Trail Talk – June 2020

Living in a dynamic world, we’ve often been surprised by just how quickly our comfortable metaphoric rugs can be swept from underfoot. We are creatures of habit, and when our circumstances are changed, it’s a frustrating chore to adjust normal practices. Our current status with COVID-19 is in daily flux, and we look to fallback comforts to keep our sanity.

Southern Oregon has been more fortunate than many locales, because we do have reliable access to wild places, where “social” (in reality “physical”), distancing is more easily achieved. While our elected officials have had the unenviable task of dictating what public places must close down for the protection of vulnerable populations, we have learned to value our responsibility as citizens to look out for one another as we go about whatever activities are sanctioned.

The City of Jacksonville was able to keep our woodland parks open because people have had the integrity needed for success in navigating these trying times. With almost 60 miles of trails in the Woodlands and Forest Park, folks have been able to stay spread out. The common courtesies of “Excuse me” and “Thank you” echo through the trees, along the ridges, and up and down the canyons.

Many first-time visitors have found new places to hike and bike. Overall, their impressions of our trail system have been positive. Others have explored farther afield, finding new vistas and favorite walkabouts. To make so much delicious lemonade when handed such a sour batch of lemons two months ago has shown a resilience in our population that will carry on for some time.

We don’t know if or when restrictions can be lifted; that’s a decision for the people we’ve chosen to lead us through difficult times. As much as I dislike the term “new normal,” we must accept that some things might be on new trajectories, and what was once considered an everyday habit or chore may morph into something quite new and different indeed. And no lowly caterpillar ever complained of becoming a butterfly! That said, please heed the guidelines for our continued safety; it would be a sorry state of affairs to have to surrender our access to wild places because folks became careless.

The trails? They are in good shape. The wildflowers? Aah, to be the lily of the field and have no cares for that which troubles the masses. Spring marches into summer, our continuing drought has brought us an early Fire Season (Be Careful), water becomes scarce for woodland creatures, and the silent footfalls on Spring’s soft soils become the crackling crunches of Summer.

In Forest Park, more benches are being installed in viewpoint areas and deep in the cool canyons. (The benches come to us courtesy of a Jacksonville Woodlands Association grant, with some matching funds from the city.) It is recommended that park patrons carry sanitizer when hiking, especially if planning to sit and enjoy these benches. It’s this discretion that is the epitome of valor in these difficult times.