View Full Version : Bikes on the AT!
Has anyone ever encountered people trying to ride there bike on the AT?
sethd513
02-24-2018, 16:51
I mtb in New England. You won’t see me on the at biking anywhere. The closest I might get is greylock in mass. Couple trails there mapped for mtb.
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Lone Wolf
02-24-2018, 17:45
10s of thousands a year ride on the AT for a half mile on the Creeper trail
devoidapop
02-24-2018, 17:51
Not the AT, but on the Black Mountain Crest Trail there are signs that say no mountain bikes. If you hauled a bike 3,000' up to that ridgeline, Godspeed, good luck, and GoPro
AllDownhillFromHere
02-24-2018, 17:55
Once while a caretaker in Maine I had to throw a "muni" (mountain unicycle, yes, thats a thing) rider off the AT.
Slo-go'en
02-24-2018, 17:59
I've seen bike tracks on the AT in places close to town, usually collage towns. Some ass drove a dirt bike up the AT to the Mt Algo shelter out side of Kent, CT.
Seen a few horses on the AT. There's a shelter in VA close to some horse trails and they ride over to the shelter and leave beer cans and junk food wrappers. Had three guys ride up to the Chestnut Knob shelter one evening. Then one of the horses stepped on the riders hand and cut open his thumb. Had to break out the band aids and new skin to patch him up. At least he gave me his last beer.
Lots of ATV tracks where the AT passes by a neighborhood in NY. Used to see a lot of ATV tore up trail in NC back in the late 80's when the land disputes were going on.
Not the AT, but on the Black Mountain Crest Trail there are signs that say no mountain bikes. If you hauled a bike 3,000' up to that ridgeline, Godspeed, good luck, and GoPro
They drive up to the ridgeline, unload their bikes on the sly ILLEGALLY and yahoo down illegally. You're from NC. Think about it, how they do it.
Yes, I've seen it several times in GA (near Blood Mt. told them it was illegal, they alresdy knewbtjst thouhjve some BS story about VA, VT, once in NJ, in Shenandoah NP (Ranger gave them a citation, they were stoned acting as they didnt know the rules, not my usual style but could have told the Ranger to search them for illegal drugs)
Yes, I've seen it several times in GA (near Blood Mt. told them it was illegal, they alresdy knewbtjst thouhjve some BS story about VA, VT, once in NJ, in Shenandoah NP (Ranger gave them a citation, they were stoned acting as they didnt know the rules, not my usual style but could have told the Ranger to search them for illegal drugs)
CrumbSnatcher
02-24-2018, 19:14
just north of Hanover NH. seen a guy carrying his bike over a rocky section :)
seen more horses than bikes in places they didn't belong, very destructive to the trail itself.
Roan Highlands, Grayson Highlands twice chasing the protected ponies...
Mostly young snide yahoo males who damn well knew what they were doing was illegal. Enforcement is sorely lacking. They know they are not likely to be caught or if they are they get off with a warning and told to immediately leave. Saw LEO's twice tell them they had to walk their bikes out when they attempted to ride away from the officer. They didn't like that. When the officer wasn't looking or they thought he didn't see them they jumped back on their bikes
Total arse holes. This kind of behavior is what gives other legal MBers and the sport a bad rap.
devoidapop
02-24-2018, 20:05
Not the AT, but on the Black Mountain Crest Trail there are signs that say no mountain bikes. If you hauled a bike 3,000' up to that ridgeline, Godspeed, good luck, and GoPro
They drive up to the ridgeline, unload their bikes on the sly ILLEGALLY and yahoo down illegally. You're from NC. Think about it, how they do it.
I'm sure the sign has to be there for a reason, but any route down from that ridgeline would be suicide on a bike. I'm sure there are wannabe Redbullers who would try it.
FrogLevel
02-24-2018, 21:46
I've crossed the AT many times on my bike in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. I tried to ride down to Dennis Cove once from the back side of a forest service road near Roan Mountain but it was just too much of a pain. Switchbacks, steps, too steep. I ended up taking another forest service road the long way.
I can't imagine it being possible on any long stretch.
Tipi Walter
02-24-2018, 22:02
Roan Highlands, Grayson Highlands twice chasing the protected ponies...
Mostly young snide yahoo males who damn well knew what they were doing was illegal. Enforcement is sorely lacking. They know they are not likely to be caught or if they are they get off with a warning and told to immediately leave. Saw LEO's twice tell them they had to walk their bikes out when they attempted to ride away from the officer. They didn't like that. When the officer wasn't looking or they thought he didn't see them they jumped back on their bikes
Total arse holes. This kind of behavior is what gives other legal MBers and the sport a bad rap.
My pissant solution is to take copious photos of "illegal pedalers" and post them on the Interwad etc, facebook, my hiking blog etc.
Rain Man
02-24-2018, 22:36
Yep. "Locals" just north of Hot Springs, NC.
Saw many bicycle tracks on the trail through Swarta State Park in PA.
I'm sure the sign has to be there for a reason, but any route down from that ridgeline would be suicide on a bike. I'm sure there are wannabe Redbullers who would try it.
Thread drift.
