Trails intrigue us. Why does this trail exist? Does it go someplace in particular, someplace special? How will I know unless I keep hiking? A fork in the trail makes me wish to divide myself and take both (screw Robert Frost). Today is National Trails Day in the U.S. so I found some trail photos in the DK Image Library from members and uploaded others to share in honor of paths that lead us into discovery. The first image (above), from Ojibwa, is a great example of the Pacific Northwest with moss-covered branches of tall robust trees and lush understory growth. Below is a contrasting trail in the southwest scrublands of the Chihuahua Desert.
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Trails might follow regular wildlife movement patterns (game trails). Often these are obstructed by encroaching shrubs and head-banging branches because the wild animals who made the trail don’t care and are shorter than humans.
Other trails are developed and maintained by humans to protect sensitive habitat (such as wetlands and dunes) or to open access to a destination. This trail below looks human-made to me because it is straight. Critters meander and their trails often lead to water (eventually).
Not all trails wind through forests or woodlands.
Some trails skirt the border where ocean and land meet.
Some fellas prefer cold snowy trails at high elevation.
Also at low elevation.
Trails can wind through rocks — check out the nearly round rock ball in upper right.
Some trails are famous on the West Coast.
Others on the East Coast.
Beach trails intersecting riparian trails where a creek enters the ocean hold special magic.
We have old railroad beds transformed into trails.
In the Sierras, flumes from old logging operations are maintained as trails. Yes that walkway is narrow. Some people ride mountain bikes on them. This isn’t a scary flume; others are much worse as they jut out like a ledge on the canyon wall and bridge ravines.
Even in big cities, we find leaf-littered trails through forested parks.
And totally urban trails.
Sometimes the trails are strewn with flowers. We trample petals and the air is fragrant with blue lupines.
Where’s your trail? Today is a good day to find it,
even if only in your imagination.
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