Photo Kirk Hillsley.
A short walk on the popular Medd’s Mountain loop, next to the millpond, reveals graffiti on trees, toilet paper just steps off the trail, and the ever-present discarded dog poo bags. The forest floor appears trampled in some areas as inquisitive wanderers repeatedly head off-trail to explore the same curious looking stump or fallen tree. The wooden fence at the lookout to the farmer’s field is in pieces, again, and someone recently tried to burn one of the benches.
Photo Mark Carew.
Our trails are busier than they have ever been and some cracks are starting to show. For all trail users, but especially those of us who help to maintain our local trails, the COVID-19 pandemic has given us a glimpse into what the future could hold as our trails grow in popularity. What was once a hidden gem is becoming well known and well travelled.
Photo Mark Carew.
This problem is not unique to us, of course. From camping to canoeing, all forms of outdoor recreation have been dealing with a surge in traffic this year, as well as the challenges that such surges can bring. With so many traditional sports and activities still on hold, people continue searching for ways to replace them.
In a way, we are fortunate, as this moment in time provides us with a chance to reflect on the direction we’re heading in and whether or not this is really where we want to go. Something we can all relate to, as residents of Millbrook, is the struggle between growing our community and also preserving the reasons why our community is desirable in the first place. The trails really are no different. They exist because they highlight a beautiful and special setting that deserves to be shared, but if sharing it becomes its demise then we have to take pause.
As a mountain biker, and someone who has been working to help foster the growth of our trails for years now, this realization landed with a thud for me during this pandemic. In the spring, before most businesses re-opened, every day felt like a busy weekend in the forest. Hikers and bikers were coming in droves and finding an off-peak time to get out and lose yourself was becoming a challenge.
Like the members of many other groups and organizations, I have preached the mantra that this type of growth is a win-win. If we expand or build our recreational opportunities, our town will prosper. The downtown will thrive, rich in tourist dollars. Residents will enjoy new businesses and new opportunities as a result of that growth. However, I’ve realized that there is always a cost.
Sometimes, those costs are tangible and foreseeable. Other times, not. Sometimes, the cost comes as a loss of feelings of calm, comfort, security, or even identity. The overall experience altered in ways that are difficult to measure. Sometimes, what benefits visitors can absolutely hurt local residents.
I offer this knowing that there are still ways that we can grow our opportunities, sustainably, and for the benefit of both local residents and visitors, alike. More than ever, I also see the importance and challenges of balancing both of those things.
Fortunately, this is just a moment in time, and not necessarily how things will be a year or two from now. By then, most people should have returned to their pre-pandemic versions of themselves and mountain biking and hiking will once again get lost among a long list of things people can do to stay active. But, if we’re lucky, a few good folks will stay with us and our trail community will continue to grow, just at a more moderate pace.
This month’s trail tip: Keep it beautiful.
A Singletrack Mind by David D’Agostino
