Going outside to walk, hike or bike remains an option for now, but keep your distance
Someone emerging from the woods of Point Defiance Park on Thursday never would have known there was a worldwide pandemic underway.
Groups of people sat together at picnic tables. Others played doubles on the tennis courts. Bikers and hikers filled roads and paths.
Most were assembled in small family groups or couples.
Along Ruston Way, a steady stream of strolling adults and young people riding longboards soaked up the sun on the last day of winter.
It was all carefree, as long as you didn’t consider that 74 people in Washington state have died from COVID-19 as of Thursday. One week ago that number stood at 30. One month ago it was zero.
Stay in or go out?
Schools, restaurants, bars, the Tacoma Mall ... just about everything is shut down in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
But parks, paths and sidewalks remain open. Social distancing — the practice of maintaining at least six feet from other people — was mostly the rule of the day in Tacoma’s parks Thursday.
There’s no harm in going outside, as long as you maintain that six-foot space, the state Department of Health said. Large gatherings and mass events have been banned.
Caveats have been issued for older adults and people with severe underlying health conditions. They are considered to have an increased risk of death or a more serious illness from COVID-19.
Readers of The News Tribune have been sending in questions regarding outside safety: Is doubles tennis safe? Is rock climbing safe? What about swimming and playground equipment?
The state Department of Health and Tacoma Pierce-County Health Department provided only general guidelines in response to those questions.
The outdoors remains safe. It’s just other people you have be concerned about. The coronavirus is considered to be highly contagious.
Ultimately, each individual and parent/caregiver must weigh the risks of outdoor recreation — the risks to you and the risks you pose to others.
If you’re showing any symptoms of CORVID-19 (fever, dry cough, fatigue), stay home in isolation.
Walking and biking
Whether it’s your sidewalk or a city path, walking remains an excellent option to break up a long day at home.
The routes listed here generally allow a wide berth between walkers and cyclists as many were built on former roads, railroad lines and irrigation ditches.
Unpaved trails abound in Point Defiance Park. Some are wide, some are narrow. All offer water or forest views.
The 5-mile paved Scott Pierson Trail which runs from Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and into Gig Harbor is another option.
Not long enough? The Pierson Trail ends near the Cushman Trail, which runs for 6.2 more miles.
Other paved urban trails include the Water Flume LIne Trail in South Tacoma and the new Pipeline Trail in East Tacoma.
In east Pierce County, the 21-mile paved Foothills Trail offers river and mountain scenery through Orting, South Prairie and Buckley. The wide, former railroad route has a gentle grade.
Hiking
There’s a lifetime of hiking in our region, whether it’s in the foothills or mountains.
Snow and cold temperatures remain a concern, depending on elevation.
U.S. Forest Service lands remain open, according to spokesman Colton Whitworth.
“Social distancing is a practice that can take place within the forest,” Whitworth said. “Recreation within the forest can be a great way for visitors to decompress and relieve stress during tough times.”
Whitworth cautioned that popular trails may not allow for proper social distancing.
“Our less-visited locations could provide a great outlet for visitors looking to spend time outdoors and away from larger groups of people,” he said.
The King County Sheriff’s Office has seen a spike in search-and-rescue calls of lost, missing and injured hikers, according to spokesman Sgt. Ryan Abbott.
“More people than ever are home and they want to get out of the house,” Abbott said. “The weather is only getting nicer, and people are getting more stir crazy.”
Aid calls also put first responders at risk for exposure to the coronavirus, Abbott said.
He urged hikers to hit the trails with the 10 safety essentials:
▪ Navigation: map, compass, GPS
▪ Sun Protection: glasses, sunscreen, hat
▪ Insulation: extra clothes, avoid cotton
▪ Illumination: headlamp, flashlight
▪ First aid supplies, and know how to use them
▪ Emergency fire: camp stove, matches
▪ Repair kit and tools
▪ Nutrition: enough and extra food
▪ Hydration: enough and extra water
▪ Emergency shelter and Communication: cell phone, whistle
Virtual and real blossoms
In Seattle, visitors are discouraged from seeing the annual cherry bloom on the University of Washington campus.
UW is urging campus visitors to view the annual display via, “a virtual viewing experience at home.”
The annual act of nature usually draws thousands. This year, the order against gatherings larger than 50 people makes that a risky affair.
Those in need of a cherry blossom fix can access a webcam overlooking the UW Quad.
Blossoms can still be seen in person at Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood. The non-profit garden is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $10.
“It’s gorgeous,” said events coordinator Christine Vanderhoff on Wednesday. “It’s very peaceful, serene.”
Admission to Federal Way’s Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden has been waived during the coronavirus crisis.
“We have decided to make it admission-free for anybody,” said staff member Britt Board. “We know that people need a space to heal, and we don’t want admission to be a barrier.”
That could change, Board said, if restrictions on outside movement are put in place, as they have been in China and parts of Europe. Until then, the garden will stay open.
“People can come, get outside, stay six feet away from each other and enjoy nature,” Board said.
Terminology
Social distancing: Maintaining a separation between people to help stop the transmission of a disease. Experts say a minimum of six feet is required for the coronavirus. Coughs and sneezes can travel this distance and their droplets may contain the virus. The most effective method is to stay in your residence.
Quarantine: The separation of a person possibly exposed to a disease from others. The quarantined person is not yet sick but this prevents the potential spread of the disease to others.
Isolation: Used to separate a sick person from other, not ill people. Isolation is used to help stop the spread of the disease.
Self-monitoring: A person monitoring themselves for symptoms, including fever. The person reports any symptoms to their local public health department. Public health checks in with the person periodically during the monitoring period.
Active-monitoring: The local public health department contacts a person daily to monitor for symptoms, including fever, throughout the monitoring period.
