Opinion: Sharing Secret Trails

Facebook currently has somewhere around 1.23 billion users. Billion. Keep in mind that the current world population is sitting just shy of 7 billion and that number begins to seem even more astronomical. And then there's Instagram, with 300 million users, a number that's especially impressive considering that the app is less than five years old. Given the pervasiveness of social media, it's easier than ever to get ensnared in the web of electronic sharing. Before long, you're so tied into a buzzing party line full of selfies, puppy pictures, and sunsets that it becomes second nature to send out a photo to the world seconds after snapping it, complete with irreverent hashtags, an artsy filter, and the coordinates of where the picture was taken. However, when it comes to revealing mountain bike trail locations, there is a strong case to be made against divulging too much information, and to take a little extra time to before clicking the 'share' button.

If you're at the local Starbucks or a sleazy little dive bar, tagging the exact spot a photo was taken isn't a big deal, and the same goes with a well publicized riding destination – somewhere like Moab's Slickrock trail, or anywhere in the Whistler Bike Park for instance. In those places, by all means, share away to your heart's content. But when you're visiting a new riding zone, or even venturing into unknown territory in your own neck of the woods, it's crucial to be respectful when it comes to showing off a fresh trail, especially if there's a chance it isn't completely sanctioned. There's probably a good reason it was tricky to find, and chances are the builder wouldn't exactly be overjoyed to find out that the existence of his or her hidden gem, a steep ribbon of freshly tilled earth winding through an incredible forest, twisting and turning exactly where it should – in short, the stuff of dreams – has been announced to the world.

If you absolutely can't keep your phone in your pack, at the very least make up a code name for the trail, pretend you're in a different country – whatever it takes to keep it flying under the radar for as long as possible. Sure, there's a sense of satisfaction that comes with finding a secret line, the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and you're probably eager to let the world know you've been out in the woods channeling your inner Lewis and Clark, but as soon as that ride gets posted on Strava, or hashtagged with the trail name, the secret's up, and it's not going to be long before the fresh loam is gone, replaced with a rutted and blown out trench that looks like it underwent a week-long mortar attack.

Location:60.0000° N, 105.0000° E

“But I'm just spreading the stoke. Don't you want the sport to grow? More mountain bikers is a good thing.” You can spread the stoke all you want, but there's not always a need to leave a trail of digital breadcrumbs to the trail that has you so amped up. Think about it this way - would you rather go to Disney World and have the place all to yourself, or wait in line for hours just to ride the spinning teacups? I know what I would choose. Part of mountain biking's appeal is that it's a means of escaping traffic jams and crowded public places, a way to enjoy solitude, or the company of a few close friends, rather than being trapped in a queue of sweaty strangers.

There are plenty of resources available that make finding some of the best trails in any given area easier than ever, but just like you wouldn't expect to find all the powder stashes explicitly marked on a ski area trail map, there's no reason to think that every single mountain bike trail needs to be revealed on the internet. Stop by a local bike shop and talk to the mechanics, or chat with riders at the trailhead – it's living, breathing people that will have the knowledge and the ability to direct you to those unmarked treasures, and the best way to show your gratitude is to respect the local etiquette as to whether or not that sweet sliver of singletrack should be public knowledge. I'd much rather live in a world where there are still a few secrets, spots on the map that say “Here be dragons” instead of one where everything has been discovered.