The comment made by a dirt biker at Taylor Pass near Crested Butte still gives me pause for reflection. I observed that all ATV trails in Colorado were meticulous, while many in Utah and Nevada had a Bud Light can every 100 feet. The dirt biker responded that the cause was due to the ATV trails in Colorado being used by locals, such as from Aspen or Crested Butte, while the recreational users in those other states were coming from a distance, such as from Salt Lake City.
A reasonable explanation for sure, but that leads to a perhaps more disturbing question. Why aren’t the hiking trails in Colorado, with the obvious exceptions of the Colorado and Continental Divide Trails, as well maintained as the ATV trails? To add a little perspective here, why aren’t Colorado hiking trails as well maintained as, say, Connecticut hiking trails?
The trails here go through more spectacular country, there can be no argument there. We encountered one abandoned trail in particular that would have local volunteers flocking to it in a hearbeat. If ATVers see fit to maintain the trails that lace the National Forests of this state, why not the hikers? The answer is embedded in the question. Trails back East always have been maintained in large measure by volunteers. Traditionally, the hiking trails here are maintained by government agents. Now budget cuts undermine that, but once you are indulged by government, whether to maintain your hiking trails or provide public lands for your cattle, it’s hard to overcome that indulgence even as there is no recognition that it occurs.
As proclaimed to me by one nonmotorized recreationist, ATVers tread on shaky ground in Colorado, precisely because of the prior history and enthusiastic support for nonmotorized recreation. In other words, no indulgence here for ATVers, they must always prove their mettle in the eyes of the Colorado culture. Having to prove your mettle increases responsibility.
I think the dirt biker was correct, ATVers in Colorado are more responsible than ATVers in Utah or Nevada by virtue of greater local use and responsibility, just as volunteers back East have more local responsibility in maintaining hiking trails. No doubt there are many hiking trails that ARE being maintained by local volunteers here, but there remains a gap. It’s time for the hikers of Colorado to take responsibility to the same degree as ATVers in this state, or volunteers back home.
