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Out There: Keeping Creston Valley walks and trails user friendly

Innovative and amusing signs remind pet owners and others of pet management, says outdoors columnist Ed McMackin...
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A variety of eye-catching signs are used to remind pet owners to keep trails tidy.

Since coming to the Creston Valley many years ago, I have noticed a great increase in recreational options around the valley. There has also been a big change, for the better, in people’s attitude towards recreational activities and involvement in those opportunities. More specifically, today, there are a lot more trails and walks available, and a lot more people taking advantage of the positive lifestyle benefits they provide. Trails and walkways also provide healthy ways for both pet owners and their pets to enjoy healthy activities, together in company with other trail users, such as bikers, walkers and hikers.

Barring a few incidents, I have also observed an increasingly greater positive role taken in pet management by pet owners, and paralleling that, a higher level of accommodation by other trail users for pets and their owners. It grows from an increased respect for others and awareness for that need.

There are many matters that pet owners give strict attention to. One is maintaining a healthy trail environment. It’s nice to know that the trail is clean so that people with little two-year-olds can enjoy the walk without having to monitor their charge every second to make sure they don’t pick up some dog “goodie”. Pet owners often take care of that risk by using baggies for clean up. Also, people of both sides would vote for baggie disposal rather than a poopy shoe.

While hiking trails from Kaslo River Trail to the Sandpoint-Dover Community Trail and the Nelson Salmo Great Northern Trail to the Cranbrook Elizabeth Lake trails, I have seen some very innovative and even amusing signs to remind pet owners and others of pet management that will help make trails more user friendly. Business is picking up!

Ed McMackin is a biologist by profession but a naturalist and hiker by nature. He can be reached at 250-866-5747.