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Trail widening at Manly Dam - again
While doing a lap of the dam earlier this morning, I noticed the dreaded trail widening is starting to pop up again.
At the top of the steep boardwalk climb towards the end of the Golf Course singletrack, it looks like some folks have tried to cut a B-line around the two rock step-up. Some of the branches that had been bent and broken out of the way were still green, so it looks like it was done in the last couple of days.
I spent some time this morning putting sticks and undergrowth in place to try to discourage people from using it. I must admit I find this kind of behaviour enormously frustrating. 
The regulars and locals know better, so the following is addressed to newbies and those unfamiliar with trail etiquette:
If you can't ride this obstacle (like me), walk it. Save it up for later and, when your skills improve and you can ride over it without dabbing, add it to your list of accomplishments. DO NOT cut an alternate line. There is no reason for it - the worst you are going to do to yourself if you try and fail to clear this obstacle is a little lost skin.
Besides being cheating and short-changing your skills development, this kind of bush vandalism earns mountain biking a bad reputation with the land managers on whose goodwill we depend, and it jeopardises our continued trail access.
Please don't do it.
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I was out there doing laps this morning and was thinking of penning similar thoughts but like most blokes in their 40's who go too hard over Christmas with the vino, went and had a nanna nap instead....
It must be at least a month since my last visit to the Dam and I was surprised at the number of additional lines that have appeared. Even on that gentle climb of single track that pops out at the entrance to the golf club there are new tracks going around those tiny rock/tree root pop overs that were put in to stop erosion.
Mountain bikes have suspension to absorb bumps so you can ride over them yet it seems there is an element out there determined to set the Dam up so they can ride a roadie through it! It strikes me as odd that those who can't tackle obstacles would bother building alternatives when it's so much more fun just devoting that time to trying to ride the obstacle.
I would advise caution at the bottom of the single track just before the Hydro Lab next the the steps that were designed to maim any rider who falls. The drop at the end has eroded and you really do need to pop your front wheel up coming off that ledge.
once every 3 months or so & I am amazed at how much the trails widen- I notice it the most between the "19th hole" & the trail besides the road at Allambie Hts.
First time around the dam in months ( due to environmental concerns with all the rain) today and noticed the new easy way up to the rock steps and said to myself that's gotta be cheaper option than grinding my beautiful XTR chain rings into the rocks but accept that thought must be banished from my mind and I should occasionally suffer a stem into my groin as punishment for thinking there was an easy way.....
Rode the dam again yesterday morning and didn't notice any trail widening up the rock steps. Must be due to me trying to a) remain conscious, and b) get more than just the front wheel up that damn first step! One day I will own those steps!!!!
Don't understand why anyone would want to create a new line up there. It's mountain biking people!
As an aside, thought we were on a hot lap yesterday, but did it slower than my pb.....
I blame the high concentration of Hamoglobin in my system, lol.