A Philosophy of Trails

Nothing like a little singletrack to soothe the soul

Although modern lifestyles have trended towards the more sedentary, the human species over it's entire history has been a highly mobile mammal and trails in one form or another have been our pathways. There is a deeply inherent satisfaction we feel as we make our way along a trail, often with companions be they other humans or perhaps canines. For millions of years of our existence there were no concrete roads or paths, we traversed across the Earth on our feet or atop other animals and if enough creatures followed a similar path a trail could be formed. In a relatively short period of time we've lost the majority of our free movement and open space to roam, which is why trails are more essential than ever. We can still tap in to that soul fulfilling feeling of being in the moment as we hike, bike, ski or run through the forest and the more we do that, the better off we will be. We are creatures of movement and its not too late to get back to our roots.

Can you even imagine what the United States would look like without its massive network of roads and highways? I often dream of a world in which the automobile never achieved dominance and we developed the infrastructure of our country around travel via bikes, horses and trains. We could have a cross-country system of high speed electric rail with accompanying "rail trails" for non-motorized users. While this thought experiment is little more than fantasy, it hints at the notion that our world doesn't need to be organized in the way that it is and that how it stands is likely not the best way. I believe there is a way we can live our modern lifestyles without succumbing to the dominance of asphalt and automobiles. Enter: trails. While our modern metropolises have encroached greatly upon the natural world, we still have the ability to stem the tide and fully embrace the wilderness we have protected.

Not so long ago we were all trail users, it's how we got around, and I recognize we can't all go back to being hunter-gatherers but we can improve our outdoor infrastructure so that any interested people can utilize a trail. Despite my harangue against concrete, a trail can be paved too, because for some people that gives them the best experience. Whether it's a hundred yard stretch of paved path through your local park or a backcountry trail through the national forest, there is an underlying commonality to the experience that makes all of our lives better. We move, we breath, we see and appreciate the beauty around us. The more we get out on trails, the healthier and happier we will be as a society, making all of us stewards for the environment. It's more critical now than ever that we all find a way to connect with nature, to see ourselves as one with the natural world so that we might take interest in protecting the very planet that allows us to exist. Movement on trails represents an essential human behavior that has fallen from daily prominence but we can still reevaluate it's importance.

It's really quite simple, movement in nature is good for us. The more trails we have and the greater the variety, the more people will use them and the healthier we will be. Modern life has severely overcomplicated, well, damn near everything, which is why its even more important to find the time to get out in nature, take a deep breath, and enjoy a stroll down your favorite trail. See you out there!

-Southwest Singletrack-