I will say this: you would think with the modern world as it is and with the knowledge of social media/media boards etc… I have to hand it to Lee to not chicken out and stand up and face the fire and answer posts made at him or against him. Mark has done nothing but be silent, and yet expects to be taken at face value. Now, I am no lawyer, but when one is accused wrongly usually they stand up and fight tooth and nail to get the truth out. Silence is the confirmer of guilt.
Personally I do not like the general direction of the trail ethos and the dumbing down/smoothing down of trails for more convenient access (Upper Dales comes to mind) and I do not financially support NSMBA on this mantra. Moreover, I cannot support, financially, a group that has taken a trail like Oilcan and totally destroyed it. I walk up it every time I ride Fromme and it is devoid of soul, interest, features, excitement or thought. It is the epitome to me of everything wrong with trail planning, and whom is involved in that? NSMBA. If you want a smoothe groomed run do Espresso. But the state of limbo Oilcan is in is indicative to me that the NSMBA is more concerned with UP trails (when both Seymour and Fromme have perfectly good UP routes, albeit boring, I admit) instead of thinking of the reason you are going up in the first place: to go down.
Personally, I think the best resolution to all of this is to remove Mark Wood and put in a totally new crew. Like politics, everything is tainted and if one is to have any faith in a group or organization, it must have the appearance, if not substance, of integrity to not only survive but grown. And all of this morass proves how little there is and people like me, whom have been around for 30+ years will not support what is perceived to be a clusterf-k. Until it changes I will do my maintenance bits off the grid.
Strange that you never hear of any shit, libel, or ill word against Digger. I wonder why.
You are mixing up issues here. The fact that you don't like the trail work that has gone on recently has nothing to do with this situation. It's like the frog lady saying she wants to ban MTB because of environmental issues and then, when someone gets hurt, she wants to ban MTB for safety. She'll change her stripes to suit her goals because she simply hates mountain bikers. You are using the same logic.
If Mark was fighting for your vision of the Shore you wouldn't have any issue with him. That's the sort of polarized approach that belongs in the Tea Party - not in the mountain bike community.
You oppose Mark because some trails aren't appropriate (or can't be ridden well) on a 45 lb bike with a Monster T up front.
No one else is suggesting that Mark's work at the nsmbA has been anything but excellent. His efforts and the TAP initiative have moved the trails ahead leaps and bounds. Mark and I have had our disagreements (he unfriended me on FB and real life - because we disagreed about The Watchmen) but that doesn't prevent me from recognizing his tireless effort and commitment to this community.
People who only complain because the trails aren't being made and maintained in keeping with their personal vision - and who then try and undermine the volunteers who put in countless hours making sure trails are sustainable while ensuring continued access - are part of the problem.
PS - If you were informed about these issues you'd know that Upper Dale's had nothing to do with the nsmbA. A clear indication of the validity of your opinion on this matter.
PPS - You 'gotta hand it to Lee' for not chickening out but you post here anonymously?
PPPS - your point about Digger is what exactly? That he plays well with others? That he isn't a shit disturber? Or that he builds trails you like? Guess who was the brains (and much of the brawn) behind Expresso? Yep. Digger. Again - it doesn't seem like you know what you are talking about.
PPPPS - there was a time when you liked Lower Oilcan? That's what you think trails should be like?
