Wellness Walks: Anchorage Park Trails

This week, Island mailboxes were hit with flyers announcing a new fundraising effort for upgrades to the Anchorage Park Trails. As many of you know, The Anchorage is a very special place to me, for its beaches as well trails. It has been my Go-To spot for many of my Wellness Walk & Talk events. Besides being centrally located, the Anchorage offers a variety of trails that are easy to walk, scenic, and short. I often combine 2-3 trails for an enjoyable walk when I want to add more steps to the latest virtual walking challenge I am working on.

One of my favorites is the Boardwalk. I especially love this one for all seasons. In winter, it can be very picturesque as snow lays on the overhanging canopy of branches. In summer, it can offer protection from the afternoon sun, or heavy winds. If you come up with a hundred reasons NOT to go for a walk, the Boardwalk can offer a hundred reasons to just get out and DO IT! It is very family oriented, and dog friendly. The various look out benches provide quiet spots to sit and meditate, pray, journal or read. They are also great resting spots for the little ones to stop and have a snack, or provide a snack for the squirrels! When Dalton was little, we would seek out the elusive trolls under some of those bridges, and later would hide treats in geocaches along the way with Youth Group. A mighty tree that held growing childhood friends for annual photo shoots has since fallen away. But the memories have not.

Another thing I really like about the Boardwalk, is how the three entry points can give you a very different experience. You might choose to walk the whole length, or just take in a short section. I’ve enjoyed taking the back campground entrance, especially in winter. I love the little bridges. The most popular entrance is by the Fisherman’s Memorial, a very peaceful destination in and of itself. The Red Point Road entrance may seem a little more out the way, but you also get to enjoy the short Hudson Trail down there, before starting on the Boardwalk. I am so grateful to Gene Hudson and his family/friends who take on some of the upkeep.

Looking back on the many years of adventures, it’s no wonder some stretches are in need of repair and upgrades. It has been twenty years of troll hunting and picnic lunches! The only time I recall the trails NOT being accessible was spring of 2020, when COVID restrictions told us we could not keep six feet apart if we were to meet someone along the way.

The proposed upgrades include widening the trail. Many times after a rainfall or ice storm, the boards would be very slippery and treacherous. Those days it is best to avoid the trail. Changes will see a hard-packed gravel laid down instead. I am so excited to think friends bound to wheelchairs will better be able to enjoy the park with friends and family.

I am partnering with the Anchorage to help fundraise and share my love of the trails. I hope you might consider coming out and joining us. As many of you know, I started hosting Wellness Walk & Talks during COVID restrictions, when indoor social gatherings were discouraged. Thankfully, our island is blessed with many walking trails, not just at Anchorage. The short hikes were good for all our state of mind, and continue to be.

Starting on Friday, June 25, I will be hosting weekend Wellness Walks. Visitors to the park will get to explore the area with me, and islanders are welcome to join in. Some of you might not have been on some of the trails ever; others might not have visited in a few weeks. We welcome all of you! If you have friends staying with you this summer, or you have guests staying at your cottages or B & Bs, we welcome you!

Come join us on Friday nights @7pm, or Saturday afternoons @4pm. Cost of the walk is $5 per adult, $3 per child, or $14 per family. Each group is limited to ten participants, so register early. You can pick up your ticket at the Anchorage Office, or text me at (506)662-4246. We will meet at the Picnic Pavilion gate. **all walks are weather pending, so be sure to check in with me if you are unsure.

If you are uncomfortable with crowds, message me to arrange a smaller walking group; or if you would like to arrange an alternate time for private parties, message me.

WHAT TO BRING: Wear comfortable shoes and your mask. Bring along bug spray/sunscreen and water. See you soon!