'Rocking' on Maine's hiking trails

Sunday, September 5, 2004

Believe it or not, your feet can be deadly weapons. Hikers repeatedly trampling over vegetation can cause significant damage to our natural areas. This is especially true on Maine's cold, windswept mountain tops. Harsh growing conditions and a paucity of soil make our summits a tough place for plants to take root and grow. Here, soil is largely organic. Year after year, plant matter decomposes and collects as soil particles in small, protected pockets. Simultaneously, tough alpine plants take root in these areas adding stability and contributing to future soil development.

But if boots continually tromp over these plants, they will die. No more organic soil will be added. With plant roots gone, erosion can remove the existing soil. Soil accumulating since the ice sheets left Maine can be lost in the blink of an eye.

Even if you're a casual hiker, you have probably seen the results of heavy foot traffic on popular summits. Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in Acadia National Park, is a prime example of a heavily impacted summit. This summit, with its vehicle access road, is a place where thousands of feet tramp and tromp all around a granite dome home to some sensitive soils and plants.

Park officials are working to reduce damage and revitalize disturbed areas, but it's an uphill battle. Even if you haven't visited Cadillac, think of the busier summits you've been to. Bare patches of soil near vistas or adjacent to trails are most likely not natural, they're probably the result of hiking boots stomping there.

So how can we help protect vegetation and soil? Stay on trails or walk on rocks. Another way to think of low impact hiking is to remember to walk on durable surfaces. If you're on the Rail Trail, for example, stay on the pavement -- that's about as durable as you can get. If you're off trail in an alpine area, hop from rock to rock. Avoid stepping on vegetation and bare soil, as bare soil could, if left alone, possibly become vegetated again.

Water probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of durable surfaces, unless perhaps it's frozen. That being said, walking through water can be another important way towards keeping trail impacts low. Next time you encounter a large puddle blocking a hiking trail, consider slogging right through it. How many times have you noticed that trails get overly wide and or braided where water collects after rains or in the spring? People skirting wet areas causes trails to widen to unsightly, damaging levels.

If you're going to keep to a wet trail, though, you need to be prepared. Waterproof boots, such as Gore-Tex lined hiking boots, and knee high waterproof gaiters will help you stay dry while staying on trail.

We are fortunate to have enchanting hiking trails across our state. With consideration and preparation, we can protect those resources. Staying on trail and stepping only on durable surfaces when off trail will help conserve our hiking pathways.

While legendary rockers AC/DC sang, "For those about to rock, we salute you", I like to think of that line as "For those who walk on rocks, we salute you."

Guest columnist Rex Turner of Augusta is a Registered Maine Guide.

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