where we
can enjoy the sights without that fear. Let them into wilderness?
Never.
Noel McRae
Kelso,
Washington
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Leave wilderness to llamas.
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