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Show THE ZEPHYRJUNE 1992 PAGE 26 the slick rock bike trail ...then and now. f - - May 14, 1981 How bad have the impacts been on the Slick Rock Bike Trail since it became a mecca for mountain and routed by trail bicyclists from around the country? The trail was originally conceived, planned motorbike enthusiasts in the 60s. By the late 70s, the trail was rarely used by anyone. In 1981, Lynne Fenstermaker, then a graduate student in the soil science program at Penn State, She chose the area specifically y maintained a study plot of ground on the Sand Flats; near the trailhead. now living in Nevada, . because of foe relative absence of human impacts on foe plot Fenstermaker, returned recently to Moab for the first time since 1982 and was stunned by the changes. She sent me an aerial photo of foe Sand Flats that was used as reference in her work. owner of Mountain Flying Service, took me Using that photo as our reference, pilot Paul Swanstrom, foe picture. We actually flew it twice; a malfunctioning on an overflight of the Sand Flats to - camera forced a return visit and still we did not get the resolution of this 1981 photo. But the changes are In the impacts; the sheer numbers comparison is startling. remarkableIn addition Insignificant i May 1981 picture the area is practically deserted. Three cars are wident Eleven years later, almost 100 has arrived, w! vehicles arefevident in foe color originalat 7:45 AMwell beforefoe bulk of foe bikers isi- - So..foas foe Slick RoclaBike Trail changed much ireailecadefcAsk Paul taiake you up there some time . ' and make up your own mind. re-sho-ot off-ro- - - t ad -- - Jim Stiles 9 '1 A |