After our readings in Wanderlust and the prompt of desire lines, I first wanted to go on a longer, more uncomfortable walk and see some footpaths in the snow. I wanted to document how I thought of these lines and how they wander through what is all of our backyards.

Before this prompt came about, I had serious frustration on the trails around here as with the rain; people have been avoiding the puddle and muddy bits on our singletrack trails. When people avoid them and go around, the puddles actually grow, as does the trail; these are in turn, desire lines that destroy what can be a small and manageable trail to a scar that causes more water erosion on the trails we have created.

I started the day with my Technology telling me not to go for a walk, yet my desire persisted. Immediately the new parking lot had lines made with bike tires breaking from the path and water even eroding the main path. I then capture myself in the movement on a hard route over the stream. While this large desire line may look like a trail it is burned in just due to the snow that was blocking the main trail I continued on. From there, the trees that have fallen that have not touched the ground grabbed my attention, as do the trails that go beneath and around the trees.

I do come upon the snow I was seeking that would disrupt the main path. Here I encountered little kids learning how to cross these sections with their bikes, just as I learned growing up here. I was able to see the tiny trail turn into a mess of footsteps as the avalanche caused continued havoc for the user, who had to face an ever-changing obstruction to the path. And once over that, I jumped across the creek to the south side of the trails and enjoyed the hidden singletrack path surrounded by flowers as rain, lighting, and thunder took my place as I made my way home.