We’re law-abiding folk here at the Rockford Fringe, but we have been known to bend a rule or two. For instance, when we hike, we might go off-trail or walk along the railroad tracks or harvest a mushroom or two. You’re not supposed to do those things but it’s part of how we learn about the land.
You’re supposed to stay on the trails so that you don’t disturb wildlife and fragile ecosystems. We get that, but we also occasionally carefully explore off-trail so we can find skunk cabbage, morels and ephemerals. There is so much to learn when you go a little bit deeper into the woods. When you have the time, I recommend following an animal track or a deer path or just your instinct. I guarantee you’ll see something special.
Railroads are privately owned therefore it’s illegal to walk along the tracks. Well, we walked along train tracks this weekend. Railroads are fascinating to examine “up close and personal.” It’s inspirational to see how the wood, rocks and iron all work together in symmetry to transport people and goods across the country. Explaining why it’s illegal and dangerous to walk along them while you’re actually on one is a better way to teach than just saying, “Don’t do that.”
Picking mushrooms in Illinois is perfectly legal in most state parks but it is a no-no in some natural areas and preserves. I might have “forgotten” this when I happened upon some maitake (hen-of-the-woods) last fall…
So yes, we have been known to explore off-trail and pick mushrooms, but here’s what we don’t do:
We don’t drink alcohol in the woods. We don’t do drugs in the woods. We don’t hook up in the woods. We aren’t rowdy in the woods. We don’t play music in the woods. We don’t litter in the woods. We don’t dump dead bodies in the woods. We don’t abuse animals in the woods. We don’t let our dogs off their leashes. We don’t dump our waste in the woods.
Furthermore, when we see other hikers in the woods, we don’t hog the trails. We walk single file and smile at them so they know we’re “safe.”
We’ve been hiking for decades and have, unfortunately, seen it all. That’s why we require an RSVP when we hike. While we’ve been known to bend a rule or two, we’re dedicated to keeping you safe on the trails!
Thanks for reading…and hiking…and maybe even bending a rule or two! -Connie
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