Mountain Biking - ERTC and Snowshoe Thumb Noses at WV Mountain Bikers

It's a sad day when we need every mountain biker, mountain bike organization and mountain bike oriented business to help keep our trails. Well, it seems Elk River Touring Center (who promotes mountain biking) and Snowshoe Mountain, both near Slatyfork WV are in favor of allowing the WV Wilderness Coalition and others force us off many of our mountain bike trails. I really feel raped by ERTC because I have always suggested that anyone going to Slatyfork stop by, get a map, say hello and even recommended staying there.

The only thing I can suggest now is that when you are ridding in the Slatyfork area, please don't suport these businesses. Also, please go to the West Virginia Mountain Bike Association website, and on the home page find the link and sign the pettition to keep our trails.

Here is the testimony of Gil Willis, owner of ERTC. http://wvmba.freeforums.org/elk-river-touring-t59.html

I am extremely disappointed in Gil Willis. :mad:

ODN

I don't get it. You can't ride them anymore?

I too am having a tough time figuring out the details, especially snowshoe's role in all this.

I don't get it. You can't ride them anymore?


No mountain bikes (mechanized devises), are allowed in area's established as "Wilderness" areas such as Otter Creek Wilderness, Cranberry Wilderness, Dolly Sods Wilderness. They are pushing to establish thousands more acres of Wilderness in WV, although not right around Snowshoe or ERTC, yet these establishments (supposedly mountain bike oriented) chose to support the effort to push mountain bikers off of the trails noted in the bill.

I can see why Snowshoe doesn't really care if everything around them is wilderness. They could only hope that so more people would pay to ride thier trails. However I can think of some reasons why none of these proposed wilderness areas are around them $$$$ ?

Of course you can still ride in the Slatyfork area or Snowshoe as far as that is concerned, that is not on the proposal, however why would you want to support a business that helps to take away other trails from mountain bikers and your family and also eliminate events that have been held for years. Check out the other links on wvmba.com for the details. IMBA and WVMBA have been attempting to work out a better plan "National Scenic Area" or another classification that would allow mountain bikes to keep riding trails in those proposed areas.


ODN

If interested this may exlain it better - Long explaination

http://wvmba.freeforums.org/monongahela-wilderness-update-2-19-2008-t51.html


ODN

it's the same stuff I posted with that ridiculously L O N G post from the WVMBA forum. ( http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=389656 ) Seems that since the propsed wilderness doesn't effect ERTC's or Snowshoe's backyard, they're throwing thier hats in with Congressman Nic (blow off the mountain top) Rahall.... there are probably some earmarks sliding thier way over the beltway toward Pocohontas County right now!

What if these proposals included the Greenbrier River trails? You can bet these same folks would be fighting it tooth & nail!.

This is VERY disappointing, and you folks that free ride ought to let Snowshoe know that you won't be going to visit them! (www.snowshoemtn.com)

WV crew regretfully signing in....

as someone who actually participates in trail maintenance this really annoys the hell out of me.. mountain bikers aren't the problem. the majority of us also want to preserve the beauty of these spaces...I can't imagine anyone that wouldn't...

why don't they focus on the real problems (yahoos on ATVs)

Who defined mountain bikes as mechanized devices? Has this classification been legally challenged? Are mountain bikes specifically mentioned in legislation?

the definition of mechanized vehicle is in the law - somewhere - we at WVMBA had that conversation a few years ago when all these proposals initially appeared. According to what I remember, tho, mechanized inclused ANYTHING with wheels - so trial mainentance work cannot be done with simple tools like a wheelbarrow... workers must use hand tools - no chainsaws. There is an exception to the law on specified trails to allow wheel chairs. In wilderness areas where hunting is allowed, hunters must carry thier kill, or use horses.

link to petition please. direct link will encourage signing.

(...and people wonder why there are so many WV jokes. -former NoVa resident)

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/689073280 to sign petition... to read about it, www.wvmba.com (http://www.wvmba.com), go to forums

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/689073280 to sign petition... to read about it, www.wvmba.com (http://www.wvmba.com), go to forums

Signed.

Signed also,
This is crap, Bikers don't hurt anything, Thats like us telling these desk jockeys who do nothing that they cant use office chairs anymore,

Signed also,
This is crap, Bikers don't hurt anything, Thats like us telling these desk jockeys who do nothing that they cant use office chairs anymore,

You signed your name as Cheeto?

You signed your name as Cheeto?

no, that was me.

:rolleyes:

no, that was me.

:rolleyes:

I was asking why he wouldn't use his real name.

Unless that is his real name.

It might not be too late for Seneca Creek / Huckleberry Trail / Spruce Knob. Get on the phones, send those emails. This area wasn't in the original wilderness plan but has been slipped in there with the help of our Governor. So keep calling and emailing.

They keep going, the only place we'll be legal to ride is in ERTC's backyard. I've never even considered riding in Otter Creek, Cranberry or Dolly Sods Wilderness, however with all this going on I might as well start putting aside the money for fines and or bail :mad:

ODN

Have you personally contacted your local congess people? Call and call and call until you can speak with some one. Emails are not the most effective.

What is the local newspaper coverage like? Have you written any letters to them?

Have you personally contacted your local congess people? Call and call and call until you can speak with some one. Emails are not the most effective.

What is the local newspaper coverage like? Have you written any letters to them?


Yep, I sure have. I just hope all riders, whether they've ridden there or not, should make those calls. What if it's in your backyard next time. I'm clear over on the other side of the state but hold "The Mountain Counties" in high regard and mountain bike there usually weekly from April through Sept.

There has been some good coverage up there in the news papers. Problem is, it's not the locals that want this thing. It all seems to be people not even from the area making the push and many of the people they get to support them don't even realize what they are supporting. Like you said, just keep calling and emailing and faxing letters.

ODN

check out this link....... ERTC actually DOES have a header ad on the thread! http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=376543

If you can't bike it, burn it.

If you can't bike it, burn it.

We just burned half the world.

We just burned half the world.

That's a good start