Trailspace Blog Trails
Take Action to Protect 5,000 Miles of Trails
I received the following Action Alert from the American Hiking Society, which works to protect hiking trails, their surrounding natural landscapes, and the hiking experience:
The American Hiking Society needs your help today to urge Congress to pass the National Landscape Conservation System Act (HR 2016), an important bill that will permanently protect more than 5,000 miles of National Scenic and Historic Trails and 26 million acres of beautiful, unique western lands.
The Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System is a network of the last places to experience the history and wild beauty of the American West. Unfortunately, unlike other national systems of public lands, the BLM’s Conservation System lacks the official Congressional approval that its incredible resources deserve. Only Congress can permanently protect and recognize the National Landscape Conservation System for the enduring benefit of present and future generations.
Want to support the National Landscape Conservation System and tell your Representative why hiking is important to you? Visit the American Hiking Society’s site.
Welcome Spring...Make That Mud Season
Today is the first day of spring, though you wouldn’t know it from the several feet of snow still on the ground here in Maine. But soon enough that melting snow will bring on mud season.
Muddy trail or access road, like above? Head straight through, not around mud or water.
Certain hiking trails should be avoided during mud season, especially more fragile terrain at higher elevations. Some trails may even be closed to protect them (Vermont, for example, closes trails on state land from mid-April until Memorial Day weekend). Even if a trail isn’t closed, consider whether you can hike it responsibly.
If you do encounter a muddy stretch, remember to stay in the middle of the trail and hike single file through the mud, not around it. Trying to keep your feet dry by circumventing muddy puddles just tramples vegetation, causes soil erosion, and spreads the mud—and trail—wider and wider.
If a trail is too muddy to travel straight through, consider turning back and hiking somewhere else, rather than causing irrevocable damage. Hikes at lower elevations and those with southern exposure are likely to have drier conditions.
Lastly, remember that that melting snowpack can raise stream crossings by several inches in a day. So carefully evaluate the safety of crossing a particular stream both heading out and returning, when water levels can be higher and currents faster. You may want to avoid trails with stream crossings during spring.
Be a safe and responsible hiker, but don't let a little mud or rain keep you inside this spring either. After all, you know what comes after mud season, right? Black fly season.
Hike, Get Dirty, Give Back: Volunteer Vacations
Looking for a vacation that involves trails, getting dirty, and giving back? The American Hiking Society offers 75 trail stewardship projects in 25 states—and the U.S. Virgin Islands—now through November. Join a crew of 6-15 volunteers for a week of building and maintaining trails in locations like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Mammoth Cave National Park, and the Mt. Whitney Trail.
Trips range from the very strenuous (such as backpacking into the Bob Marshall Wilderness) to more moderate day hiking with base or cabin camping. Volunteer vacations cost $245 for AHS members and $275 for non-members, with each additional trip per calendar year $175. Get more information or download a PDF with trip descriptions and application from the American Hiking Society.
Out of the Wilderness
The decreasing numbers of people getting outdoors is a topic of interest both here at Trailspace and farther afield. Last month Newsweek published the article “Out of the Wilderness" (February 18) with the subhead, "A new study says we’re not getting out into nature as much as we used to. Maybe that's a good thing.”
I was glad to see Newsweek covering the issue, but thought the author (who doesn't sound like he really likes the outdoors) missed the point. Between the extremes of playing video games daily and jetting to Patagonia for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, there's a wide range of regular outdoor activities available. People just aren't choosing to do them, and kids aren't being exposed to the outdoors.
Less people in the backcountry can sound like a good thing for those of us seeking its solitude. But, the trend is disconcerting. After all, who'll even notice, or care, that wilderness is disappearing if they don't experience it firsthand? This has implications for all of us who enjoy backcountry recreation.
I sent Newsweek the following letter to the editor in response:
I agree with Jerry Adler that nature has become “unimaginably remote from our daily immersion in climate-controlled, hygienic luxury” (“Out of the Wilderness” February 18, 2008). However, I think he missed the bigger picture.
