The funny part is that I don't see anyone flaming John…I see John over reacting and getting quite upset about posts that merely suggest that a few people (I would argue more than a few) would like to see beginner trails remain just that, beginner trails for the reasons that Switch so ably reccomends in his posts. Anyone that has seen the parking nightmare at the bottom of riverside can attest to the fact that trails for experts, intermediates and begginners just wont work. The homeowners on Riverside will put a stop to that I guarantee you, just as the home owners on Mountain Highway have.
Keeping beginner trails beginner only serves to keep traffic down, while making a trail all things for all people will only serve to ensure that all people will ride it resulting in higher traffic, increased necessity for maintenance and increased headache for those surrounding the exits to these trails. It is important to note that at over time Neds has become a multi use trail. Trail runners, hikers and the like are regularly on the trail and their safety must be taken into account. Much of the concerns regarding the environmental impacts of this trail have been noted by these user groups.
As for downhilling on neds, I would argue (some what in chicken and egg fashion) that the downhilling is the cause of the massive erosion on neds, not the other way around. Increased pace+increased use=increased erosion.
Note to John:
The "You should have done so and so" comment is one that trail builders hear on a regular basis. Don't take it personally. Take the input weigh it against your better judgement and do what you feel is best. Often times I have dismissed some-ones ideas only to find later that their idea was precisely the right solution to the problem at hand. Enjoy your trail building experience for what it is, a contribution to the community, and relish in the fact that without a community so attatched to their "turf" there wouldn't a "North Shore"…