I’ll bet that last week’s Unorganized Territory about my love-hate relationship with mud confused a few readers. I wrote about the delight of taking the first fourwheeler ride of the season, splashing through puddles on the trails. And I wrote about the joy of slogging through the mud in the Tofte Trek 10K.
So, am I a motorhead? Or am Ia tree hugger? Believe it or not, I’m both. In celebration of Earth Day, which is coming up this week, I’ll try to explain.
I do love riding my ATV. I enjoy splashing through the mud and trekking up and down hills, the rockier and bumpier the better. It is very empowering to be able to maneuver through a rough spot in the road or to bounce along a trail for hours. Believe it or not, it’s not passive, it takes upper body strength to keep the wheeler on the road. Sitting up straight to muscle the heavy machine where you want it to go is a great core workout. You get tired riding an ATV.
But it’s the good tired that comes from being outside, active in the sun or the rain.
So yes, I am a motorhead. But I’m a tree hugger too. There are many stops along the way on a four-wheeler ride to check out wildflowers, to see if there are fish in a nearby stream, or if I’m really lucky, to pick some berries. I love coming up upon wildlife on the trail or watching birds glide through the air overhead.
And then there are times when I want to be afoot, without the vibration of the engine or the rumble of the motor. I love hiking, especially along a river. I love the sound of water cascading over rocks and the rustling of leaves along the path. I love the view from Caribou Rock, from Carlton Peak, from Eagle Mountain and others.
And when I’m standing near the top of one of those vistas, I like the reassurance of a sturdy tree. More than once I’ve found myself at an overlook, peering far below with my arm hooked around a tree trunk. So yes, I am literally a tree hugger.
I think there are more people like me than there are those who are entrenched in one camp or the other. I know there are some people who cringe at the idea of riding an ATV. And I know there are ATVers who hate just walking around the block. But truly, those folks are few and far between. Few people are that one-dimensional. People can like ATVs and snowmobiles and still enjoy biking and cross country skiing.
And all of the users of the beautiful public lands in Cook County have something in common. We may have different methods for getting out into the woods, but we all love this place we call home. Get out and enjoy it!
Happy Earth Day!
I don’t accept the idea there are two sides to any issue. I think the middle ground is to be found within most of us.
Krista Tippett
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