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2021-07-23The Trail to Angel's Landing
There are few ways to describe the events of 2020 other than chaotic. The vast, sweeping changes that occurred left many confused and grasping, often in desperation. Meanwhile, 2021 was a mixed follow-up for a year where much remained the same, but travel restrictions began to lift. Seeing this window of opportunity, four friends and I leaped at it. We planned a weeklong trip to Zion National Park and on the first day, we headed for Angel's Landing. The situation around the pandemic resulted in a kind of claustrophobia that superimposed a hyperawareness of personal space. For many, where six feet distance apart was not just a courtesy in some establishments, but a rule that was often enforced. This condition of anxiety or even fear of contracting COVID-19 from another person in the limited size of restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores was easily felt. This kind of spatial awareness bled into one's perception so deeply that it might be retroactive. While watching a pre-pandemic movie with a shot of a crowd, the thoughts would intrude, "Where are everyone's masks?" or "Why is everyone standing so close together." Southern Utah is a great expanse of mesas, mountains, and bluffs under a rolling sky. Zion reflects this in the great size of the rock formations and the verdant greenery accompanying it. The contrast in scale highlights the simple fact that getting up to the tallest point of Angel's Landing is an exercise of walking upwards at steep inclines, often with other people in front of you, creating a line. Maybe it was the change in setting, but for a while, it was as if the pandemic was left behind. Everyone still brought masks, wore masks in crowded environments, and used hand sanitizer but the anxiety was not there. It appeared to be the common rule that the other tourists had agreed to. Replacing the fear was a determination to get to the highest point of the trails and photograph the scope of it all. It was only the first day of the trip and I had already been astounded. -
2021-08-21Mask trash
I went to Sedona to celebrate my birthday with some friends. We decided to do the bell rock hike and as we were hiking and enjoying nature it felt like life before Covid. It was an odd feeling of normalcy. That feeling quickly fled as we got lost on our way back to the parking lot. We ended up walking on the highway back to the parking lot instead of walking through a random trail. As we walked I came across this mask, there’s no way of knowing if it came from a car or a hiker but I was quickly reminded that we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Seeing left behind masks always makes me wonder how much mask trash has impacted our environment. -
2020-12-31They Never Saw the Sun
For every birthday and Christmas, I get new running shoes. I tell my mom and husband to buy them when they’re on sale, save them, and wrap them up for me. I run A LOT. When quarantine started in March, I took one run outside. Two days later, the CDC confirmed everyone’s worst fears - the virus was airborne. Although running is a low risk activity, where I run, the trails are very narrow. Unfortunately, the people who walk/bike/run there are apparently pretty narrow minded and refuse to wear masks. Could I run outside and not catch COVID? Probably. But with both my husband and I working from home, my +65 mom living with, and a perfectly fine treadmill, that risk just didn’t seem worth it. Man, I miss those trails. But I am lucky to have my treadmill. In July, I pulled out a new pair of running shoes. I honestly didn’t think about how long they’d been tied to the treadmill, I just laced them and put them on like I had done so many times before. One virtual marathon, three virtual 10Ks, and 600+ for fun miles (all on a treadmill) later, it was time to retire my trusty running shoes. On December 31, I announced their retirement with a snarky picture on my Instagram. But what a bizarre pair of shoes to retire. Perfectly clean on the outside, completely destroyed on the inside. The poor things never left the house, they never saw the sun. As a trail runner, my running shoes are always filthy by the time I’m ready to retire them. How strange to retire a pair of shoes that look brand new. How tired they are inside. A symbol of the bizarre year that was 2020. -
2020-12-07Tweet: Ontario Safety
"In Ontario, It’s unsafe to walk outdoor hiking trails But It is safe to walk to aisles in Walmart & Costco Because science" -
2020-11-17Bike Trail Pandemic Safety
This is a picture of a sign to “Please Wear A Mask” by one of the entrances of to my hometown’s bike path. Originally a local place by the local lake to take family and have a nice picnic, go on a brisk walk, or have a fun ride on your bike, the trail is a place where most locals congregate. Due to COVID-19, this local spot has grown a lot of attraction because when people have nothing else to do, they take up nature as their past time. However, this sign was placed to remind people that the pandemic is still real and all around us, and that people should still stay safe while partaking in a fun past time. Having these warnings out in public spaces help people keep a sense of mindfulness of others as they continue on their own endeavors of their day to day lives as we all try to live though a pandemic that has shaken the core of how people do live. -
April 27, 2020Newburgh IN Trail Closed
These photographs were taken to document some of what people in Evansville and its Tri-State region saw and experienced as the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic came to the area in the spring of 2020. Many of these images represent literal signs of the time, while others figuratively depict signs of the pandemic. -
2020-05-04Virus Hoax
On my walk I noticed the words, "virus hoax" written across the bike trail and on utility boxes. I wonder if they really think that the virus is a hoax? -
2020-04-08Suspending the Northville Placid Trail Challenge
The Northville-Lake Placid Trail is the one long distance hiking trail (136 miles) in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Each year, hikers can receive an award for completing their hike of the trail, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Adirondack Mountain Club cancelled the challenge. -
2020-04-29Day at The Lake
This is the road to a family lake near Loris, South Carolina. Built over 60 years ago the road is very worn down and the brush has grown up all around it, but it is still there. I went out there this past week just to clear my head after this past week. During, the Covid-19 season that we are stuck in I have found it necessary to get out and away to a place that you can breathe at. No news, Facebook, or Instagram just you and nature. Trust me it is a good way to keep sane. -
2020-04-04Social Distancing Cars at Mueller State Park Colorado
My husband and I are fortunate enough to live near the beautiful and uncrowded (except during "leaf peeping" season) Mueller State Park. In ordinary times most hikers are very thoughtful and move to the side on narrow trails to let others get by. I was pleasantly surprised that this courtesy was extended to placement of parked cars!! (not sure why the map won't show Divide so I'm entering the closest town Woodland Park) -
2020-04-04Social Distancing Cars at Mueller State Park Colorado
My husband and I are fortunate enough to live near the beautiful uncrowded Mueller State Park in Divide Colorado. In ordinary times other hikers are usually very polite about moving off the narrow trials to allow others to pass, but I was impressed by how careful people are now even about leaving space between cars. We can get out of the house, enjoy the fresh air and scenery and not worry about close contact with others. -
2020-04-07Pandemic and Closing Trails
This is the official response of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) regarding the closing of hiking trails during the pandemic. The PATC is a volunteer organization with responsibility for almost 1,000 miles of hiking trails in the mid-Atlantic region, including almost 300 miles of the Appalachian Trail.