It’s not only nice, but necessary, to get kids outside more often. And not just “to swat a mosquito.” Studies show that kids, and adults, who regularly get outside are physically and mentally healthier, more creative, and more respectful of the environment, themselves, and others. And those who have regular contact with the natural world are far more likely to care enough to protect it.
Restricting our relationship with the outdoors to an annual national park pilgrimage is not the answer. Parents and other adults can encourage kids to explore the natural world around them daily. That “unimaginably remote” nature is right outside your door. The National Wildlife Federation recommends children participate in at least one “green hour” of unstructured outdoor play each day. Sleep out in the backyard, take a hike at a local park, put up a birdfeeder, plant a garden, climb a tree.
And the next time you visit a busy national park, get out of the car, off the crowded park road, and beyond the usual photo ops. Take a walk deeper in the woods.
Have an opinion on this trend? Share your thoughts.
Scared Indoors: Does the Media Affect Outdoor Interest?
Ever think that the mass media’s portrayal of the outdoors and its “extreme” activities bears no resemblance to your own enjoyable hikes, backpacks, and climbs? When the mainstream media does cover the outdoors, the stories tend to feature life-and-death struggles rather than the personally fulfilling, but far-less-dramatic, aspects of regular outdoor travels.
So, do these portrayals affect people’s interest in getting outdoors, where bears, avalanches, and other scary things might lurk in the dark?
Steve Sergeant of The WildeBeat explored this issue in his podcast last week. The program included comments from Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods), Fitz Cahall (The Dirtbag Diaries), Ryan Jordan (Backpacking Light), and long-distance hiker Andy Skurka. You can call in your comments for part two, which airs later this week.
Or share your thoughts below.
Listen at "Scared Indoors, part 1" (The WildeBeat, February 21, 2008)
Via Two-Heel Drive
Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week Feb. 11-14
This week is the American Hiking Society’s annual “Hike the Hill!” Trails Advocacy Week. American Hiking Society staff and members and other trails supporters will lobby for increased hiking trail funding, the conservation of public lands, and a host of other related issues February 11 to 14 in Washington, D.C.
Even if you can’t hike the Hill, you can help protect hiking trails, natural areas, and recreation opportunities nationwide. Visit the AHS’s Trail Conservation and Policy page for info on current issues affecting trails and hiking—like roadless rules, recreation fees, off-road vehicles, and conservation and trail funding, all of which affect your hiking experience.
Become an advocate and tell your elected officials that hiking trails, open space, and outdoor recreation opportunities matter. Learn more about Trails Advocacy Week 2008: February 11-14.
Learn to Snowshoe or Ski for Free: January 12
Here in Maine we’ve had an impressive amount of snow already—great for those of us who love to snowshoe and cross-country ski. If you or a friend or family member have yet to get outside and try these rewarding winter activities, then next weekend, January 12, is a perfect opportunity.
Newcomers to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing (that includes kids!) can try these snow sports for free at more than 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada as part of Winter Trails 2008 on Saturday, January 12. A second Winter Trails event is scheduled for February 16 in Estes Park, Colorado.
Programs and activities vary in size and scope, so visit the Winter Trails web site to find a location near you and for specific event details. The site’s Learn a Sport & News section also includes info on getting started and what to wear (think layers, no cotton). Trailspace also has a “How to Choose Snowshoes” gear guide article, for those who get hooked on the sport.
Winter is a wonderful time for the whole family to get outside. So if you’ve always wanted to try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, but didn’t know where to start, take advantage of Winter Trails.
Holiday Gift Idea: Volunteer Vacation
Take an American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation in 2008 and you and your loved ones can visit stunning backcountry locations to construct or rebuild footpaths, cabins, and shelters. In the process, you can meet new people, explore canyons, peaks, and valleys, and enjoy quiet evenings around a fire.
Search the AHS's database of more than 70 projects happening nationwide in 2008. Trips are only $275 ($245 for AHS members). Sign up early and receive 10% off, along with the best selection.
