By: Stephanie Reynolds
Some of the things I love most about Athens-Limestone (besides all y’all!) are the trails.
We have trails for just about any interest, hobby, time, and ability. I’m going to take the next few articles to outline some of the awesome trails we have, and I hope you take advantage of them. It’s been such a rainy July, but that’s actually fine—the weather is cooler than normal during these breaks in the summer weather AND we have plenty of “indoor trails” to do when the clouds just won’t quit.
Firstly, though, let’s go over some safety. I want you to enjoy the trails for a lonnng… time. Oh, I know you are safe. You NEVER EVER say, “Hold my extra sweet Milo’s and watch this!” But you can share these tips with other folk who maybe aren’t as wise as you. The life you save might be your friend who thinks they’re immune to lightning and has a deep emotional connection with venomous reptiles.
1) Let someone know where you are going and how long you are going to be. Yes, you are an adult. Yes, this seems weird. But it really isn’t. Even Special Forces guys on a mission have someone who knows where they are. Hiking round the Square is less remote than hiking barefoot to the Tennessee border on the Richard Martin, but it still couldn’t hurt.
We once found a lady who had been with friends, took a bad fall, and broke her thigh. She was incredibly tough (serious props—not one tear, not one ounce of panic), but I hate to think what would have happened if she had been alone and no one had come down the trail for an hour or more.
2) Make sure you’re outfitted for the trail, even if it’s “just for an hour”: Water, charged phone, hat, sunscreen, medications you might need are the bare minimum, even if you’re just strolling along Swan Creek after a fabulous supper.
Of course, if you’re on our Biking Trail you need water, helmet, and a flashing light. If you’re on our Antebellum trail, you need water, our Columns and Cultures map, and the link to our SoundCloud descriptions. If you’re on the Antique Trail, you need water (getting the hint?), good shoes, a cleaned out car trunk, and enough room on the card for all the treasures. Maybe take 2 cards, you know, just in case. And some cash. And a check or two.
Regarding water: Bring it every time. Each person should have their own full bottle. Water is good for everything from hydration to cooling down to rinsing a scrape.
But don’t drink the water from ponds, lakes, rivers, or creeks. It seems so au natural, but so is giardia.
3) Be a good trail guest: If you’re on a walking/running/biking path, remember — “Heels over wheels.” That means things with wheels (bikes, etc.) have to give way to things with heels (people, horses). (Really, everything needs to give way to horses from a practical and safety perspective. My dad used to say “Tie goes to the big truck” and that’s the same with horses on trails—you can try to not give way to a horse, but it will end badly.)
If you’re on a bike, PLEASE get a bell and use it a good 30 feet away and keep on using it until you pass folk. I know you might feel weird, but weird feels better than traction. I can’t tell you the number of times I almost caused a biker to wreck because they didn’t announce themselves in time for me to comprehend. Please don’t wait until you are right beside folk and scream, “ON YOUR LEFT!” It gives riders a bad name, and I love you 2-wheeled speed kings! I want us all to share the trail well!
4) If you’re on any trail that might go through private property, remember to stay out of people’s space. No one likes strangers cutting through their yards. And peering through people’s windows just makes things awkward
for everyone. If you want to see the interior of an antebellum home, wait till the Parade of Homes or hang out at the Houston Library—they would LOVE to see you, and they have a super cool story about an upstairs window. Tell them I sent you.
5) Don’t pet the wildlife, even if you really (think you) are a Disney princess. Don’t stick your hands or feet where you can’t see. Watch where you sit!
6) Don’t eat the plants. Okay, some of us know edible plants, but save your grazing for a) where it’s legal and b) when you ABSOLUTELY know what you are eating (I highly recommend UG White’s candy counter for the consummate grazing experience). Too many experts end up getting their stomach pumped in the ER because they misidentified a mushroom or berry.
7) Watch the weather. Getting struck by lightning won’t give you abs (a reference from The Flash for those wondering). In fact, getting struck by lightning will ruin your whole day. If you can hear thunder, even if the sky is bright blue above you, you can still get hit—lightning can go sideways from a cloud really far.
Okay, I think that covers the safety stuff for now. See you on the trail(s)!
By: Stephanie Reynolds, Athens-Limestone Tourism Association
September 6, 2024
