Trail Talk – March 2020

A recent conversation in Forest Park with a couple of mountain bike riders from the Seattle area gave good notice of the value of Jacksonville’s wooded trail system. Here, on a winter’s day, they found ample opportunity to enjoy their time off from a hectic work schedule. Though staying at a motel nearer to I-5 where their professional conference was being held, they found the short drive to Jacksonville to be worth their time.

Having downloaded the Forest Park map onto their “smart” devices, they had no difficulty finding trails suitable to ride. They also complimented the city on the numerous signs throughout the park that gave them no reason to doubt that they were riding on sanctioned trails. Though they appeared quite tired when I caught up to them, they were anxious to return the following afternoon for more adventures.

Their impression of the trails around Jacksonville was quite favorable. They found the Forest Park biking trails to be challenging, but were quick to point out that the difference between the steep canyon terrain of the Jackson Creek Watershed and the gentle rolling hills of the Puget Sound area would speak to the dichotomy of the trail systems. They were also pleased to find many miles of trail here with relatively few bikes on them and they also said that the dozen or so hikers that they had encountered (along with a few dogs) had been quite courteous.

Their next question to me was, “Where is a good place in town to eat?” I had no difficulty listing a slew of fine dining establishments in Jacksonville.

After a season of winter weather, though much milder than past years, patient hikers are finding trail conditions improving. Blown-down and broken trees and snow-damaged brush are being cleared by trail crews, and damaged trail tread is being repaired. In this season of renewal, it’s heartening to see the bright greens of sprouting bulbs push up through the leaf litter and dried grasses. We feel the days lengthening and anticipate longer walks to explore the further corners of our woodlands.

Streams run noisily, chattering along their boulder strewn paths, then hushing as they meander through fern-filled canyons of maples and alders. Brave wren, flitting through trailside brush, gives voice to the coming spring. The mallards have returned to the old reservoir, where an early morning vigil is rewarded by songbirds too numerous to count.

Madrone woods are quite striking in the late winter. That young bark, starting out so green last summer, has now deepened to striking oranges, sentinel colors in the gray landscape. The bright stems, like so many gaudy columns, appear to hold aloft the forest canopy, a canopy much quieter now that the winter robins have had their fill of madrone berries.

Last month, I wrote of benches to visit and vistas to enjoy. Now, as we awake from our winter’s rest, we look to other spots to sit and meditate. It’s time to go walkabout and find the perfect bench to greet the coming spring.