American Hiking Society volunteers also have the opportunity to apply for two volunteer expeditions in Chilean Patagonia, both sponsored by The Patagonian Foundation.
Holiday Gift Idea: American Hiking Society Membership
Consider giving a fellow hiker or backpacker a gift membership in the American Hiking Society. A $30, one-year membership includes subscriptions to American Hiker and Backpacker magazines, along with other member benefits.
For $100 you can give a Special Gift Membership Bundle, which also includes a pair of special edition LEKI trekking poles and an American Hiking Society Nalgene bottle. Gift membership bundles are also available by calling 1-800-972-8608 ext. 207.
The American Hiking Society is the only national organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, the natural areas that surround them, and the hiking experience itself.
A Few Thoughts on Andy Skurka
Andy Skurka completed his 6,875-mile Great Western Loop on Saturday when he returned to Grandview Point on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim after six months of hiking. After reading the facts in the press release supplied by his sponsor GoLite and poking around on andrewskurka.com I have a few thoughts about Andy and his feat:
1. Self-Sufficiency and Purpose: Andy averaged 30 miles per day for seven months. That’s more than a marathon a day. He did it carrying all of his own gear in a modified GoLite Jam2 pack for an average pack weight of 12.7 pounds (you can read his GWL gear lists for what he used on each section of the hike). And he did it to benefit an important cause—highlighting the effects of global warming in our wild lands, including 12 National Parks and more than 75 wilderness areas.
So I’ve got to wonder, why does someone like ultra-runner Dean Karnazes get so much media attention for stunts like last year’s 50 marathons in 50 days, which benefited no one but himself and wasn’t even a first, while Andy’s recognition has been limited largely to the hiking and backcountry community? I can’t even imagine all the fuel and other resources that went into arranging Karnazes’s event, and to what purpose? He may be a very nice guy, but I just don’t feel the inspiration. Instead let’s recognize the accomplishments of outdoorspeople like Andy who pursue goals larger than themselves for more important purposes.
2. Diet: I’m a pretty basic eater on the trail and am known to love a good energy bar or candy bar, but I was surprised by just how much Andy’s trail menu relies on bars—breakfast is three bars, four of his six daytime snacks are two bars each (that’s eight more bars), then an easy hot meal for dinner—for 11 bars a day. Obviously he knows what works for him and his body and he explains it well. I was left craving oatmeal (of course that would require more fuel), or at least some peanut butter after reading it.
3. Going to Great Lengths: I loathe the term “extreme.” It is overused and trendy and rarely does justice to any true accomplishment. But Andy truly went to great lengths on his Great Western Loop and while I’ve never met him he sounds like a nice guy who actually believes in his role as a “GoLite on the Planet” ambassador.
So congratulations, Andy! Here's hoping you'll inspire more people to find ways to go lighter on our planet.
Skurka to Finish Great Western Loop Tomorrow
On April 9, super-distance hiker Andrew Skurka set off from Grandview Point on the Grand Canyon's South Rim, hoping to become the first person to complete the Great Western Loop, a network of five long-distance hiking trails and a self-made segment through the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. On his 6,875-mile route he’s passed through 12 National Parks and more than 75 wilderness areas in an attempt to draw attention to the effects of global warming on America’s most iconic wild lands.
Tomorrow, Saturday, November 3, Andy is expected to complete the loop back at Grandview Point, having walked an average of about 30 miles per day for the past seven months. According to andrewskurka.com he’s expected to come out of the canyon between noon and 4 p.m. (probably closer to 4 p.m.) and supporters are welcome.
For more info on Andy's Great Western Loop visit www.andrewskurka.com or www.GoLite.com.
Got Your Hunter Orange? Hiking Safely During Hunting Season
White-tailed deer, courtesy of Wikipedia.
It’s hunting season here in Maine, as in many other places, and that means it’s time to break out the fluorescent orange vests and hats every time we take to the trails and woods. Here are a few safety reminders for hiking, mountain biking, trail running, or any activity that gets you out in the woods this time of year.
