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One can pine for a bit of woodsy landscape -- no pun intended -- in the winter months. So many of the hiking trail YREs and events do not start until April or later. The reason: high elevations = snow and dirt trails = mud. Winter is not a promising time for volkswalkers of a John Muir bent.
One way to enjoy nature in the middle of January -- or any other time of year -- is on rails-to-trails walks. Rails-to-trails are old railroad tracks that have been converted into biking and pedestrian trails.
Rails-to-trails have a whole lot going for them. One of the most important things that any volkswalker can appreciate is an easy grade. Railroads had strict grade regulations and they spent an awful lot of money making land nice and flat. The rails-to-trails conversions are almost universally walks of a '1' or '1+' rating.
Another key benefit is lack of traffic. You won't be walking alongside any major roadways on these babies. And the rails-to-trails themselves are motor traffic free.
Scenic? You got it. These old railroad right-of-ways cut through parts of the countryside most roads don't get close to. And because the land has been public for a long time, they usually have lots of natural growth in the immediate vicinity.
They're also safe. Unlike hikes in the deep woods, you're unlikely to run into snakes, bears or wild boar. Avalanches and mudslides are out of the question. And if darkness falls you'll probably survive, even without a compass. Just to make sure, frequent signage shows you exactly where you are, written and diagramed to be comprehensible by your average four-year-old.
Many rails-to-trails provide both an asphalt path and a natural surface area to one side for those with delicate knees. And need we say that these recreation trails were built with wheelchairs, strollers, bicycles and dogs in mind.
There's one more, not to be underestimated benefit: bathrooms. Rails-to-trails are designed by your park system something on the model of major state freeways. Port-a-potty rest stops are often just around the bend. Benches are also provided for the weary of limb.
But these trails aren't just 'nature-lite,' something to walk when you can't hike a 'real' trail. They're perfect when you need a dose of green after work, in the pouring rain, on a sunny Sunday morning when chores loom or when you just want something lovely and stress-free.
With all these advantages, you could say they were tailor made for volkswalking.
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