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Ultrahiker Magazine responds to PCTA “ban and cap” announcement

The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) issued an announcement dated March 13, 2015 at their website with the title, “A note about large trail running events on the Pacific Crest Trail.” According to the PCTA, since the PCT is getting more crowded by a surge of trail running events, there should be a ban on new events and a cap for existing events. Now the important question to ask is this. Is the PCTA position fair to trail runners and not just to hikers and equestrians?


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Therefore, a good enough solution to the problem of overcrowding on the PCT is to support a new category of trail running events such as an ultrahiker event that naturally limits the number of participants and is more environment-friendly.

The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) issued an announcement dated March 13, 2015 at their website with the title, “A note about large trail running events on the Pacific Crest Trail.” According to the PCTA, since the Pacific Crest trail (PCT) is getting more crowded by a surge of trail running events, there should be a ban on new events and a cap for existing events.

What is behind this proposed solution? First, PCT is getting more crowded with runners who participate in trail running events in the form of “organized trail races with hundreds of participants.” Second, PCTA feels a need to solve the problem of congestion that “disturb the tranquil backcountry experiences” of runners, hikers, and equestrians alike before it gets worse.

The main argument for the PCTA solution goes something like this. Limit the number of runners on the PCT by limiting the number of trail running events that use or cross portions of the PCT. Now the important question to ask is this. Is the PCTA position fair to trail runners and not just to hikers and equestrians?

Based on the claims that support the PCTA argument stated above, Ultrahiker Magazine states its position.

“PCTA’s good intentions are valid. They want runners, hikers, and equestrians alike to enjoy the PCT. The problem of overcrowding and its ill effects from events that “concentrate crowds” should be a major concern for all. PCTA is singling out trail running events because of the obvious reason that these are “organized trail races with hundreds of participants” compared to hiking and equestrian events on the PCT, if any. Thus the “ban and the cap” on organized trail races. On the other hand, organizers and participants of these races feel singled out and unfairly treated which is also understandable.

“There is a good enough solution. The trail running community should create a new category of trail running events that addresses this problem of overcrowding. The current process of staging trail running events contributes to this problem. This new category should be acceptable to the PCTA since it solves the problem of overcrowding and its ill effects. This is the concept behind the ultrahiker event.

“First, unlike current trail running events, an ultrahiker event naturally limits the number of participants on the trail. An ultrahiker is a person who mostly hikes long distances unsupported along mountain trails such as the PCT at the quickest pace, usually as part of a racing event. Without pacers, crew, or aid station personnel on and along the trail, there is no threat for overcrowding.

“Similar to thru-hiking where resupplies are an important part of the experience, success in an ultrahiker event includes a well-executed hydration and nutrition plan. Water sources are much farther apart than in traditional trail running events. Being unsupported forces the ultrahiker to carry supplies in the most cost-effective manner, balancing quickness of pace with safety. It’s still a race after all.

“Second and most importantly, an ultrahiker event is more environment-friendly than existing trail running events. Ultrahikers train to survive conditions on their own with no possibility of outside aid unless it’s an emergency. They adhere to Leave-No-Trace principles because there are no sweepers to pick their trash and no race markers to take down. Doesn’t this sound like hiking, just on steroids? Therefore, a good enough solution to the problem of overcrowding on the PCT is to support a new category of trail running events such as an ultrahiker event that naturally limits the number of participants and is more environment-friendly"



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