"Wild" Debates On The PCT (Part 3): Sharing The Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail is a National Scenic Trail that stretches approximately 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through California, the State of Jefferson, Oregon, and Washington.  Previous entries in this series have focused on overcrowding issues related only to hikers; Part One of this series focused on hikers carrying large pieces of furniture on the PCT, and in Part Two we looked at the contoversy surrounding caches of office supplies.



But as the 2016 hiking season approaches, a vocal group of “Share The Trail” advocates is once again pushing for access to the Pacific Crest Trail, hoping to open the trail to uses beyond hiking and horse-packing.  Which brings us to the subject of part three of this series: sharing the trail with NASCAR drivers.

Proponents of the status quo believe that In order to continue to protect the trail as a resource and to provide a safe and unique recreation experience for the primary users – hikers and equestrians -- other forms of outdoor activities must be banned.

But if NASCAR enthusiasts have their way, that will soon change.  “Our mission is simple,” says Kyle Busch fan Kevin Gallagher, “we hope to join the PCT community . . . as with other dedicated members of the PCT community, our primary goal is to protect, preserve and promote the PCT in homage to its world-class significance, for the enjoyment, education and adventure of hikers, equestrians and stockcar racers alike.”*

People who drive stockcars and their fans feel that they have been unjustifiably excluded not just from the trail, but also from the process of deciding who gets to use it, and have expressed their frustration via social media: 

"The damage to the ground is done by the trail builders . . . everything after that is negligible."* -- Wendi Merritt
 

 

The NASCAR Perspective

A number of arguments have been put forth by racing fans to justify a change in the rules.  Some claim that historically, NASCAR was a part of the trail.  “Prior to 1988, there were stockcars all over the place legally, and there was never a problem,” says Denny Hamlin fan David Vitti.  “Admittedly, there’s no real evidence to back up those claims, but I do have a nice black and white photo of a group of NASCAR enthusiasts on the PCT in Oregon, so there’s that.”

A nice black and white photo of a group of NASCAR enthusiasts
on the PCT in Oregon

Others point out that stockcars create less impact than backpackers or equestrians.
As Kevin Harvick fan Steve Cain points out, “regarding impacts, a NASCAR driver passing through on an all-day type of drive isn't usually setting up camp, collecting wood for a campfire, rinsing off in a stream or lake, etc . . . I think it is safe to say an overnight backpacker absolutely has more environmental impact than a racecar driver.  And don’t even get me started on horse poop.”*

Even if there is some impact, NASCAR fans insist that the number of added trail volunteers would more than make up for any impact.  "There are 75 Million Nascar fans in this country," says Matt Kenseth fan Kelly Dewire, "Imagine the thousands of man hours that would pour into trail maintenance on the PCT if stockcar drivers could use it."*

But ultimately, most of the arguments revolve around sharing a tax-payer funded trail.
“Hikers will say just about anything (true or not, mostly not) to justify their exclusionary views,” says Kasey Kahne fan J. Chad Kinsey, “this is all about rationalizing the fact that they won't share a taxpayer funded trail (apparently to the tune of $1.8m/year for the PCTA . . . ) with newcomers.”*

The Hiker Perspective

Sharing the trail.  What could go wrong?

For many, safety is the number one concern.  According to Michael Gaither, “um, I really don’t want to be run over by a car again.  I don’t even want to be almost run over.  In fact, I kind of go hiking on trails specifically so I won’t be nearly run over by cars."

But is that a good enough reason to limit access?  Not for Jimmie Johnson fan Harold Frederick, as long as the drivers’ intentions are good.  “Drivers NEED to be conscientious, but 'nearly's' and 'almosts' are no reason to prohibit stockcars anywhere. We'll wager that not one driver has tried to startle, scare or injure other trail users.*  In any case, 2015 NASCAR rules required a horsepower reduction from 850 to 725 AND a smaller spoiler.  Which means that if you do get hit by a car, it’ll be going 3-4mph slower than it would have under the old rules.  So stop being whiners.”



For others, even with those changes, the trail is simply not the place for racing.  “No one is being excluded from enjoying the trail,” says Kolby “Condor” Kirk.  “NASCAR enthusiasts are free to enjoy the trail, as long as they leave their cars at home.  Or at the trailhead.  Whatever.  But the fact that it’s public land simply does not mean that everyone gets to do whatever they want on it.”

Gregory “Dartman” Schley agrees.  “I used to think that tax-payer funding meant that I was allowed to do whatever I wanted to on public land.  But from personal experience I can tell you that’s not the case.  Or at least the Secret Service violently disagreed with my viewpoint when I went nude sunbathing in the White House Rose Garden.  Honestly, the only good thing about that was that the strip search went pretty fast.”

This slope may or may not be slippery.

Brian “Too Obtuse” Kelly is worried about the potential slippery slope.  “One concern is that once you accept the proposition that every public space is open to any use, the same argument can be used to justify any activity -- hang gliding, snowmobiling, motocross, accordion playing.  Stockcar racers don’t seem to recognize that.  Another concern is that, despite what they say, NASCAR fans won’t be satisfied with limited access to certain parts of the trail.  Which means that eventually even Wilderness areas will be overrun with racecars.



Not true, says Greg Biffle fan Shelly Skye.  “Listen, nobody wants accordion players on the PCT.  Some people may think that our argument would open the floodgates to other uses, but in the fantasy world we live in nobody but us wants to do whatever they want wherever they want.  And should we be wrong about that, we’ll dramatically rethink our 'Share The Trail' philosophy.”
 

“As for complete access, we don't seek access to every mile of every trail at all times. What we'll seek is reasonable access. That means in crowded areas we'd work with local land managers and other trail users to allow stockcars only on certain days of the week or even separate trails in some places.  And we have no plans to expand our access into Wilderness areas.”*



When asked if that entire last paragraph was a bald-faced lie, Skye said "absolutely."

"Does anyone really think that we’ll be satisfied once we get SOME access?  Have those people ever read If You Give A Mouse A Cookie?  Six year olds know that’s not how human nature works.  Good lord.  Grow up.”

NASCAR fans are fired up about PCT access.

It’s hard to say how or if this debate will end, or even whether or not I just made it all up.  But for now, trail managers seem to be taking a respectful yet firm stance:


“In tandem with our primary partner in the management of the PCT – the US Forest Service – we are committed to working within the Partnership for the National Trails System on developing a meaningful dialogue around the NASCAR issue.  We feel it’s imperative that this conversation be civil, thoughtful and deliberate.  But ultimately, who are we kidding?  It’ll happen over our dead bodies.”

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*Note: all quotes with asterisks are real, as are the quotes in the social media images -- they just come from a non-NASCAR version of "Share The Trail" proponents.  The quotes are real but the names are fake, and I have substituted in the appropriate NASCAR-related words.

Thank you to all of the folks who allowed me to attach their names to quotes for this article!