Safer trails AND open trails

The argument that supporters of trail closures frequently make is that you cannot keep trails open AND reduce rescues, because having the trails open is somehow giving irresponsible people the excuse they need to get in trouble.

If we really follow that line of thought, we really are in trouble, as a society.

Take for example the speed limit on the freeway.

Does it mean you must drive 75 miles per hour at all times, or are you allowed to reduce your speed when there is a lot of traffic or the roadway is wet after a summer monsoon storm? Nobody would argue that you have to drive the exact speed limit when it’s dangerous to do so. Instead you have to use common sense, be careful and don’t exceed the limits of the car, the driver and the road. They teach you that during driving classes and if you show that you can drive safely, you get your driver’s license…

Trails are pretty similar. Just because the trails are open at the 3pm on a 110F day, it doesn’t mean you should go for the most technical, remote trail run, where you push your body to the max. No, instead you plan your run early, if possible, and if you do need to go at 3PM, you stay closer to the trailhead so you can stay hydrated and have an easy exit plan. In other words, you act responsible. Maybe an easy to acquire ‘hike safe card’ isn’t such a bad thing, and it separates the serious trail users from the unprepared ones.

Just because this organization advocates for trails to be open does not mean we advocate for irresponsible behavior.

We can achieve both: 1. unrestricted access to the trails and 2. lower rescues and safer first responders.

Anyone who argues that this not possible is not trying hard enough to find real, sustainable solutions.