Chutes and Ladders

For us on the East Coast of the country mud is a fact of life. With all the rain and slushy snow we get, it is bound to pop up. Our solution for trail riding in these conditions is "to not ride". This has always struck me as odd, I mean they are mountain bikes capable of navigating through such mud & muck and mud is one of the natural conditions of the "mountain". I understand the concepts of erosion, the potential damage to trails, the creation of marshes and bogs that this riding may create. But bare with me for a moment…Zoom over to the Pacific Northwest, they have rain and snow, lots of it. Some would argue that they see more mud due to the increase in precipitation. They have built trails to survive the abuse of mountain bikes in these muddy conditions. Giving the riders a chance to ride more throughout the year. Enter the ladder bridge...The ladder bridge has gotten a bad wrap lately, a somewhat unjust categorization as merely a tool for "hucking" yourself into the oblivion. When one sees the ladder bridge a flood of images such as tall ladder skinnies 20 feet high, road gaps and high fives, freeride buffoons and all sorts of bicycle Tom Foolery arise. Not the case when the ladder bridge is used in such a way to transport the rider over the bogs and potential marshes. That’s just what the majority of constructed trail obstacles are used for in that area. The visual image library of the ladder bridge should then change to one of wildflowers, green thumbs and flourishing forests. This is not going to happen either. What I would love to see is a meeting of the minds, a compromise made between those "Freeride buffoons" and "XC goons". Both are excepted forms of mountain biking and deserve a place on the trail, we should be working together as opposed to clashing at the skulls. The trails can be made more sustainable FROM both parties FOR both parties. To have those said bridges where deemed necessary and have the natural terrain shine though where it can. I have ridden the trails of the Northwest and sacrificed many a weekend to pickup a shovel and rake and do my part on the trail here in the East. We can do this. All we need is a little understanding and a six pack. "Proper Ladder Bridge Technique"
Thanks to Patrick and the guys at TractionMag for putting my ideas on the big screen.

Adrian Hart
Seattle-New York