Accessing the Outdoors Responsibly During Covid-19

How To: Access the Outdoors Responsibly During Covid-19 

 

 *this blog post is sponsored by Zappos*

I have been practicing social distancing for over 3 weeks now, and I finally felt comfortable heading outdoors to get some fresh air and try out my new hiking boots from Merrell.  Being in a quarantine feels like the perfect time to get outside to hit the mountains for a hike, except when everyone else is thinking the same thing. 

 

Imagine, you are carrying COVID-19 but aren’t experiencing any symptoms.  You feel great, the sun is out, so you decide to go on a hike.  You stop at the last available gas station in a small mountain town to fill up on gas and get some snacks, and you expose the gas station employee as well as all the other customers that go into the gas station that day.  They bring the virus home with them, and then several people in this small town are sick but don’t have access to medical care like we do in the city.  Or, the medical care they do have access to isn’t enough. Basically, it isn’t about you getting sick, it’s about exposing the virus to other people, especially smaller more vulnerable communities, that might not be able to handle the repercussions. However....

 

….Accessing the outdoors is an essential activity for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.  So we should still be able to go on a rural mountain hike, right? WRONG.  Accessing the outdoors is possible in your own neighborhood, and this is truly the best way to prevent the spread of the virus to vulnerable communities while still maintaining our physical/emotional/mental health. Here’s how I chose my adventure, from the place, to the time of day, to the Merrell footwear I got from Zappos.com .

 

 

I have been spending more time walking around the streets and parks in my neighborhood than I ever have before but I have been wanting to venture out a little further to one of Seattle’s beautiful parks with trails that feel like rural mountain hikes.  I know that after work hours and weekends are when most people are going to be accessing public spaces, so I wanted to go during the work week, and during working hours to not only limit the people I would come in contact with, but also because I recognize that having availability in the morning, even if its just for a week during spring break, is a privilege.  Most people can only get outside after work hours, so I wanted to take up space in the outdoors during the day so I can make space for others in the evenings.  So I waited until I was on Spring Break and went in the morning before families and working individuals made their way in the afternoons. I got to the park around 10am and when I left around noon, many more people had arrived.

When thinking about footwear for a trail like this, I wanted something a little more supportive than my usual gym shoes but something a little less intense than the boots I wear when I’m backpacking.  In addition, being in Seattle, the ground is almost always wet with recent rains so I knew I wanted something waterproof.  I found this perfect shoe on Zappos.com – these mid height Merrell Bravada’s.  I love that they are lighter weight and the ankle is more flexible.  It feels like I’m wearing a tennis shoe, but don’t need to worry about ruining gym shoes on muddy trails or rolling my weak ankles on uneven surfaces.  Also the colors are simple and so cute and shipping is free.  These shoes are perfect for any local outdoor adventure.  Here's the link to check out these shoes.

 

I wanted to pick the park that was closest to me, so I chose a park about 1.5 miles northwest from my apartment in North Seattle. My friend met me there and we made sure to stay at least 6 feet apart when hiking and when we saw other people on the trails (there weren’t very many) we would position ourselves so we could maintain that distance.  When people moved away from me, I made sure to thank them (positive reinforcement!)

 

This little adventure rejuvenated my soul. Getting my heart rate up in this green space, seeing Spring beginning to bloom, feeling the sun on my face, connecting (from a distance) with a friend I haven’t seen in months, and listening to the sounds of nature is so healing for me. The trail I chose ended at the beach, so not only did I get to hike through greenery, I also got to sit and listen to the Puget Sound. It truly doesn’t get much better than that. 

 

 

Although this hike felt great, I plan to step back and let others have their time in the park. I know I love nature, but I also know that I’m not entitled to nature.  Nature is for everyone, and just because I am a hiker doesn’t mean I get to hike these park trails every day. I took my turn, so I hope you take yours  (:

 

I’m going to continue breaking in my Bravada’s around my neighborhood and community parks; can’t wait to take them to the mountains when it becomes safe to do so!  #GotItOnZappos #MerrellOutside #CreateYourTrail