President's Corner - September 2024

The number of people using our trails continues to increase and that is a good thing. The number
of people misusing our trails also continues to increase and that is not good. Rogue trails and
shortcuts seem to be multiplying and widening; multi-track trails are obvious. I suspect some of
this is due to inexperienced new users who have not considered the effects of hundreds of users
each slightly widening a trail because they have not been out on the trails long enough to witness
the effects. Similarly, the effects of steep shortcuts bypassing the established trail gradients and
switchbacks are apparent on our local trails and in the mountains. The determination of some
rogue trail builders in reopening their path after generous, experienced walkers have piled the
biggest logs and slash they can handle onto the rogue trail is remarkable! Thank you to all the
users who help “keep the loonies on the path” as Pink Floyd put it.


I have been wondering if Leave No Trace and trail etiquette signage could help. City of Colorado
Springs Parks, Trails and Open Spaces have put up such signage, as have many state and national
parks. The County Parks administration is not ready to go there yet, so maybe the Black Forest
Trails Association should take the initiative, with the county’s consent of course.