Reflections on Water - Chapter 6, Reflections on Water and Trails Dialog

Chris Nicodemus & Katrina Meserve

1.Why are trails relevant to your series on water? 

Just as water is relevant to trails in that water is a primary means of erosion, and trails across a fragile landscape may weaken its integrity, trails and roads can also be a source of pollution to surface and ground water. Land Use of all types impacts the natural environment. Understanding how water and trails impact each other can allow for wiser design, placement, construction and use of trails.  ACT restricts use of some trails when they are seasonally vulnerable to traffic. Obviously, wildlife will continue to transit the landscape using our trails when it’s convenient for them and interestingly heavy use by moose or deer can cause considerable damage to trail beds in those wet and muddy moments, especially in early Spring.

2. You mention a deep heritage of trails in northern New Hampshire and yet there seem to be many more trails in Europe than New England Please comment.

Residential towns and villages in Europe date back to the Middle Ages. They reflect the practical use of trails for travel between villages and to places of employment. The settlement of much of America came later and, in many areas, more widely scattered. The development of a tourist economy and outdoor recreation emerged with the rise of the industrial era and locations such as the White Mountains of New Hampshire became destinations for vacationers. Bradford Torre, the renowned 19th century ornithologist, wrote extensively of his visits to the region in the late 19th century. He timed his visits to observe both migratory and local bird populations. He enjoyed hospitality at local farms and Inns spending several weeks each visit and taking day hikes to different destinations across the valleys and adjacent hilltops. He followed local trails across the landscape to thoroughly survey the area each visit: (References Bradford Torre, Footing it in Franconia 1902 and The Footpath Way 1893—Houghton Mifflin, Boston.). Thus, our New England trails while often seeking destination have a more dominant recreational origin than many of their more numerous European counterparts. The natural landscape and the call to the wilderness are central to American culture and remain an important aspect of the north country’s vitality and trails. 

3. Can you comment on the scale of trails, and the confusion this may cause.

As alluded to in last month’s commentary, the word trail has many potential meanings.   For some a trail is merely a way to move efficiently through undergrowth and over hill and dale scrambling all the way, while at the opposite extreme a trail is carefully engineered and heavily signed and highly accessible safe passageway across the land scape. The former is evanescent and changes or disappears with use while the latter is fixed and disruptive. Water interacts with both and is a critical consideration in determining the sustainability of either. Well-marked and heavily engineered trails are important community assets especially in urban locations, but they are also disruptive and subject to over-use, especially if popularized on social media. The cultural standard of the north country is built around appreciation of the less formal trails and the acknowledgement of the generosity of landowners in allowing safe passage of responsible neighbors and visitors across private lands. Each community must balance these factors in determining if and how it will maintain, publicize and sustain trails for the community good.  

Banner photo by EP Chow.

Photos by Chris Nicodemus