Nature of “Social Distancing”

The big comment from nature lovers recently about the coronavirus is that getting out in nature is the perfect alternative to your canceled events. And yes, for the most part, that’s true. Get outside! But modern “nature”, especially public parks and trails, are not as isolated as you might think.

Good For The Soul

Heck, I’m not one to panic myself. Coronavirus (COVID-19) will eventually pass but we all want to do what we can to slow the spread and flatten the curve. And If I’m honest, I almost always prefer an outdoor activity on my own or with family, rather than attending big noisy events. (Well, I was planning on going to Canoecopia in Madison, WI, this weekend, which has been canceled!) So with everyone in the outdoor world saying that getting outdoors is the perfect way to do your social distancing duty, I’m down with it. We know that that spending time in nature can help us de-stress too, which is exactly what we need to do right now.

So, yes indeed, get outside! And as they say, “social distance” your worries away, but just a reminder, mind what you touch…

Not So Fast…

Testing has shown that the new coronavirus can live in the air for several hours and on some surfaces for as long as two to three days. (I’ll post references below.) So it’s reasonable to think through the contact points that you have to cross in order to get out into nature. It’s more than you might think.

Yesterday, while out on the trail at Devil’s Lake I had time to let this whole, “social distance in nature” idea roll around in my head. Slowly I started having little flashes of various places where, at such a popular park, I wasn’t actually, well, distanced. Let’s think about it.

Getting There

Heading out to Devil’s Lake I had to stop and get gas. That meant, of course, touching the pump and the glitchy little keypad. I also washed the funk off of my back window with the public squeegee. Now, I always take my own water bottle, but if you hike at Devil’s Lake, you soon realize lots of hikers are buying bottled water, soda, beer, and various other drinks. All of these were probably touched by various folks in the last 3 days. Just getting to nature is already a cry for 1-part bleach. (And if you’re one of the folks who help out by picking up trash on the trails… wear gloves. )

Sticker Sales

When you arrive at the park, especially this early in the year, you probably need to buy a sticker. At Devil’s Lake, you can use an automated machine or deal with the poor dude working the window. Lots of stuff to touch there! I can’t imagine the automated sticker machines known as “Iron Rangers”, are getting sanitized between every use. And honestly, I feel bad for the person working the window and other public services at state parks right now. Especially at Devils Lake where many visitors come from known coronavirus hotspots. This is a tourism destination after all.

Surfaces

Again, we don’t want to freak out, but we do want to be aware of the contact points. Money exchanges, automated stations, day pass envelopes, the stickers themselves, park newspapers, maps, even those glass-covered table maps, and countertops are all vectors we need to be aware of on our way to “social distance” in nature.

Public Restrooms

This is a no brainer, but public restrooms & pit toilets at many parks are heavily used but not cleaned very often. Certainly not less than every 3 hours. The more remote your hiking location, the higher the chance that the restroom hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Yes, most restrooms in our area have those little hand sanitizer dispensers. Use them. And again, the coronavirus can live several hours in the air. As we all know, pit toilets are not always well ventilated.

Trailheads & Popular Viewing Areas

You might not realize it, but as more and more people get outdoors, the more busy bottlenecks show up. Trailheads, (Where people often gather to prepare and review maps.) and popular viewing areas and overlooks can also be issues when it comes to social distancing. Before you know it, you have bunches of people gathered tightly together chatting reviewing maps, chatting about trails and snapping selfies. So be aware of places where we congregate in nature as well.

Well, you know…

Well, you get the point. Social distance in nature is a great idea and here in the Baraboo hills, we’ve got a lot of nature for you to get away in. Just keep in mind, that even the act of getting on the trail often means a lot of public exposure. Like everything else, don’t stop, just be smart. Think. Make good choices. We want you to de-stress and enjoy the trails. We also want you and your family to stay well.

Ref

Fox News, Coronavirus can remain in air for 3 hours, live on plastic for days, new study says.
Los Angeles Times – Tests show coronavirus can live up to 3 days on some surfaces
CDC Steps to prevent illness
Chicago Tribune, Coronavirus in Illinois
Public Health – Madison, Dane County