Today, May 5th, Washington’s state lands open again after being closed to help contain the spread of COVID-19. As someone whose being is very much rooted in the outdoors, this is a big deal. Weeks of itching to go to the mountains, to climb rocks, and simply be secluded in the trees. And now we can. But we must do so diligently and mindfully. After being separated for some time, we know what it’s like to miss the lands, to recognize what it’s like to not have them at our fingertips, or at least not be able to touch them even though they’re right there. The land got a break from us—likely a needed one—to heal. We have a right to enjoy the land, but not without shouldering some of the burden of environmental responsibility. So, as we are chomping at the bit to get back to the state parks, this is the time to remind ourselves about our responsibility to the land.
In a way, we are like a virus to the land, posing a constant threat to degrading their health. What can we do to help the land stay healthy without keeping ourselves physically distant? Imagine the state lands could talk. Here’s what they might say…
Are you ready to have people come back?
Well, yes, mostly. It’s been nice to have some alone time, to have some breathing room. I think the physical distance between us parks and people has been healthy. I hope the time away has made people appreciate us more and realize how good they have it. Distance makes the heart grow stronger and all that, right? As people start coming back, I think they should treat it as if they’ve been put on a VIP list and act with deference. It’s like a fresh start—an opportunity to refresh what it means to enjoy nature responsibly.
What does enjoying nature responsibly look like to you?
Great question. There are the easy do’s: be prepared, leave no trace, tread lightly, and stay on the trail. I think if you act with admiration, these rules are easy to follow. The trails were made with purpose—follow them. Backpacks are meant to be packed with things—pack in and pack out. Nature is inherently full of unknowns—be aware. In short, the Golden Rule applies here too: treat us the way you’d want to be treated. And, for the record, we do treat you well, don’t we?
If you could tell all park-goers one thing, what would it be?
Go slow. We’ll still be here next week, the week after, in the summer, fall…there’s no rush. That isn’t to say people should be on a schedule, just that we don’t want people to be tripping over each other to get on the land. The physical distance thing still needs to be observed, or else you’ll find that we close again. Stick with your homies (literally, the people you live with) when you come out. Just as you’d take a moment to enjoy the view from a lookout, take notice of what it means to come back to us. Be gentle—we’ve had time to heal and so have you. Be mindful of how good it is to be in nature—we’re here for you, but you must also be here for us. See you out here.
P.s. – Be in the know about the reopening by checking out these posts from Governor Inslee and Washington Trails Association
