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Show 'THUJtah Statesman Diversions The Do's and Don't's of Hiking -Always bring sunscreen (SPF 15+) -Bring extra clothes in case the temperature drops suddenly. -Bring plenty of water. Often a water bottle isn't enough. -Bring high-energy snacks. -Bring a first-aid kit and know how to use it. -Don't create switchbacks. Stick to the trail. -If you brought it in, take it out. HIKING TRAILS 1) Riverside Nature Trail 2) Wind Cave 3) Crimson Trail 4) Old Ephraim's Grave 5) Jardine Juniper 6) White Pine Lake 7) Naomi Peak 8) High Creek 9) Limber Pine 10) Green Canyon to Tony Grove 11) Temple Fork Sawmill Trail 12) Richards Hollow to Cowley 13) Great Western Trail 14) Deep Canyon/Wellsville Ridge 15) Maple Bench to Stewart Past BIKING TRAILS 1) Logan Canyon/Right Hand Fork 2) Hyrum/Avon 3) Mt. Sterling 4) Little Pyrenes 5) Blacksmith Fork 6) Little Mountain 7) Richmond/Cornish 8) Bear Lake 9) Bear Lake Summit/Mea dowville 10) Swan Flat/Red Sink 11) Beaver Canyon/Logan Canyon 12) Steam Mill Lake 13) Jardine Juniper BY MATT WRIGHT Diversions Editor You have to be careful when you walk out your door, Bilbo once said to his nephew Frodo in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, because you'll never know where a trail can take you. The Cache Valley is home to a number of beautiful trails that lie waiting to take the hiker or biker on a trip to some of the most breath-taking vistas in the western United States. "You just forget how pretty the area is until you can get up high and look out ana see this expanse of scenery," natural resource manager Connie McCaughey said. "You can see everything from on top those ridges. You just get a real appreciation for the beauty of the valley; and I'm not sure if we want to get that word out or not, because then the masses will come here and we won't have the beauty as much anymore." With 15 hiking trails and 19 mountain and road bike trails, the wilderness areas surrounding the valley grant easy access to peace of mind that comes from communion with nature. "I think hiking gives you a lot of peace of mind from your day to day school work," campus recreation director Kevin Kobe said. Currently, Kobe is teaching a hiking class to several Utah State University students who meet once a week. The class is designed to teach students the basics of hiking which include what to bring with you when you go, where the trailheads are located and some information about natural histoy and the birds, trees and roci<s that line the trails. Mostly, however, the class is about hiking. "It's an activity class, so our main goal is to go hiking," Kobe said. "It's a great way for students to get to Know each other in the class. Out there, there are no distractions: no cell phones, no pagers, no laptops. They can sit there and actually talk to each other and get to know each other." Kobe said the trails around the valley are unique because they are so accessible and available to both the professional hiker and the amateur alike. "The trails are so close and accessible. You don't really have to fight an urban zone to get to them. You can even take an LTD bus to the Cliffside subdivision and there's a bus stop right at the mouth of Dry Canyon that leads right to the top of Logan Peak wnich is one of our highest mountains. The most unique thing is that we have two wilderness areas on both sides of the Cache Valley. The one thing about hiking around here is that you don't get yourself into high alpine country. There are midupper level mountains, but you don't have to deal with mountaineering. It's accessible." Some of the main things that people need to remember bring when they hike include: a sturdy pair of boots, plenty of water, high-energy foods, a rain poncho, extra sets of warm clothing, an up-to-date first aid kit, sunscreen, a hat to keep away the sun and extra materials for others in your group. "If someone in your group has a problem, you all have a problem," Kobe said. The most important thing, Kobe said, is that students get hiking into their lifestyle right now and don't wait until they get older. "You've got to get out into the mountains as part of your weekly schedule. If you don't get it into your lifestyle when you're younger, you're surely not going to get it into your lifestyle when you're older. This is a good habit. It teaches you about your place in the greater world, gives you exercise both mental and physical, and teaches you about yourself." Winter Trails: Through a collaborative effort by the Outdoor Recreation Center (ORC), Nordic United, the state of Utah and the Forrest Department, this winter there will be a few select trails opened up for cross-country skiing. Though no trails have been announced yet, McCaughey said they will be chosen and ready by winter. Equipment for cross-country skiing can be rented from the ORC. -mattgo@cc.usu.edu Michael Sharp pbololmichaehharp@cc.UbU.cdu MANY TRAILS exist to fit the different capabilities of hikers. The trails are funded largly by grants from the federal government and donations from individuals and local governments. From Top to Bottom: The trailhead of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, a nice place to sit along the Riverside Trail near Highway 89, the Riverwalk trail near the mouth of Logan Canyon, and the trailhead of the Wind Caves, one of Logan's most popular trails. |