Here is the second essay from Dr. Walter Cook, reprinted with permission of the author.
Trails – What Good Are They, Anyway?
By Dr. Walter Cook
This is the title of an hour-long slide show I have given many times at the Len Foote Hike Inn. Mostly, the slides show unusual things, beautiful flowers, and other curiosities one will find along trails. My purpose is to encourage people to walk, stroll, or hike on a foot path. Of course, the audience at Hike Inn didn’t need any encouragement, since they walked five miles to get there, but like many hikers, they may be busy talking and not notice the interesting things they pass along the trail.
My purpose in designing, maintaining, and sometimes building trails is also to encourage others, especially those who have never walked on a woodland trail. I like to open their minds to the natural world they are in. To me, a trail is more than an exercise facility – it is an educational facility. It “educates” a first-time visitor so they can discover that the outdoors – forest, meadow, stream – is not a threatening environment. By staying on the trail, they can see nature but they don’t have to touch it, nor let nature touch them. And after that first time, when they have safely survived the new experience, they will be less reluctant to try it again – and again and again. And on each successive experience, they will discover new things, besides the fact that the natural environment is not a dangerous place. They will begin to be curious about things they see or hear. Soon, they will enjoy the experience. They will gradually become familiar with the natural environment, and eventually, they will want to ensure the environment remains protected.
Trails also have much to offer the experienced naturalist. I am not a birder, but I’m sure it must be easier to enjoy birds from a trail, where there is no noisy crunch of dry leaves. I am a wildflower enthusiast, and trails do help me to enjoy them. I hope to walk each of the trails described by Hugh and Carol Nourse in their book, Favorite Wildflower Walks in Georgia.
As a trail designer, I spend a lot of time walking “off trail.” Wandering through the forest with clinometer and plastic colored flagging is my favorite recreational activity. Although I get paid for some “jobs,” it is always enjoyable to get away from where others have been (at least recently) and discover new things.
But all the while I am tying flags, I imagine people walking on the trail after it is built. As they see things along the trail, what will be their response? Will they like what they see? Will they be curious about things they see? Will they notice that some trees look alike, but unlike others? Will they wonder what kind of bird is singing so conspicuously? Will they remember to tell their friends that they had a positive experience, and encourage the friends to go with them next time?
So, if you have a friend or relative, especially a young person who isn’t familiar with the natural world, encourage him or her – no, insist they go with you on a walk. Make it an easy, short walk – don’t make it strenuous, just enjoyable. When my granddaughter was about four, we walked a mile in my woods, and at the end, she said, “That was a gooood hike.” I was pleased.
Additional Resources:
American Trails.org: connecting people to nature
Alltrails: Find trails by location, length, and difficulty
Webinar: Building Trails On Your Property. The page leading to the webinar has links to some great resources at the bottom.
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