By Caroline Grass
October 15, 2023
A sign marking trail options at Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, Maryland. (Photo by Caroline Grass)
I love hiking and most weekends you can find me searching for new trails to explore. I'm not alone in this love for the outdoors, as the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recorded 79.5 million visits to state parks, historic sites and campgrounds in the state in 2022. This was over a one million person increase from 2021.
As I’ve hiked in and around Ithaca this fall and back home in Virginia over the summer, I’ve been thinking about trails and trail safety. Most paths I’ve been on are clearly marked and when in doubt I can turn to Google Maps or All Trails for help if I get turned around. What frustrates me the most when I’m out hiking is seeing people traipsing off trail, past clearly defined markers, saying, ‘Do Not Enter,’ for a short-cut, slightly nicer view or better picture-taking opportunity.
In a 2022 study, researchers looked at the impacts of off-trail trampling in mountainous regions and found that traversing off marked paths and making informal trails, results in unneeded forest fragmentation and negatively impacts plants and wildlife.
Trampling breaks vegetation, decreasing vegetation cover, which can change species diversity. When plants are trampled, seed dispersal can also be affected and when vegetation cover is reduced, the soil underneath can be impacted. The article asserts that this soil degradation affects future vegetation growth, “thus triggering a feedback loop” and soil erosion is also more likely to occur with less vegetation cover.
In addition to helping preserve the health of the environment around trails, staying on trails can help people stay safe. Cornell University has a Gorge Safety Education Program named in memory of a student who died in a drowning accident in 2011. The site has compiled trail information, maps and safety videos, and current trail updates to keep visitors up to date on changing conditions.
Swimming in gorges that are not designated for the activity can be extremely dangerous with strong undercurrents, underwater rock ledges and cold water conditions. Areas can become slippery with fallen leaves and debris and as the weather turns colder snow and ice accumulation should also be taken into consideration.
The gorges and trails in Ithaca bring thousands of visitors every year and they should be explored and enjoyed. But staying on trails, leaving no trace and following the signage and rules of a natural area are all critical to help ensure visitors have the safest possible experience and leave the most minimal environmental impact.
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