Getting outside and exploring the great outdoors is a great way have fun, stay healthy, and experience nature and all its benefits. In the past few years, outdoor recreation has seen a major uptick in popularity, and escaping the concrete jungle to head up to the North Country of Gorham, New Hampshire to play has become a new way of life for many people. In general, this trend is fantastic, and many have benefited from this new recreation boom. It also, however, comes with its challenges: As more people foray into the outdoors, more opportunity for unsustainable activity arises.
As a general rule, most folks want to do the right thing. Whether that’s sticking to the trail in fragile alpine zones, packing out everything you pack in, or following the OHRV speed limits, people mostly want to move through the world with kindness and take care of the environment around them. That said, the opportunity to level-up is always available, and a little extra effort goes a long way when it comes to taking care of this amazing place we all enjoy and love.
Overcrowded = Over-loved
If you know you’re headed to a high-use, busy trailhead – Appalachia Trailhead, for example – understand that lots of other folks might have that plan in mind, too. From June through October, and especially during the weekends, the Appalachia Trailhead is akin to a music fest parking lot gone awry as droves of eager hikers head up Madison in pursuit of peak bagging Presidentials and 4-thousand footers. Unfortunately, these big trailheads (and many of the 4-thousand footers) see a lot of wear and tear, and over time, the environment suffers the cost. Instead of joining the droves, why not check out the 52-with-a-View list, which is a fantastic alternative for folks looking for big adventures and a bit less company. And, the added bonus is that you’ll be doing the environment a solid by spreading out the traffic and lowering overall impact.
Also, it’s understandable that learning which trailheads are the popular ones takes time, and too often folks get stuck searching for alternative trailhead parking where there’s no reception to be found. Instead, get to know your maps and trailheads ahead of time, check out the Experience Gorham directory, and plan a few alternative starting points and parking places. Not only will you be diminishing the human impact of over-used areas, but you’ll also probably find some super cool new spots to explore.
Trash the trash. Not just yours: Everyone else’s, too.
A really easy, lightweight, and super helpful solution to helping keep the mountains pristine is to bring along a trash bag. Not every outdoorsperson has learned the principals of Leave No Trace, so pitching in to clean things up goes a long way. In fact, most trash is either at, or close to, the trailhead, where someone either “forgot” it there, or simply (and irresponsibly) left it. Eventually some good Samaritan comes along and picks it up, but in the interim, unsuspecting wildlife can’t help but dabble in all those rejected delicacies, eventually (and inevitably) becoming dependent on human food. Don’t wait for someone else to pick it up. Trash the trash and nature will thank you!
Giving Back
Trails don’t build themselves and sustaining them doesn’t happen on its own. It takes time, resources, dedication, and a whole lot of effort to create the miles of trail we all love and enjoy. And, while the work of building, repairing, and maintaining them is enormous, most of that work is done by volunteers. Stepping off the trail at the end of the day doesn’t mean our ability to interact, support, and give back ends. In fact, it’s a great opportunity to discover new ways to engage with your favorite forms of outdoor recreation. Whether you enjoy human-powered or motorized recreation, getting involved with the organizations that make our outdoor recreation possible is rewarding on many levels. Organizations will often hold trail-building or trail maintenance days where you can get outside and work directly in the places you play while meeting other folks who enjoy the same activities. And, if you don’t have the time to roll up your sleeves and work on the trails in-person, donating money is always a fantastic option, too. To learn more about the groups making your trails experience possible, read The History of Trails in Gorham, and start getting involved!
