MnGCA

dmnrec · Geocacher Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 478 Location: Duluth

Recently, a cache was planted on the Chester Park trail in Duluth which has created some controversy.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b30a9e07-323a-4906-968f-91de7c347e31

I was asked why the parks department does not have a safety fence along the trail...here is the response I received when I contacted the city employee in charge of the trails:

Erin,
The Chester hiking trail and its "drop offs" have been in existence for 80+ years. Wouldn't all of our trails look great if we fenced them in and made them "perfectly safe"? Assumed risks for recreational activities, money and aesthetics are the likely reasons why.

To let everyone know, there have been deaths on this trail as well as others. About all of them involved intoxicated young men taking the trails in the dark. If you access this cache, or others in the light and in dry conditions, you should be pretty safe...just know your limitations...
Thanks,
Erin

HugoBear · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:08 am Post subject:

"Not Handicapped Accessable"

I love the fact you can add that extra warning to those who might not have got the point from the logs. Wish I could have seen those before they came down. Sounded entertaining. Twisted Evil

_________________
Let me not be confused forever.
-Christopher Columbus
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, after a second or so, nothing continued to happen.
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towlebooth · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: Duluth Park Trails

dmnrec · Geocacher Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 478 Location: Duluth

Pear Head · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:58 pm Post subject:

I've been on these trails after dark. You have to REALLY be paying attention to navigate them. Mix in a little alcohol and it would be easy to take a wrong turn. A wrong turn on these trails is not quite STRAIGHT down, but it's down fast enough that you would need to be quite sober to stop the fall, if you were lucky.

I've also been on other trails in the dark - the SHT is one. There is a 100/50 mile foot race that is run on the SHT every year in the fall. These are people that RUN the race (jog is more accurate) from start to finish. They go at night. In the rain. Many many many continuous hours.

For those familiar with the SHT, you know that this is a tough trail to navigate during the day when you had a good day's rest the night before. Try running 50+ miles, at night, in the rain.

dmnrec · Geocacher Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 478 Location: Duluth

The Adventure Duluth event is another all day event that ends in FDL...the organizers tell participants that they are not responsible for their safety after dusk if they stay on the trails..finish at their own risk...and many do.

HugoBear · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject:

Pear Head · Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:27 pm Post subject:

dmnrec · Geocacher Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 478 Location: Duluth

dmnrec · Geocacher Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 478 Location: Duluth

Never mind, I was wrong..a direct quote off their website:

SHTA is building 40 miles of new trail in Duluth in 2004 - 2006. Please click on SHT in Duluth to get information about this project!!

Laughing

HugoBear · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 11:45 am Post subject:

*sorry*
_________________
Let me not be confused forever.
-Christopher Columbus
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, after a second or so, nothing continued to happen.
-Douglas Adams "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy"

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261