Trail to Earth Day #1: Hike, Walk — Be Safe But Get Outdoors

A Bald Eagle’s wingspan is six- to seven-feet. Photographed by Stefan M.artin at Deer Pond Farm, Sherman

The Trail to Earth Day, a series of simple tips to help the environment (with music at the end!) will run through the 50th Earth Day, April 22. We’d be happy to send you one a day via text. Sign up here.

1. Go for a walk. Governors and health officials are telling us to stay home but they’re also saying it’s fine to go for a safe walk. In fact, they say it might be essential.

Connecticut Audubon’s 20 sanctuaries are open. Most provide opportunities for hikers and walkers of almost any ability.

Some local parks are closed but state parks are open.

Commissioner Katie Dykes of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection suggested a week ago “that people use parks for taking a hike or a walk by themselves, or with members of their household, not to gather with friends or others you don’t reside with. Commissioner Dykes encouraged residents to take the opportunity to try a place you haven’t been to before, noting the more than 100 state parks and forests the state has to offer.”

The Hartford Courant compiled a list of “10 places to hike in Connecticut that are ideal for social distancing.”

Bring your kids, pack work gloves and a plastic bag, and pick up trash along the trail. Bring your binoculars and look for spring birds.

Be safe, of course. This story from the New York Times the other day talks about the risks, especially for people who live in cities.

The best advice is to keep at least six feet apart from other hikers on the trail. How far is that? Take a look at the photo above. If a Bald Eagle with a wingspan of six or seven feet can fly between you, you’re probably OK.

It reminds us of this song.