Charles Helm
In many parts of the world, communities are under total lockdown, with people confined to their homes, and allowed out only for essentials such as obtaining groceries. Even in heavily populated parts of BC, parks and recreations areas have been closed to the public, as physical distancing is impossible to practice given the numbers of people.
We are very fortunate in Tumbler Ridge that such restrictions have not been imposed on us, and that we have so many trails and opportunities to enjoy, often starting right in our backwards.
Keeping active through healthy outdoor physical exercise is one of the best possible ways to cope with any stress, and this applies to the unprecedented times we now find ourselves in. Questions have been raised about how to safely go out and; enjoy our outdoor environment in a way that is consistent with the messages and orders that have been provided from Dr Bonnie Henry (our provincial medical health officer) and the Ministry of Health. Here I provide some suggestions in an attempt to answer such questions.
First of all, do not indulge in high-risk activities—this is not the time to generate a Search and Rescue call, as health care providers and paramedics are already extremely busy. Second, respect the recommendation to avoid unnecessary travel, so stay close to home. Third, respect the restrictions that have been put in place, for example the Lost Haven Cabin has been closed by Rec Sites and Trails BC.
If you meet anyone on the trails, practice physical distancing. Maintaining the two-metre recommended distance, or even double that distance, should be straightforward, and should still allow a comfortable moment for brief verbal contact if desired. Be careful about what you touch—the trailside bench that is usually your favourite place for a rest is a surface that others may have used as well, so treat it as you would any other high-use surface: avoid touching it if at all possible (and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if you have inadvertently touched it). And get into the habit of never touching your face with your hands.
We can think of ourselves as forming ‘pods’. A pod is typically a family unit, or a group of people sharing the same residence. If you all seem healthy and have no reason to be practicing physical distancing with your pod members in your home, then clearly it is fine for your pod to go out together on the trails and to be in close contact with each other. And be fastidious about not touching trailside features. And please brief kids in advance of the rules and make sure that they are able to follow them.
I hope these suggestions may help us to maintain our physical and emotional well-being, while adhering to all the excellent, necessary recommendations from our health care experts… and to be grateful that we live where we do.
About the photo: Kevin Slaney and Don Fraser are going for walks together…apart. Every day they walk the road around town, a 10 km trip from door to door. One will walk clockwise, while the other will walk clockwise. They meet near the Co-op gas station, exchange greetings from a safe distance, then continue on their way. “We’re hoping other people will join in and be healthy,” says Slaney.