Be Very Visible: Ideally you should wear blaze (fluorescent) orange clothing that can be seen from all sides, like a hat and some sort of vest or jacket. Bright reds and yellows are also good color options. Think bright, even garish. Now’s a great time to go retro with that old neon jacket from the ’80s. Make sure your backpack has some bright orange on it too, like a large orange bandanna. Avoid any brown, tan, and especially white. You don’t want to look like the flash of a deer’s tail. And don’t forget to outfit your dog with its own blaze orange vest and collar.
Make Yourself Heard: Usually I opt for quiet on a hike or trail run, but during hunting season I’m far more likely to keep up a steady conversation with a partner. If you’re alone you can whistle or sing to make yourself heard, or consider a bell on you or your dog. Now is not the time to practice your stealth hiking moves.
Be Aware: Hunters are active from early dawn to dusk and in between. While you’re more likely to find hunters closer to any roads or trailheads and in valleys, expect that you can meet them anywhere at any time. Also, while bushwhacking can be a lot of fun, during the weeks of hunting season I stick to marked and maintained trails.
Know the Rules: If possible hike on trails in areas where no hunting is allowed or on days of the week (like Sunday here in Maine) when there’s no hunting. While deer rifle season typically brings the most hunters out into the woods, a variety of hunting seasons can extend the activity year-round. Know the hunting season dates and rules for your state and local area.
Above all use common sense and do your part to share the woods safely.
A Journey of 2,000+ Miles...
Ken Grant completes the AT after 17 years. Photo: Ken Grant, from Greenville Online.
Thru-hikers and other endurance athletes typically get media attention for going ever faster and farther. While their exploits certainly can be inspiring, they aren’t always relevant to the weekend hikers and backpackers who have to squeeze in backcountry adventures between family and work commitments. For them I offer up Ken Grant of Liberty, S.C., a 58-year-old high school teacher who recently completed the Appalachian Trail after 17 years of section hiking.
An average AT thru-hiker can cover the trail in five or six months and a record-breaking speed hiker can do it in less than 48 days, with support. But Grant proves that you don’t need huge blocks of time or an uber-level of fitness to accomplish big things, just determination. He typically used his spring vacation and a week or so each summer to hike 130 to 140 miles a year on his way from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.
So what do you want to accomplish now, or 17 years from now? Make a life list of your own outdoor goals (trails to hike, mountains to climb, parks to explore) and then start knocking stuff off it. Because 17 years from now you can either have attempted (and hopefully achieved) your goals, or you can just be 17 years older. What’s on your list?
Read more about Grant's hike in the Greenville Online.
Off the Beaten Path?
Venturing into the backcountry is a great way of getting away from it all. But just how far away is "away?"
This map from the U.S. Geological Survey's Road Indicator Project shows the average distance to a road from any point in the country. Dark green shows the wildest areas — 20 kilometers or more from the nearest road — while yellow shows dense urban areas where you can scarcely turn around without stumbling into traffic.
I think this map is a pretty good argument for protecting our few remaining roadless areas from encroaching development and off-road motorized recreation. They're not many and they're all we have left.
In the western U.S. many of these roadless areas are managed by the National Forest Service. To learn more, check out the Wilderness Society's roadless initiative. In the East, our few roadless lands are a patchwork of federal, state, local, and private ownership. Contact your local land trust or state land management agency to find out what's being done to protect roadless areas near you.
Source: http://rockyitr.cr.usgs.gov/rmgsc/pdf/factSheets/fs2005-3011.pdf
Happy 70th Birthday, AT
Seventy years ago today, on August 14, 1937, a six-man Civilian Conservation Corps crew completed the final link of the 2,025-mile Appalachian Trail: a 2-mile section in Maine on a ridge connecting Spaulding and Sugarloaf mountains, 186 miles south of Katahdin. Without fanfare the crew moved on to building shelters.
“Rather than a sense of exultation, this situation brings a fuller realization of our responsibilities,” said ATC chair Myron Avery of the event. “To say that the Trail is completed would be a complete misnomer. Those of us, who have physically worked on the Trail, know that the Trail, as such, will never be completed.”
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