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Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/08/01/hello-world/
Jul 31 2011
Nature is the Key to Happiness
I have often cited the important role that trails play in overall health and well-being. And I have specifically discussed how trails seem to have an incredibly positive effect on mood and attitude.
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| For a quick dose of nature’s medicine, find a nearby trail. |
But I also attributed a lot of that positive force to the healthful benefits of exercise. It turns out, I was only partially correct; and that’s good news. Because if exercise was the only good aspect to trails, then people could get the same results by working out in a gym.
But a relatively new study out of the University of Rochester shows that being outdoors and surrounded by nature may play an even bigger role in the positive effects of trails on our mood.
The study was carefully conducted to neutralize the exercise-effect by comparing people who walked indoors with those who walked outdoors. It became fairly obvious that nature and the outdoors environment played a significant role in boosting people’s morale. This is not to downplay other factors such as exercise and social interaction. Many studies have shown that these are also important factors in happiness and contentment. However, it would appear that Mother Nature may play the most significant role of all.
So when you’re feeling down and need a quick pick-me-up, just hit the trail. You’ll soon be feeling the effects of exercise, social stimulation, and, best of all, nature’s own magic elixir.
Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/07/31/nature-is-the-key-to-happiness/
Jul 28 2011
A Coordinated Trail Network
I recently met with a representative for Senator Michael Bennet. I was scheduled to meet with Senator Udall in June, but was unable to make it to Washington D.C. as planned.
At my recent meeting with Representative Bennet’s assistant, I asked him to deliver the following letter to Colorado Senators about assisting me in developing a coordinated network of trails in the United States:
Dear Senators Bennet and Udall,
Thank you for the opportunity to present you with my ideas.I am confident that you will find this information useful and worthwhile.
I am a retired public school teacher and currently producea non-profit website and blog at trailsnet.com. As a lifelong bicyclist andtrail-user, I believe that the United States has one of the most incredible andextensive systems of trails in the world. I also believe that this system is vastlyunder-utilized and often unheralded.
Thirteen years ago, I had the opportunity to ride theTrail of the Hiawatha in Idaho. It is easy for me to remember this eventbecause my daughter was one year old and my father was in his mid-seventies.This was a pivotal moment in my life, because I had not realized that suchtrails existed that would allow three generations to explore history, nature,tunnels and trestles while sharing valuable time together and getting anabundance of fresh-air and exercise.
I began to research trails on the Internet and had adifficult time finding any information about the vast network of trails that Iwas starting to discover through travel, word-of-mouth, and extensive research.So I decided to develop my own website to help people find trails. I wasespecially interested in highlighting family-friendly trails that could be usedfor both recreation and transportation.
The more I researched, the more I discovered an abundanceof such trails. Now, after thirteen years of trail sleuthing, I have good newsand bad news. The good news is that there are not only thousands of greattrails out there, but there are also a multitude of websites devoted to helpingpeople find these trails. The bad news is that there is very little coordinationof the various trail entities and websites. The other bad news is that there isstill a lack of information (at least coordinated, comprehensive information) availableto potential trail users. The trails exist, but most people do not know aboutthe trails. And many of the websites devote the majority of their time andresources to mountain bike trails than the utility trails that are useful tomost Americans. In fact, most of the trail websites still do not even have aspecial category dedicated to multi-use, accessible trails such as rail-trailsand canal trails.
As I travel the country, riding and researching trails, Iam constantly amazed that people aren’t aware of the wonderful trails locatedright in their back yards. Once these people are made aware of the trails, theylove them and use them prodigiously. And think of what that means for ourcountry. With increased trail use, comes decreased obesity, decreased traffic,decreased fossil fuel use, decreased sedentary lifestyles, decreased pollution…
What would it take to vastly increase the use of ourAmerican trails? Surprisingly, it would take very little. In a word, it wouldtake coordination. The trails alreadyexist in abundance. The organizations such as American Trails and Rails toTrails Conservancy already exist. The websites such as Traillink, Everytrail,and Alltrails already exist. The government agencies such as the ForestService, National Park Service, and Department of Transportation already exist.What is missing is the coordination between these entities; and another missinglink is any type of coordinated communication to the general public. There isno synchronizing body to bring these various agencies together.
It would not take a great deal of funding to provide thecoordination needed to bring this issue to the forefront. In fact, it would takevery little if any federal government funding. For a relatively small level offunding, we could educate Americans about the trails that are available. Wecould organize the systems that currently exist so that our trails arediscovered and utilized to their maximum potential. We could help individualstake advantage of the health benefits of our trail system and small businessestake advantage of the economic benefits of nearby trails. Studies have shownthat trails have a far-reaching and positive impact on the communities throughwhich they pass, but many of these communities have no idea how to takeadvantage of such opportunities.
I would like to help develop a system that allows us tocoordinate and make use of our current trail system to a much greater extentthan it is currently being utilized. Whether this program is funded throughstate government, federal government, corporate sponsors (REI, Trek, Microsoft,etc.), non-profits (Rails toTrails Conservancy, American Trails), website sponsors (Expedia, Trails.com,Google) or private donations, it is time to introduce the American people tothe incredible resources already located within their country, state, and community.
