[EBB Sightings] "baffles" baffles me

> From: debbie viess 
> After laying a few baffles along the ground to
> inconvenience illegal mountain bikes (along with
> feral
> pigs, the bane of my Huck existence) I headed back
> to
> my car."

I am a mountain biker, hiker and birder. This comment
caught my eye.
What is a baffle?

Yesterday, while riding legally, with bell a-ringin'
on every blind turn (the way I always do), on the
Wildcat Canyon road to Jewel Lake, I noticed someone
had laid half of a fence post in the middle of the
road. Further down, there was a long eucalpytus branch
laid all the way across the road. If a biker hits
these, even at moderate speed, it can cause an
accident of very serious injuries.

I hope those sticks were not considered baffles. I
frequently find large rocks also placed at blind turns
and curves.

This is a very bad thing to do. I know that many
mountain bikers are not that considerate. That's one
of the reasons I ride alone and I often feel that I am
in the minority of using my bell. But I am legally on
those wide trails; in fact they are old roads.

But likewise, it's quite common for hiking groups to
spread all the way across the road and leave no lane
for bikes, then act indignant when I ring my bell and
call out that I am coming.

I see birders on the trail a fair bit. I probably
correspond with some of you here. But I respect you
and ask for the same in return. Birders often pause in
the middle of the road with the binos, looking up. I
certainly understand the sentiment and bring mine
along for the same reason. But it can be hazardous.

I really enjoyed the prosaic description of your
birdwalk and I like Sibley myself. I don't have any
intention of biking there though I am not sure its
illegal (I hadn't noticed becuase its best enjoyed
afoot to me).. Frankly, the volcanic nature of the
place leaves lots of hidden sharp stones that cause
flats anyway.

I hope I am misunderstanding this, and I apologize for
topic drift.

See you on the trail.

Lance Beeson