In this era of
political disillusionment and propaganda overload many of us are seeking a new,
or at least different, reality. An old acquaintance wrote a couple paragraphs
encouraging everyone who was having trouble getting behind a candidate to
instead get behind an issue and support that issue. It is then up to you to determine if that
meant voting for a specific candidate or taking other action.
I believe that
in the end we vote with our wallets and our time. Idle words do not impress.
This year I have
attended a few trail building work parties sponsored by the Evergreen Mountain
Bike Alliance. This last weekend I was again wielding my favorite implement of
destruction (a Triangle Rogue Hoe in case you are keeping score at home). Man, that thing is a weapon!
It is impressive
what a handful of hacks can do in a few hours with some heavy hand tools and a
little oversight. By pure coincidence
the work parties I have been involved with in 2016 have run the full range from
cutting in a new trail to putting the finishing touches on the berms of banked
corners. Seeing the full cycle of trail building in the woods has been
enlightening.
I acknowledge
there are multiple phases that precede the actual trail work ranging from
scouting to permitting to planning. My
guess is that within those tasks is where the real work lies.
Like many good
things I believe good people are the lubricant that makes the impossible happen.
With time carved out of busy schedules and almost no money these good people
borrow tools and machinery and cajole other good people and in the end they
etch out progress.
I’ve spent the
last couple years admiring those who unselfishly contribute their time and one
of my goals going forward is to be one of them.
Won’t you join
me?
I would
encourage all of you to contribute some of your time, starting right here in
2016, to a good cause. You may find that like me your hands and back will be
sore but your inner peace will far outweigh any discomfort.
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