What I learned from a day of talking to people at a trailhead
For one day this summer, I got to spend most of a day seeing what a trailhead sees. I had never spent hours at a trailhead before, and the experience surprised me. It showed me the variety of people who use our public lands and why public lands need funding — to be able to serve all the different people seeking time outside.
When I visit a trailhead, I’m usually there just long enough to get my boots on and hit the trail. But for one day this summer, I got to spend most of a day seeing what a trailhead sees.
It was June 21, Washington Trails Day. I spent the day at Lena Lake trailhead, talking with visitors about the trail holiday and how they could take action to protect public lands, like the ones they were about to enjoy. (At the time, there were proposals to sell millions of acres of our national lands.)
Myself (at left) and two WTA volunteer ambassadors spent most of the day at Lena Lake trailhead.
I had never spent hours at a trailhead before, and the experience surprised me. It showed me the variety of people who use our public lands and why public lands need funding — to be able to serve all the different people seeking time outside.
I didn’t expect how many people would be eager to talk with me and the volunteer ambassadors who were also representing WTA. I thought people would be antsy to start their day outside, but most people stopped to chat with us. (Thank you!)
That day, the trailhead welcomed a family with young kids and a toddler who were out to see how far they would walk.
The trailhead was the meeting point for a church group, setting out on an overnight trip to connect with each other and the natural world.
Time on trail can be a chance to connect with friends, with nature or with ourselves. Photo of Storm King Trail by Amanda Bond.
It was a launching point for someone’s first backpacking trip. Their friend was taking them for a test run before a longer adventure they had planned together. (One of the volunteer ambassadors helped the new backpacker adjust her backpack straps for hopefully a more comfortable first time out.)
The trailhead that day saw someone who was on break from thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail due to an injury. While they recovered, they were spending time with friends and family, including on a hike to Lena Lake.
Lena Lake trailhead that day welcomed a father who hadn’t been hiking in years. He was reuniting with hiking while introducing it to his two kids. One of the kids had fashioned their own hiking stick and said they planned to make a notch on it to remember every hike they did.
Public lands are for firsts (hikes and backpacking trips), for kids and adults alike. Photo at left by Amy MacDonald. Photo at right by Joanda Wilson.
The trailhead saw people visiting from Vermont, Florida and California. Some of them commented on the amazing trail system we have in Washington.
If this trailhead could talk, it would tell you about all the different people looking to experience the outdoors: adults, children, friends (including dogs), seasoned hikers, first-timers, community groups, solo hikers and others.
Seeing what a trailhead sees for one day made me proud of our public lands, where so many people find so much benefit.
That day, so many people were happy to sign WTA’s petition to protect against public land sales. That immediate threat has passed, but our public lands continue to face long term threats from reduced staffing and funding cuts.
With these cuts, trailheads like Lena Lake will see fewer Forest Service staff coming to clean bathrooms, operate campgrounds and clear trails. This will make it harder for us to experience our public lands, and some people will face more challenges than others. Obstacles on trail will put places out of reach more quickly for anyone with mobility limitations, for instance.
Public lands are meant to serve people of all ages and abilities. Photo of Spray Park Trail by Joyce Tomlinson.
Closed bathrooms will mean many members of our community won’t be able to visit outdoor places, including older folks. I’ve heard this concern from WTA hikers about their own experience, and from partners about elders in the communities they work with.
The groundswell of support for public lands blocked the proposed land sales earlier this year, and now we need everyone’s voices again. If you haven’t already, sign up for WTA’s Trail Action Network to join the chorus of voices for public lands.
Public lands belong to all of us, and they are meant to benefit us all.
Public lands provide a place for community. Photo of Sourdough Ridge by Patty Tang.
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