Stewardship

There seem to be a lot more people out using the trails these days.

I'm sure that will only increase as the weather improves.

As I ran down a local and much-loved trail recently, it occurred to me that this could be a wonderful thing.

The beginning of something..

While I know there are many longtime trail users - hikers, runners, and cyclists - that are irritated by the sudden influx of people on their favourite routes, my optimistic side tells me this could end up benefiting us all.

If it unfolds as we might hope.

If these new trail users realise how precious our outdoor spaces really are, we may be creating a whole new crew of people who will advocate for their protection. Who may be motivated to help with trail work - even something as simple as picking up one piece of trash while out walking - and pressure governing bodies to maintain trails and natural areas for all to enjoy.

Because these spaces are delicate, and need to be kept safe.

I know there is a huge issue with all of this: I'm assuming that these folks will actually care. I know that some of them may be currently behaving in ways that jeopardize - rather than preserve - the natural beauty around them. I worry about the green shoots I see along a particular section of trail; will they be trampled before they bloom into a glorious carpet of trilliums? Will people know that these flowers are protected by law as our provincial flower?

Perhaps - as seasoned trail users - that is our new calling. To educate, and hope that we can turn what could potentially be the ruination of our beloved trails into a new generation of stewards.

So we can all enjoy the trails for years to come.

So, my challenge to you is this: the next time you see someone out in the woods who may not be displaying perfect trail etiquette or respect for their natural surroundings, try to view it as an occasion for education rather than an annoyance. Show them (from an appropriate distance, of course) what they may have missed - the delicate leaves of a wild plant or flower just emerging above the soil, the buds on the twigs slowly beginning to unfurl into a green canopy, or the turtle sunning itself on a rock in the trailside pond. There are no real races in the near future for which we need to train intensely, so why not pause for a moment while you're out and try to pass along some of your love for your favourite places to people who are just discovering them for the first time?

Teach them to listen to the endless chatter of a rocky stream.

If we treat these newcomers to our trails with contempt, we miss an opportunity to create a new ally in the never-ending fight against the destruction of our outdoor spaces...and the trails need all the friends they can make!