March 15th, 2020
Today I’ve been thinking about what responsible outdoor recreation looks like in the time of Coronavirus.Here are my thoughts:Wash your hands before you go out. Stay home. Take advantage of the opportunity to explore your backyard and local trails.Pick your partners wisely. Don’t go with anyone outside the group you need to have close contact with. Roommates. Family. This isn’t a time for group hikes or meet ups. Don’t clump up at trailheads, don’t go out to eat afterward, maintain six feet of distance at all times. This is the hardest thing to do. I’ve noticed that people are really bad at socially distancing. As hospitals start to fill up, be incredibly mindful of the risks you’re taking. It’s not the time to push it and risk any injury in the backcountry as first responders, nurses, doctors and hospitals are going to be overwhelmed. If someone young gets hurt, they are taking the bed of someone’s grandparent or relative. Don’t carpool. I know that goes against everything we always say and do for the environment but there’s no way to share rides and not transmit the disease. Make as many personal sacrifices as you can to protect the health of the most vulnerable. Bring hand sanitizer for the trail and wash up as soon as you have access to water and soap. If there’s anyway you can help your neighbors (a food drop, offering to pay people’s bills, etc.), please do whatever you can. Nature can be incredibly healing in these stressful, unprecedented times but we need to be responsible how we get outside so we can protect ourselves and others. These are my thoughts. I’d love to hear what others think. Weigh in below. Photo: at home in the Wasatch taken by @acpictures
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