I really enjoy riding from Hart Park to Lake Ming and sometimes beyond. We trailer to the Hart Park barn and ride east from there. In the past, if I recall correctly, I have seen one sign indicating the horse trail that was somewhere along the stretch of trail before arriving at the Kern River Campground. Ninety percent of the time we have ridden around the south side of the park on the dirt “road” before heading north over the grass, paralleling the bike trail to catch the part of the trail that skirts the north side of Lake Ming, below the lake. There is a trail map sign at that juncture that seems to indicate that the horse trail would go through the park, riverside, but with all of the campers, including dogs and children, that seems an unwise way to go. Last year, when riding around Lake Ming at the west end of the lake, a Park Ranger stopped us and told us that we could not go that way, that when going by the park, we were supposed to head over the hill way south of the park. His directions were not clear to us and there seemed to be no marked trail. Furthermore, what he was saying did not seem to coincide with what the trails plan/map indicated, nor what was the traditional horse trail before they installed the paved bike trail.
When we ride that area, we always try our very best to be thoughtful and courteous in how we proceed. That is only common sense in a multi-use area. That being said, however, it is difficult to stay on designated trails if they are not properly signed. I believe that we need trail signs indicating the horse trails and with multiuse trails, some guidelines to educate users regarding who should yield to whom.
A neighbor just returned from camping with her RV at the Kern River Campground for the weekend. She is horse friendly, but also has had grandchildren playing in the campground. Twice, she has encountered equestrians riding through the occupied campgrounds, riverside. Today, two men rode through, back and forth, one on a stallion which she said was out of control, with the rider explaining that his horse was reacting to the mare across the river who was in heat. The horse was dancing around, backing up to the picnic table where people were seated. These equestrians was not only putting campers at risk, they were jeopardizing our equestrian access to trails!
I am thinking that if we had signs designating where the trail should go, that some of these problems would be avoided or minimized. I don’t know what has been done to try to accomplish this before, but I believe it is a basic need for maintaining trails within our ever developing urban environment. What do you (all) think?
Editor's response: This is a great post Marion, it brings up the problems that can occur when the trails are not clearly marked and results in riders going into areas that are not safe for the horses or the community. We want the trails to be protected to keep us safe and others around us.
Anonymous said...
It's been a while but the one time we met up with a ranger while riding by the campground, we were told that the dedicated trail does indeed go between the campsites and the river. Without a fence of some sort, like the bridle path has through Hart Park, we will be running into the tents that are set up close to the river's edge.
1 comment:
It's been a while but the one time we met up with a ranger while riding by the campground, we were told that the dedicated trail does indeed go between the campsites and the river. Without a fence of some sort, like the bridle path has through Hart Park, we will be running into the tents that are set up close to the river's edge.
Post a Comment