Scrap marks on trail rock.

[TrekMan]

Vote for crampons

Another vote for snowshoes/crampons. These marks were there long before hiking poles with carbide tips were in wide use. You can often see a series of them together, as if a crampon slide and all 10/12 points made marks.

It's tough to make a serious mark with a hiking pole, you just don't put that much weight on your arms.

-dave-

I recently hiked the AT in Massachusetts - Mt Race and Everett - and noticed marks on rocks which were several and parallel, maybe 2-3" long too. Definitely crampons! A pole plant, even if hard enough would likely make an undetectable dot on the rocks. BTW - I use the red rubber tips that came with my Masters whenever I am doing rocks. They hold better.
-TrekMan-

 

[snowshoe]

Dont forget some of those markes could have been caused by Glaciers during the last ice age. Here in NJ you see alot of the rocks with similar markings. Snowmobiles also do the same. If snowmobiles are not being used in that area than I would say also crampons and snowshoes. Catskills you can see this as well, especially on the steep rock slopes.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Dont forget some of those markes could have been caused by Glaciers during the last ice age. Here in NJ you see alot of the rocks with similar markings. Snowmobiles also do the same. If snowmobiles are not being used in that area than I would say also crampons and snowshoes. Catskills you can see this as well, especially on the steep rock slopes.

I know what you are talking about, but you can ususally tell which are fresher than others. The glacial marks usually look older.

 

[forestgnome]

I also think it's from snowshoes/crampons; they existed before ANY type of hiking poles were popular. AIG, good point! It's us hikers, and it isn't a problem! (No criticism of the original poster, actually an interesting mystery I've pondered while hiking )

I wish every pole had a rubber tip, much more quiet!

 

[Lawn Sale]

I noticed many of these marks on the AT here in Maine, and was surprised. AT first I though of the hiking poles, but it didn't make sense as to why people would be planting their poles on large rounded rocks. I also think the snowshoes are the culprits, but also don't have a problem with it. Look at the rocks, and then look at how worn down the trail is.

When I have to cliumb bare rock in the winter, I make sure I have a good footing because sliding is one thing, sliding wearing a crampon is another matter entirely!

 

[Pete_Hickey]

... don't have a problem with it. Look at the rocks, and then look at how worn down the trail is.

It isn't that it wears sown the rocks. That's not the issue. The argument is that it is ugly. It takes away from the 'wildeness' feel of walking on the trail. Grafetti spray painted on rocks along a trail does no real harm to the rocks, What's wrong with it?

 

[Rich Owings]

Mountain bikes? Chain rings scrape rocks and logs all the time. I'm not sure where the original poster saw these marks, but if it was a trail open to bikes, and the marks were linear...

 

[J.P.]

I think that it is unlikely that the scratches are caused by snowshoes. Most snowshoe crampons are aluminum which is softer and less likely to put scratches in rocks than steel crampons.

 

[CaptCaper]

I use them all the time cause of my old knees and they never slide off like that. Those lines are long.
I do notice that it doesn't take make to make a mark on rocks that have growth on them like fungus,etc.

I'm thinking it's from when they drag them behind going up and not going down hill with lots of weight into them and slipping.

 

[Bluethroatedone]

Our trails are Traces themselves....

Whether they are from crampons or poles, I personaly don't thing they are a huge deal. While usually a huge proponent of LNT, when restricted to rocks on or just besides a trail I am not bothered by a few white marks. The trail is a trace. Crawford and company have "disrupted" nature - in specific places. To make trails we have moved rocks, dug channels to keep streams of the trail and built wooden ladders on steep slick portions of trails. The small scratches (usually not damaging the rock but scraping away some of the LT organic growth) may be a reminder that we are not the first on the path, but they are one of many. To the extent that poles/crampons, like trails, help make the experience more accessible to nature and that they prevent injuries I am all for them. As importantly, they allow people to stick to the trail rather skirt around steep rocks/icy sections.

