States are closing hiking trails... Why? Seems like a pretty low-risk, healthy activity...

Because they often encourage groups to gather.

I don't care what they lock down. I'm doing my own thing. I'll go around barriers and move deeper into the back woods if I need to. Screw 'em.

This is a ridiculous and shows governments general tendency towards fascism if give leeway.

Hard to stay 6+ feet away when going past someone on a trail. Very safe if you are the only person out there. Very unsafe if there are 100s or 1000s of people on the trail.

Too many ignorant right-wing trolls to use my user name but here is why.

It really depends where you are. In my state city and state parks remain open. But US Forest Service trails and facilities are closed. Other federal lands remain open for the time being. So it's mixed.

Even though the activities can be dispersed the trailheads are congestion areas so that's a problem. Just something a simple as cleaning toilets requires PPE and there is not enough of that to go around, and it's being rerouted to hospitals. And they are also protecting their own staff because if someone goes out and gets hurt, that will require search and rescue --and a lot time from people who would otherwise be working elsewhere.

They need to keep some place open, but at the balance where people can get out and do some dispersed recreation but not so densely crowded while a the same time not so remote.

I get out every day in parks and areas and have enjoyed that. Some of you trolls ought to give it a try instead of posting angry-derisive stuff here on this message board.

trail maintenance. suddenly there is an influx of obese people - who have never set foot on a trail before - stampeding along the single-track which erodes away with every step. that poor mountain biker washes out off the cliff.

Trailhead parking, transmission of virus on gates, fences and restrooms, any accidents requiring rescue pull emergency workers from overstretched hospitals, any accidents requiring hospitalization take beds from covid patients.

Near me a climber fell off a big wall and needed 19 rescue workers to get him to safety and a cyclist crashed on a steep descent, broke bones, was hospitalized and was infected while in hospital.

It's not about you - it's about the bigger picture. Don't be selfish.

If I'm stupid and get myself hurt in the backwoods somewhere then let natural selection have it's way with me.

Loving that this is bringing out the John Rambo types

Selfish? You mean like the thousands of people who lived an unhealthy life the past 60 years and are now taxing our healthcare system so that the healthy people are forced to join them in staying indoor?

Wisconsin has waived State Park entrance fees and is encouraging people to use the State Parks and Trails, but just to maintain safe distances from each other.

Coe or Vid wrote:

Selfish? You mean like the thousands of people who lived an unhealthy life the past 60 years and are now taxing our healthcare system so that the healthy people are forced to join them in staying indoor?

the fatties are being enabled.

I too wish that more trails were being kept open . . . but as many people who were running on trails last week know, the coronavirus brought an unprecedented amount of hobbyjoggers to the good running spots to the point that those were the largest crowds of people.

WWRD wrote:

This is a ridiculous and shows governments general tendency towards fascism if give leeway.

And what's sad here is the ACLU and the legal people are asleep on the job. No one seems to care about the erosion of their rights for a virus that "81%" infected have mild or no symptoms. And a virus where the vast majority of the deaths are elderly people with underlying health conditions (this isn't the black plague).

At a stressful time like this it's stupid to restrict outdoor excercise in any way and closing the gyms/rec centers. People are stressed to the max right now witnessing the collapse of the economy and the uncertainty of their financial future! Excercise reduces stress & anxiety and is very good for the immune system. Depression & anxiety are bad for the immune system and make you more susceptible to infections. Gyms could operate with regular sanitizing & social distancing practices. And if they're worried about lawsuits, have the members sign a liability waiver. The medical experts know the benefits of exercise mentally & physiologically but remain quiet under the umbrella of panic & fear promoted by the government. And the ad nuseam montra by the medical experts that we must "protect the most vulnerable" isn't going to work unless you identify and quarantine them- not lock down the least vulnerable.

These seems more a like a power & control move by some of the governors. Power is intoxicating for an elected official - it makes them feel like a King.

It's like a contest to see who can be the most Draconian, because that makes it look like you are ever MORE concerned than the others.

I plan on running no matter what. The police said they are not going to respond to low level crimes and what could be a lower level than something that is not an actual crime?

freeidea wrote:

Hard to stay 6+ feet away when going past someone on a trail. Very safe if you are the only person out there. Very unsafe if there are 100s or 1000s of people on the trail.

Yeah and you definitely don't want to go around someone on the trail in this time of year. Warmer weather means there are rattlesnakes at the trail edges waiting for you to step on them so they can give you a 50-grand medical bill.

8) wrote:

trail maintenance. suddenly there is an influx of obese people - who have never set foot on a trail before - stampeding along the single-track which erodes away with every step. that poor mountain biker washes out off the cliff.

Plus they don't want the contaminated people passing the coronavirus onto the trees or wildlife.

Golf courses in IL remain closed “indefinitely” by order of the governor, despite cogent plans and policies by golf courses to promote social distancing, including closed clubhouses, online purchases only, raised holes, don’t touch the pin, etc. Supposedly golf is non-essential which I suppose it is. But risk can be mitigated, and it represents commerce and revenue and income streams for maintenance workers and golf course employees.

Meanwhile, Redbox locations, a high touch environment, remains totally open.

Our county is on a Safer at Home order. Non-essential people should only be traveling to supermarkets, drug stores, or medical facilities. I live only two miles from a remote park so I drove there thinking there'd be no one there since our county was under an order not to travel.

There were easily twice as many people there than I had ever seen before! Little walking petri dishes were everywhere. Parents had apparently decided that the risk of death from a virus wasn't as bad as spending another day with little kids at home!

I left without running and drove back early this morning. The park was empty except for two other real runners. I won't say whether I ran or not, but if I had, it would have been great and I wouldn't have seen another person on the trails.