Dreamin' of Trails~

What a nice place for a trails meeting!  Sugar Clay Winery was on our list of places to visit, the meeting gave us the excuse.  This was billed as a Trails Plan & Mapping Session.  Over the last couple of months these meetings have been held in four different locations.  Mills has had their plan in place since 2015, but that was before we arrived & we have some catching up to do.

Our map~

Brian Leaders, of the National Parks Service gave a presentation on the importance of developing trails within our state.  We were given two felt markers, pink for hard surface & green for soft.  With them we were asked to mark any areas where we'd like to see future trails.  Thinking long-term was the key...   Being involved over the years as the Centennial Trail in Snohomish County Washington took shape & became reality - it's tough to realize that here, it's only been in the last few years that trails have come into the spotlight.

Enjoying Sugar Clay Winery~

I started looking at the rivers, still thinking of the Northwest & liking the idea of trails along rivers.  But no, I was told that doesn't happen here - land is owned from the center line of the rivers, streams & creeks.  I marked the Wabash Trace throughout this county & did hear that other Equestrian's had marked it also in other Counties.  The existing Equestrian Trail has already been reduced from the original ten-miles to just 6 now, that are still open.  That trail is shared with mountain bikes.  With farming the priority, there just isn't the open land needed for trails.  But - Brian told us to dream big & to imagine if cost weren't an issue, where would we want to go?   Well...  Of course I'd want to go just as far as I could!

Our table's finished map~

We were the only Equestrians in attendance.  Some of the statistics were staggering, when you consider that the squeaking wheel gets the grease...  $364. million spent by Bike riders in 2011.  $8. million in bike sales & the list goes on.  A huge positive impact to the economy.  Bike groups gather statistics to support their trail expansion plans & again have a loud voice at the local, state & national levels.  The importance of joining the Back Country Horsemen of America can't be stressed enough.  They are the group that's large enough & operates in the same legislative venues as the bike lobbies.

My mind-set is changing somewhat.  Even if they're not specifically Equestrian Trails, a trail, any trail is a Good Thing!  It's a place to enjoy what nature has to offer.  There was a gentleman at another table, speaking of how much damage he knew horses would do to any area where they were allowed.  Education is again key - being a responsible horse owner is also key.  Leaving no trace in shared trail-heads is a no brainer.  Being friendly as a group - is becoming even more important as more & more people share the same recreational spaces.

I can't speak for the other riders in our state, but I don't think many like riding on multi-use urban type trail systems.  If those trails connected to somewhere like Waubonsie or Pierce Creek, I believe they would be used much more.  I put in my Dream Trail to connect Waubonsie with the Wabash!