Trail Talk – July 2023

The roller-coaster that was our recent weather should settle down as we head into July. Was that a late Spring followed by an early Summer we just witnessed? The heavy mountain snowpack from the lingering Winter belied the continuation of the drought affecting our local valley floors. Another water year at less than 70% of normal rainfall has left our local vegetation parched and the epidemic of dead and dying Douglas fir continues to be quite evident on our surrounding hills. Weather prognosticators have promised everything from a hot, dry Summer to a cooler and occasionally moist season. In true meteorological fashion, we can say that one of them is likely to be 50% correct.

We do know that some seasonal cycles are predictable. Trails that had sloppy wet leaves on the surface just two months ago will now become drier and dustier. Spring’s bonanza of wildflowers will fade into memory as the parent plants store Summer’s energy for next year’s explosion of color. Local creeks will become trickles and surface water may disappear entirely, leaving but a few secret pools for wildlife to enjoy. And our Pacific madrones will lose their yellowed and damaged 2-year old leaves mid-summer to create a crunchy leaf litter underfoot.

Early morning and late evening will become the preferred times to be out and afoot on the trails. Take a moment to appreciate the labors of our local volunteers who give time and energy to maintaining Jacksonville’s extensive network of forest by-ways. Enjoy some time on a trailside bench just listening to the local sounds, “forest-bathing” for your own benefit. Let the birdsongs be your refuge from the “madding crowds.” Find one of the secret forest pools and wait patiently for the local denizens to emerge. It’s simply the wrong time of year to be in a hurry.

There may be some additional rustle and bustle in our local woodlands as fuels reduction work continues. Depending on Fire Season restrictions, crews will make progress on thinning forest fuels. Some trails may be temporarily closed due to these activities. Please be respectful of these closures.

In other trail news, a recommendation regarding throttled E-bikes has been forwarded from the Parks Committee to the City Council restricting their use on city trails. And, in light of recent news coverage of a tendency to overheat and catch fire, along with seasonal fire danger, an E-bike restriction is prudent.

On a more positive note, bike racks are being installed in two locations in Forest Park: near the vault toilets at Parking Area P1A and up Reservoir Rd. at P4, where an additional Mountain Biking Information kiosk is being installed as an Eagle Scout project later this summer. These racks are provided for those visitors wanting to pedal to the park, then stash their bicycle and head out for a walk or run along the trails.

And remember to download the free Avenza map to your device. It’s the only App that delineates appropriate trail use in our local parks.

Featured image: Volunteers Gary Sprague and Clayton Gillette installing bike rack at P1A.