KENNEBEC JOURNAL • May 1, 2021
Too often inexperienced hikers may overestimate their abilities to work through difficult terrain or other unexpected challenges. But when it comes down to it, according to the American Hiking Society, the most pressing issues threatening trails are not flatlanders hiking in flip flops, but air pollution, encroaching urban development, and proliferation of human infrastructure. Just as it seems silly for people not to take the time to ready themselves for a hike, it’s silly for our state not to properly plan for the maintenance of our natural environment. Now is the time to take pollution regulation and climate change seriously when preparing for Maine’s future. The hiker may be able to be rescued by the wardens, but who will rescue us from ourselves? ~ Hannah Woodford, Readfield