I would greatly appreciate your help in getting thisinitiative off the ground. Colorado has a rich history of outdoor recreationand environmental stewardship. Wouldn’t it be great if Colorado’s electedrepresentatives took the lead on this issue? It is one of those rareopportunities to make a substantial impact with very little governmentspending. And the impact would be far-reaching including: recreation,transportation, environmental responsibility, healthy lifestyles, and jobcreation.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this issue. Ilook forward to hearing from you about helping to create a new direction forone of America’s greatest yet most underutilized assets. Please contact me forfurther ideas, information, and suggestions. I greatly appreciate theleadership you two have provided for our state and country. I am proud to haveyou as Colorado’s elected representatives.
Respectfully yours,
Kevin L. Purdy
Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/07/28/a-coordinated-trail-network/
Jul 21 2011
Why do you ride your bike?
I recently found a quote that aptly describes why I love bike trails. It also illustrates a different biking philosophy than the norm:
“Moving fast is not the same as going somewhere.” – Robert Anthony
What does that have to do with biking and trails?
I think it has a lot to do with my biking style and that of many other rail-trail riders.
It seems like most bikers I meet are into speed. They are more concerned with getting from point A to point B… quickly. Whether they are on a road bike or a mountain bike, they are sprinting down the straight stretches and blasting around corners. If they are riding with others, they are concentrating on the competition of going faster than the next guy. How many people can I pass, how quickly can I get “there?”
That’s what I see on the roads, and that’s what I see on mountain bike trails. But when I’m on a destination trail (rail-trail, canal trail, distance trail) I see the opposite. People are riding for the joy of riding. Their priorities seem to be to enjoy:
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| enjoying a Wyoming rail-trail |
- the scenery of the trail
- the outdoor experience
- the camaraderie
- the fresh air
- the relaxation
- nature
You’ll notice that nowhere on that list are the words speed, competition, or thrill-seeking.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against those pursuits. My point is, “It’s nice to have somewhere to go where you can get away from those things when you want to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy the great outdoors. There’s enough stress in everyday life without also forcing it into your vacation, hobby, or leisure pursuit.
So where can you go to find such peaceful and tranquil trails? Well for starters, here’s a list of states with links to their premier destination trails:
Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/07/21/why-do-you-ride-your-bike/
Jul 16 2011
Trail Mapping Websites
If you’re looking for a great trail, you will find an incredible selection of trail-mapping websites available. Not only do these sites allow you to map your own bike ride, trail run, or hike, they also allow you to access trail information provided by other users.
Following is a briefly annotated list of trail mapping websites:
- Ride with GPS – a site to help cyclists plan bike rides and find routes in their area
- Ride Dog– designed to help bicyclists find, map, & share cycling routes worldwide
- gpsies – allows outdoor recreationalists to create “tracks” and view those of others
- alltrails – Share your own trail information & explore over 40,000 trails & trail reviews
- fitgroups – Plan group rides & hikes in your neck of the woods.
- biketrippin – Use BikeTrippin to journal, track progress, & upload photos.
- trailpedia – a collection of trail descriptions that have been submitted by registered contributors.
- routebuddy – a UK-based developer of GPS-enabled mapping software
- sports-tracker – Turns your mobile device into a social sports computer.
- sportypal – Log & map your run, bike ride, walk, or inline skate experience.
- Everytrail – Create and view trail trips and trail guides.
Most of the above websites/apps can be used to monitor your own activity, share your trail experience, and view the trail activities of other users. Basically, they are interactive versions of such trail location sites as traillink, trailsnet, and Trails.com.Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/07/16/trail-mapping-websites/
Jul 10 2011
Hiking with Plantar Fasciitis
Don’t let plantar fasciitis keep you from enjoying your favorite hiking trail.
On a recent hike to Leigh Lake in northwestern Montana, I implemented my new hiking regimen that involves stretching before during and after a rigorous hike. As always, I found that not only is it possible to hike with plantar fasciitis, hiking can actually alleviate some of the symptoms of chronic heel pain, if you take the proper steps:
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| Leigh Lake near Libby, Montana |
1. Always wear hiking shoes/boots with plenty of arch support. This is not the time to scrimp on footwear.
2. If you have orthotics for your everyday shoes, don’t forget to transfer them to your hiking boots/shoes.
3. Lightly stretch before you start the hike, but don’t stretch to the point of pain.
4. Shortly after you begin your hike, once you have warmed up your muscles, stop and do a more thorough stretching regimen. Don’t just stretch your feet; stretch your calves also.
5. Continue to take stretching breaks throughout your hike. One of the best stretches is to find a rock, root, or mound and elevate the front portion of your foot. Then gradually add more weight and lean into the stretch. Do this slowly and don’t bounce on it.
6. Once your hike is over, stretch one last time, while your muscles, tendons, and fascia is still warm. If possible, ice the bottom of your foot after stretching.
7. Sometimes, it is helpful to take anti-inflammatory medicine before your hike.
Of course you should refrain from hiking and other rigorous exercise if your doctor advises you to do so. It is also unwise to try and “hike through the pain.” If your foot continues to hurt, it’s time to stop hiking and visit your doctor.
Otherwise, get outside and enjoy a good hike.
Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/07/10/hiking-with-plantar-fasciitis/