 

[Jasonst]

I vote we ban steel footwear from the trail. I can't WAIT to try out my new plastic toothed crampons!

 

[CaptCaper]

Whether they are from crampons or poles, I personaly don't thing they are a huge deal. While usually a huge proponent of LNT, when restricted to rocks on or just besides a trail I am not bothered by a few white marks. The trail is a trace. Crawford and company have "disrupted" nature - in specific places. To make trails we have moved rocks, dug channels to keep streams of the trail and built wooden ladders on steep slick portions of trails. The small scratches (usually not damaging the rock but scraping away some of the LT organic growth) may be a reminder that we are not the first on the path, but they are one of many. To the extent that poles/crampons, like trails, help make the experience more accessible to nature and that they prevent injuries I am all for them. As importantly, they allow people to stick to the trail rather skirt around steep rocks/icy sections.

I agree with out the use of my poles I couldn't do the trails I do. If I did try to hike with rubber tips I would have a serious accident for sure.
The marks aren't deep and don't bother me with all things considered.

 

[adamiata]

I used to work for a NH state park on Mt. Kearsarge and we had similar scratches. There were often several lines of them about an inch apart, 1/4" wide, and 1/4" deep. They were big enough that I'd call them gouges. Anyway, there was a snowmobile trail that went to the top of the mounntain over one of the hiking trails, and their carbide studded tracks would tear into the rocks when the snow started getting low.

This was a pretty common qestion among park visitors. I used to tell them it was sasquatch.

 

[Lawn Sale]

It isn't that it wears sown the rocks. That's not the issue. The argument is that it is ugly. It takes away from the 'wildeness' feel of walking on the trail. Grafetti spray painted on rocks along a trail does no real harm to the rocks, What's wrong with it?

Point taken. But, I also consider these marks to be the same as other hiking remnants and do not consider them a problem, probably because they usually aren't that large and I don't believe they were made maliciously, unlike graffiti.

 

[erd]

I do urge those who may be tempted to hike with rubber tips to be careful. Under dry conditions, this can be feasible. Under wet conditions, rubber tips can skate, much as bootsoles can. I have seen people fall (without injury) as a result.

Personally, I do not find the wear offensive. I don't believe that crampons or carbide tips deeply penetrate rock, and I think that you would find that the marks would weather out in a few years, were the trail not to be used. Since the trail IS in use, I'd prefer to see folks using poles and crampons as need dictates, rather than have falls, slips and injuries on trail. I use poles year round myself to protect my less-than-robust knees (although on nice steep pitches on trail I pack them, preferring instead to use climbing technique).

Ted.

 

[snowshoe]

I think that it is unlikely that the scratches are caused by snowshoes. Most snowshoe crampons are aluminum which is softer and less likely to put scratches in rocks than steel crampons.

All my snowshoes have steel crampons and all the backcountry ones I have ever seen are also steel. The recreational snowshoes usually have the Aluminum crampons or the lightweight backcountry shoes.

 

[cbcbd]

Whether they are from crampons or poles, I personaly don't thing they are a huge deal. While usually a huge proponent of LNT, when restricted to rocks on or just besides a trail I am not bothered by a few white marks. The trail is a trace. Crawford and company have "disrupted" nature - in specific places. To make trails we have moved rocks, dug channels to keep streams of the trail and built wooden ladders on steep slick portions of trails. The small scratches (usually not damaging the rock but scraping away some of the LT organic growth) may be a reminder that we are not the first on the path, but they are one of many. To the extent that poles/crampons, like trails, help make the experience more accessible to nature and that they prevent injuries I am all for them. As importantly, they allow people to stick to the trail rather skirt around steep rocks/icy sections.

Well put! I guess it is ironic and hypocritical sometimes to judge the wear put on a trail built by people. Scrapes are less noticeable and more natural than all out ladders or metal handholds put on some trails.

 

[Raymond]

I don't think any metal hiking pole I've ever used (maybe three?) has made it to its second hike still in possession of its rubber tip.