Trail Talk – October 2021

That’s the late summer/early fall mantra for so many of us as we venture out for time on the trails. The cool, moist air that heralds the onset of our damp, foggy winters is still but a dream—but a dream worth having. To consider that we once wished for those dark dreary days of last winter to be gone seems so alien to our battered lungs and watering eyes.

For all the recent days of smothering, ash-laden skies, the fall colors will be all-the-more precious. Already, poison oak has adorned itself in the crimson garments of autumn, boldly showcasing colors that will soon be the province of dogwood. Big-leaf maple begins to flash golden through the mid-day shroud and ash and cottonwood prepare for their own grand entrance. Our dry days have stressed so many of our forest friends, and their retirement into dormancy to wish for wetter days has brought forth an early canvas of stunning radiance.

We’ve written in the past of walks through calf-deep golden maple leaves along our watershed streams. Of casual strolls through oak savannas, where some trees can’t help but be more colorful than their neighbors, a competition at the warmer end of the spectrum, where the oranges and reds become increasingly vibrant. Add in the azure skies of a smoke-free fall day and one can’t help but be out and about, stunned by Nature’s palette.

Some recent reading has reinforced our understanding of our bi-pedal nature and the co-evolution of up-right walking along with consciousness. Evolutionary biologists and paleontologists continue to update theories regarding the shift from four legs to two and the simultaneous enlargement of our cranial capacity and intelligence. Consider that when we are upright and traveling while exploring and examining our environment is like training a “muscle”—those frequent walks in Nature strengthen what makes us human.

As we become more aware of the impact that “mechanical recreation” (what Edward Abbey called “industrial tourism”) has on our world, many of us look to get back to the simpler pleasure of enjoying each and every stride, of relishing the feel of our feet actually contacting the earth. After Autumn rains have dampened the dust and moistened the leaf litter on the trails, try a short walk barefoot. Every step takes on its own “personality” when the subtle differences in trail texture become more obvious. There is a more primal connection to our physical world and an all but certain boost to our sense of self.

In trail news, hopefully the smoke will dissipate, and rains will come again to refresh our woodlands. Besides the local trails, this is a good time to visit the well-maintained trails of Applegate Lake. The poison oak has gone dormant and cooler days find the lakeside trails more temperate. As always, enjoy the simple pleasure of leaving footprints and taking memories.