Silverback
New member
Soil compaction occurs on dry or wet surfaces, the degree of which depends on so many variables. The reality is that erosion is inevitable on any established trail because of the removal of the vegetation, and huge quantities of water running down them, not because one or a hundred people walk through the mud. If we were to be totally honest with ourselves, we would realize that any season we hike on those trails (except maybe over snowcover) contributes to the cycle of erosion because we never allow the plant life to regrow. Roots to hold the soil, and not allowing the "path of least resistance" for the water to flow.
And Shewolf, your bog analogy is a nice one, except in that severe "boot sucking" environment, the foot print tends to backfill pretty quickly, which was my point in the first place.
Finally, if you can prove to me where all that mud is displaced to by those hundreds of hikers to where it winds up somewhere off the trail, it would make me a happy hiker, and I would promise never to hike in mud season again
As I read these posts that I have made, I've come to realize that in the end, they signify nothing. No opinions will change, the reality, whatever it might be, will not change, people will walk where and when they will, I have no idea whether I am right or wrong, water will flow where gravity takes it, and sometime, God willing, I will be back on the trails again.
It was fun, but now I must go walk the center of another muddy path.
And Shewolf, your bog analogy is a nice one, except in that severe "boot sucking" environment, the foot print tends to backfill pretty quickly, which was my point in the first place.
Finally, if you can prove to me where all that mud is displaced to by those hundreds of hikers to where it winds up somewhere off the trail, it would make me a happy hiker, and I would promise never to hike in mud season again
As I read these posts that I have made, I've come to realize that in the end, they signify nothing. No opinions will change, the reality, whatever it might be, will not change, people will walk where and when they will, I have no idea whether I am right or wrong, water will flow where gravity takes it, and sometime, God willing, I will be back on the trails again.
It was fun, but now I must go walk the center of another muddy path.