Descending BA Trail in GC NP two a hole yahoo MBers came screaming down early in the morning. Not only is that clearly illegal with them knowing it but dangerous for others. Rangers got them. They were in handcuffs surrounded by Rangers with guns when I saw them later. Not only were they getting it from LEO'S but tourists. Later a Ranger friend told me they were jailed and all their stuff confiscated. Probably had a hefty fine levied. Bet they were also barred from not only GCNP but NPS run sites. If it was me I'd also make them do community service cleaning out dirty pit toilets and scrapping gum off sidewalks.
What was the eventual outcome of the hoodoo topplers in Goblin Valley SP?
Yes, I've seen it several times in GA near Blood Mt. Told them it was illegal. They already knew it though. Gave some BS story at first of being lost. It turned out after further inquiry they didnt want to walk to the summit of Blood Mt. They came in from Vogel SP where they were also riding illegally, VA, VT, once in NJ on the Kittatiny Ridge, in Shenandoah NP (Ranger gave them a citation, they were stoned acting as they didnt know the rules, not my usual style but could have told the Ranger to search them for illegal drugs)
Curiously, the only unicycle on any trail I've seen was near the same spot near Blood Mt. Best I ever saw though was in the same general area - get ready for this - someone pogo sticking down the AT towards Neel Gap. Guy told me he was going nearly 40 miles on the AT on a freaking pogo stick. It was surreal. As I talked with hIm he laced his Cons and applied some drops of oil to his machine like he was the OZ tinman. No shart. Can't make this up. Strangest stuff I've ever seen on a hike was on the AT.
Not the only time I saw someone on a pogo stick on the AT though. Saw a red haired teen aged girl with her long hair in braids resembling Pippy Longstocking bouncing along like it was a regular thing. Astonished, as she bounced by she said "hello, thank you Mister" as I stepped aside to let her go by. Ahh, the AT.
fiddlehead
02-25-2018, 00:53
Saw many bicycle tracks on the trail through Swarta State Park in PA.
I assume you mean Swatara State Park.
Yes, there are a number of mountain bike trails there built specifically for the bikers.
My friends go there a lot.
I know they are close to the AT but I don't know that any are actually on it.
We had heard, and saw signs in Bosnia and Montenegro that the hiking trail we were on was also a mountain bike trail.
No way, could someone bike much of that trail as it was a lot of rocks and rough trail.
I assume you mean Swatara State Park.
Yep that's what I meant. The trail was well marked that bicycles were not permitted. That short section reminded me of some of the wilderness sections of the Colorado Trail in that the rules for bicycles were clearly defined by signage but tire marks indicated those rules are disregarded by some.
BuckeyeBill
02-25-2018, 01:34
Curiously, the only unicycle on any trail I've seen was near the same spot near Blood Mt. Best I ever saw though was in the same general area - get ready for this - someone pogo sticking down the AT towards Neel Gap. Guy told me he was going nearly 40 miles on the AT on a freaking pogo stick. It was surreal. As I talked with hIm he laced his Cons and applied some drops of oil to his machine like he was the OZ tinman. No shart. Can't make this up. Strangest stuff I've ever seen on a hike was on the AT.
Dogwood, I believe that this should be the first post in a thread titled "What is the most unusual thing you've seen on the AT". I am sure others have tales to share.
Sarcasm the elf
02-25-2018, 01:37
I haven't met any face to face, but I've followed their bike tracks on many an occasion. To be honest the subject makes me go "meh," I'd prefer they follow the rules and no be there, but I put it pretty low on the list of things I've seen damage the trail, especially compared to the damage and jackassary I've seen left by motorized dirt bikes.
Sarcasm the elf
02-25-2018, 01:41
Dogwood, I believe that this should be the first post in a thread titled "What is the most unusual thing you've seen on the AT". I am sure others have tales to share.
Ask and you shall receive. :sun
https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/90902-What-s-the-weirdest-thing-that-you/page2
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/123355-Strangest-creepiest-thing-you-ever-found-on-the-trail?p=2129145&viewfull=1
what is the FKT of the AT on a pogo stick?
Tipi Walter
02-25-2018, 14:20
I think the best overall thing you can do to keep bicyclists out is to do minimal trail maintenance ---most especially leave waist level step over blowdowns in the trail. This will keep the high speed fanatics and "pedal potatoes" out of restricted areas and wilderness areas.
rocketsocks
02-25-2018, 15:14
what is the FKT of the AT on a pogo stick?23 strokes per min
rocketsocks
02-25-2018, 15:15
I think the best overall thing you can do to keep bicyclists out is to do minimal trail maintenance ---most especially leave waist level step over blowdowns in the trail. This will keep the high speed fanatics and "pedal potatoes" out of restricted areas and wilderness areas.i always bring a pocket full of jacks, for the wads.
Jim Adams
02-23-2019, 01:02
The most damage I've seen to the trail was caused by horses.
10s of thousands a year ride on the AT for a half mile on the Creeper trail
And don't forget the couple of miles of the C%O Towpath out of Harpers Ferry
FrogLevel
02-23-2019, 20:59
The most damage I've seen to the trail was caused by horses.
I always notice a lot of damage around SW VA. Lots of horse riding between Damascus and north of Grayson Highlands.
A couple of guys carrying their bikes northward just south of deep gap, georgia. Didn't say anything, hope it was because they both had flats.