Let me start with a quote from Craig Medred on AlaskaDispatch.com:

As it is, no one seems happy. Fat-tire mountain bikers are mad at post-holing hikers. Hikers are mad at unfriendly skiers who yell at them for messing up ski trails. Dog mushers are mad at speeding, sometimes reckless snowmachiners. Snowmachiners are mad at all those “elitist” non-motorheads. Skiers are mad at, well, almost everyone. And almost everyone gets mad at horses.

I think Craig did a good job of summing up the general perception of trail users in Anchorage.  But I don’t believe that the perception is the reality.

Sure, there are conflicts between trail users every day.  But I have a feeling that for every dirty look or voice raised in anger, there are ten more people who are simply happy to be out enjoying our wonderful trails.  There are many trail encounters that result in a “Hi,” or a nod, or even a smile.  Butt we don’t remember those.  We remember the ones that piss us off.  And when we get pissed off, we immediately generalize.  If he was on a bike, all bikers are ignorant and selfish.  If he was skiing, all skiers are stuck-up snobs.  While there are certainly a few ignorant or selfish snobs in any group of people, we can’t let a few bad apples ruin the whole bunch.

So this the Outdoor Reports are a social experiment.  

I’m the first to admit, that on the surface, it looks like a recipe for disaster.  Take a bunch of squabbling user groups, put them in one pot, then stir until it explodes.

But I also know that there is mutal benefit to be had by sharing information.  This is a place for people to share information across recreational boundaries.  If a  mountain biker encounters a downed tree at Hillside, that information is useful to trail runners and hikers.  A snowmobiler who hits Turnagain Pass after a big snowstorm probably has some good info for backcountry skiers and snowboarders.  And vice versa of course.

My hope is that if we start sharing information, we can knock down at least a few of the stereotypes about trail conflicts.

Will it work?  That is up to you.  But in order for it to have a chance, there are some ground rules that must be followed.