Trails

I don’t know what you believe in; it doesn’t matter.  When we were either kicked out of the Garden or we dropped out of the trees, one of the first things we must have encountered was a trail.  I can’t believe we stood there and didn’t wonder where that trail led.  Well, it led to water or a low pass through the hills or something else important to get to one place from another.

I firmly believe we are somewhat programmed to follow a trail, if it’s there.   Some of us walked our north woods without following trails.  It was very enjoyable and sometimes aggravating; but when we cut a trail, and it was going in the same direction we wanted to, well, it was just paradise.  We knew it would be a good thing to help, in any way, the development of local trails through our unique forest habitat.

Today our trails are highways with center lines and fog lines painted with a mixture of reflective glass beads.  Other trails are our streets, sidewalks town and county roads.  They are works of wonder; but we need places where trucks and cars and side-by-sides don’t push us off to the side.  Places were all we hear is our own breathing and the constant sounds of the woods.

In the early ‘70s I worked with a group of men who refused to follow trails.  Well, they still followed them; but off-set a chain either side or one side.  To them, the trail signified danger.  That’s where the booby-traps were set; that’s where they would get ambushed, if it was going to happen.  So, their ‘point’ was expected to follow the trail, off-set and do the patrolling or recon in that manner.  They had a very low injury and mortality rate as I remember.  I learned a lot about trails and where they go in different country by guys who refused to follow them.

But back to our trails.  Whether or not everyone agrees with or appreciates the trails we have, they are a very important part of our landscape.  They became even more important when folks were quarantined and stuck around home.  They provide us with a place to really be part of our north woods.  They let us get away from the streets and highways for just a little while; and in the winter, well, what a place to be: no salt, no slush, no crusted banks and a packed base to ski or snow-shoe, or even walk.  

Someone texted our Secretary asking if there were any trails around where tall weeds, sticks or stumps wouldn’t trip them up.  He, being inexplicably gracious, gave her a number of local trails where the tread is being maintained on a regular basis.  I would have told her to pick up her feet when she’s in the woods; but we really are trying to make all our trails as user friendly as possible.  Yes, the Rangers work on the trail-bed so that our first grooming is as good as possible (no stabs, black berries or sprouts in the track or pole lane) and maybe we can ski on 15cm of snow instead of having to wait until there’s double that on the ground.  We cut dead and wind-fall as much to get the machinery over the trail as we do for easier waking or skiing; but the result is the same: while on our trails, one can look up and around without worrying about things tripping them.

Most of that work has been done this fall.  Yes, if we get some more nice weather (frozen or not) there’s still more that can be done; but rest assured, the crew has been out there worrying here and there about making our trails as enjoyable as possible.  They look pretty good.  They are very enjoyable to walk on as of now.  For skiers and snow-shoe-r’s, they can only get better.  

There’s always more to do.  There is dirt to move, rocks to roll, bridges to build.  We’d like to build some benches and another one or two camp fire sites.  Shoot, we’d like to build a trestle bridge over 77 for trail users someday, and a lodge out at Weber Lake, a coffee kiosk out on Montreal.  I’m dreaming, as usual; but there it is.

Trails are as much a part of us as we are of them.  I guess that’s what I’ve been trying to say in all this.  To us, it’s a very deep-rooted avocation.

And then there’s that mysterious person or persons placing interesting things to notice out there along the trails, at least on Montreal…. Not us.  See for yourself.

Use your trails.  Introduce someone who doesn’t know to your trails.  Get out.  Ski Freely.  Z