Solutions remain around the bend on Peterson Ridge Trail

After more workshops and numerous field trips, workable solutions still have not been found that speak to the concerns of all interest groups that use the Forest Service trail system.

The biggest obstacle continues to be communication among the system's different users.

"I actually think the biggest problem is that communication has not been as good as it could have been," said Jeff Sims of the Sisters Ranger District, who is overseeing the Peterson Ridge Trail extension project.

Concerns have been expressed by spokesmen for each of the interest groups involved that his or her respective group is losing out as a result of changes that are taking place on the trail system. Bicyclists feel that the horse traffic makes the trails too soft and bumpy to ride. Equestrians think the horses get spooked when bicycles approach at speed, and hikers for the most part would like to have neither bikers nor equestrians on their trails.

Yet, in all of this there is an approaching common ground, and the various groups are moving farther away from declaring a Trail Jihad.

The main conflict originally emerged over some single-track trails that recently have been designated as bike trails where horses are prohibited.

"This is actually not what it seems. There are 7,400 acres in this area, and we are only prohibiting horses from six of the acres. The rest of the acreage is all open for horse riding. The problem that we need to solve is the pinch points where trails cross or there is a bridge. These are the real areas that need to be resolved," said Sims.

The dispute emerged through a misunderstanding.

"The proposal to expand the Peterson Ridge Mountain Biking Trail along the same corridor as the original trail was an effort to try to expand the opportunities of the mountain bikers in the area. The expansion, as well as the existing trail, was never designed to preclude other users from the area," said Bill Anthony, the U.S. Forest Service district ranger in Sisters.

It is a priority of the Forest Service to insure that all users will be able to access the area.

"We continue to look at the Peterson Ridge area as a recreational area for all users. But we also need to look at some of the issues of safety and the physical effects that horseback riding can do to the trails in this area during the summer when it dries out. During that time of the year, horseback riding can make the trails difficult to use for the mountain bikers," said Anthony.

As horseback riders explore the different needs of bikers and hikers, solutions occur that defuse the hottest points of contention.

"There are lots of opportunities out there using existing roads and connecting them with short sections of new trails so that horseback riders will have access to the areas they want to go to," said Anthony.

Joining together is the only way that a satisfactory solution can come to pass, according to Anthony.

"It is really a matter of the communities of interest to continue to dialog with each other and work through their interests and concerns. I am fairly confident that we can provide this mountain bike opportunity to riders and at the same time provide a quality experience to the horseback riders of the area. They can travel to the points that they want to go to without sharing the same trails," he said.

Anthony does not want to see the acreage cut up into additional trails simply because of the inflexible concerns of the various users.

"It is also possible for the users to share the same trails for a short distance, but it is up to the users to dialog and find out where that will make sense so that everyone can enjoy the experience," he said.