Multi-Use Trails

There is a place for all recreationalists and I believe Missouri has a need for multi-use trail. When I moved back here I had a big problem with the multi-use trail systems. I wanted everything to be Appalachian Trail purist foot traffic only. I never wanted to see a biker or a pile of manure. I still never want to see an ORV.

In the Midwest, there are not enough hikers and there is not that much demand for a hiker only kind of trail. I also don't think there is the kind of protection effort there is in the East. I could be wrong in this but these are my opinions. Missouri doesn't have the dense human populations like the East coast. Our wilderness areas are remote. When you hike, multi-use trail or not, you will very likely be the only person on the trail. If it is solitude you want, our trails offer it. So shouldn't there be plenty of room for different trail uses?

In a way sharing use of our trails help increase their maintenance. To employ larger groups of voluntarism, biker clubs, equestrian groups, and hiking organizations are all maintainers. For those areas that need additional protection, we have a few foot traffic only zones. I suppose if there are foot-only purists, the Midwest can offer that too.

As I mentioned before, when I moved back here I had difficulty adjusting to multi-use trails. I have not converted totally. I have had encounters with speeding cycles. I still hate meeting a pile of manure in the middle of the trail. The summer time humidity is enough to deal with without having to be choked by the equestrian stench. The mud holes a horse makes are many times impassable without getting mud up to your knees. I'm not a biker but when those mud holes dry, they are hard enough to walk over--I can only guess the beating they would be on a bike. Out of the three, hiking, biking and horses, I would do away with the equestrian use. They are by far the most damaging.

ORV use is not allowed in many public areas. Of course all of the federally designated wilderness areas ban motorized vehicles. However, they are still a huge issue. As remote as some of the areas are around the Midwest and without adequate policing it is very difficult to stop illegal access. It is incredible the amount of destruction that ATVs can cause in a very short period of time. This an interesting time here in Missouri. As discussed here before, the Mark Twain National Forest just released their new plan for the next 15-20 years and it is currently open for public comment. The Ozark Trail Association has their own reaction to the plan. John Roth is fundamental behind these opinions and has recently opened a blog on the topic with ORV abuse as his first comment. It's an eye opening and sad read.

ORV abuse is a problem all over. During my time as an AT overseer, I had a continual struggle to keep illegal side trails closed along my Maryland stretch. I have no doubt they are wide open today, it only took them a few weeks to clear them every time I made an effort to shut them down. Walking this same area with a trail maintenance crew an ATVer was driving down the middle of the AT. Even federally protected trails have a problem.