[EngineCo.2]

The next time you're out on the trail , take a look at the trail REAL closely.Someone , at some time, had to bushwhack through the woods maybe with , maybe without a sense of direction to establish the trail you are presently standing on. It may have been formed with the intent of getting to a Mt. top view to watch for threats from other humans. Maybe to kill dinner. Maybe that trail was the easiest way over to the next town. Maybe it was the only way in winter. Could be the best fiddleheads, (type of edible fern) were found just around the bend in front of you. Was it path towards our freedom from England? Or , is it more simplistic than that? Perhaps it has a brook with the cleanest, coldest water you've ever had. Maybe it gave explorers a totally different perspective of a Mt. or valley. Did someone get lost and find a cool spot to have lunch? Maybe someone had nothing better to do than climb a mountain one afternoon.
The fact is someone had to blaze that first trail, whether on purpose or not , AND...someone else had to follow in those EXACT footsteps , over and over and , well, you get the idea. Think about it ,how many thousands of people have hiked the Crawford Path? From the very first human travelers to the hikers that used it to get to The Rockpile this past Memorial weekend, all have contributed to the trail in one form or another. For others, "Carry in-Carry out" simply is not enough. These are volunteers, some organized , some not, that take a personal interest in seeing that a particular trail is maintained, improved, and possibly relocated. I know personally , that these are not easy tasks. It bothers me to have to trim branches off trees merely to keep a trail accessible. Tons and tons of rocks are used to create water bars to help divert water to aid in erosion control. This bothers the crap out of my back I can tell you! I'm not sure of the accepted method of "blazing" anymore but, at one time someone had to carry a bigass paint can to mark thousands of trees so we wouldn't keep getting lost!
I guess what I'm getting at is , a lot of people have put alot of time , effort, $ , love into these trails. The one you'll be hiking this coming weekend , I'm sure , has seen it's share of blood, sweat, and possibly tears on it. So enjoy it! That's the reason it's here, now ! For you, me , my kid, people we don't even know. Take care of it, people have been nourishing it for years. Remember it , it may not be around forever. (I.E. trail closures or the Old Man) If you see volunteers working on your trail, THANK THEM. They're doing it for you.
Ed

[New Hampshire]

"Forest and Crag" by Guy and Laura Waterman is a WONDERFULL book if you are itnerested in learning more about the history of trails and hiking here in New England and New Tork.

Brian

P.S. Trail crews rock!