Today has been a sad, depressing day. It's a day of letting go of something special. It's the feeling of a deep, deep loss. Dirt bikes have ruined our trails and taken over our mountain. It will never be ours again. I don't think we have a place there anymore. Everywhere we try to avoid their tracks, they find it and tear it up. Some of the trails are a single track 12 inches deep. The little creek beds are torn up and water is leaching out sideways creating a sucking muck, instead staying in their beds. The sound of the engines and the lingering smell of their gas permeate the forest. They suck the air out of my lungs and the beat from my heart.
We like to booney bounce and look for new trails, but trying to navigate around the trail we created from what we considered at the time as the best way up, the path of least resistance, was hard on us, hard on the animals and took a lot of the joy out of being on the mountain. All of us were slapped, jabbed, and sunk into holes and down brush all day as we tried to create a safe trail across torn up areas and then down the mountain to go home. The songs we were singing and humming going up ceased and except for encouraging the boys, we were quiet.
Near the once grassy spot Jupes loved to eat (now it's a mud hole), we had to scramble off the trail and hurry up to a knoll above it so 10 motorcycles could skid, slide, and dig out the soft, wet trail below us. They did not even acknowledge us. Most probably didn't see us, but some did. They were a second group. The first group of approximately 10 were on the backside ripping it up. (And we met two more trucks with two bikes each on the way up as we were leaving.) Thankfully, all the animals were safe and stayed together. Jupes' head was high, but he didn't bolt or get freaky. He didn't like it, though.
Underwood is not under siege by dirt bikes, but the pot people are pretty dangerous and defensive. Can we create more trails there without any of us getting hurt? Bad water, poisoned animals, AK47 wielding men, trip wires? Friday Ridge is FULL of pot grows. The long drive to Little Happy Camp may be shortened by a K-rail road block or eliminated completely if it becomes a wilderness area. (Gene thinks they have to create a parking area/turn around spot.)
Where does that leave us? Driving to Weaverville. Driving to Green Diamond. Orick. THE BEACH. Stanshaw. All long drives instead a quick drive and a nice ride and done by noon.
For 40 years Lynn and Shirley have ridden on Hennessey. I am the short timer at 20. I love riding there. I love all the different trails. We all have our favorites. I know Lynn is heartbroken and devastated. I am too. And we can't fix it.
I can't end on this deep hurt--I have to share the fun stuff so we don't forget:
2. The get on rock at the turtle pond is surrounded by pond water. There was a big patch of snow, too. Lynn thought she saw a snake swimming along the log out there.
3. At least we were ahorseback. We got some wet blanket time. And the girls had a blast running and digging.
4. It was sunny and everything was green. It is truly God's country, so maybe he'll hear our prayers and provide a solution.
