Kimberley
Nature Park
Nature Park Hazards
Trail
Hazards
The trails in the Nature Park are
maintained by volunteers with chain saws, grubhoes, brush clippers, swede saws,
etc., etc. For the most part they are good hiking and biking trails. There are,
however, on some trails, a few rocky and slippery sections, steep and bumpy
parts, muddy and brushy areas. On all trails, from time to time, there are trees
knocked down by wind or snow that must be circumnavigated or hopped over, until
our crews get out to clear them. For those of us that value the outdoors, these
obstacles are all part of the experience. If you wear proper footwear and use a
modicum of caution when biking, you should have no problem navigating the
trails. If you see recent blowdown or erosion hazards please let us know.
Plant Hazards
There is no poison ivy or poison
oak in the Nature Park. We have noticed stinging nettle along the Lower Army
Road just past the Pat Morrow Trail turnoff, but unless you go flailing off into
the bush it shouldn't be a problem. There are a number of thorny plants in the
park ranging from wild rose and thistle to devils club, but again, if you stay
on the roads and paths, these won't bother you. There are, of course, poisonous
mushrooms and other plants in the Park, so unless you are an expert naturalist
or botanist don't eat things. (Pack a lunch.)
Animal Hazards
Grizzly bears do not normally frequent
the Nature Park. (That "normally" is in there to cover our butts. Most
people that use the Park don't even consider the possibility of running into a
grizzly. Still, you never know. In a bad berry year, one might pass
through.)
Moose are probably the most dangerous and
unpredictable animal that you might see in the Park. A number of moose live in
the Park and people do run into them occasionally, though almost always without
incident. If you see a moose, back off, and find another route to hike. Cow
moose with calf are especially touchy. We have had a number of people and dogs
chased by moose but so far there have been no casualties.
Black bears live in and around the park
and if you see one make some noise and find a different route. Black bears seem
to be as much afraid of humans as humans are of them and they almost always run
away. Please don't take any chances. There are sometimes sow black bears in the
Park raising their children and they really don't want to be bothered.
Deer aren't generally a hazard and are
fun to observe but they might chase off your dog if they have fawns.
There are no poisonous snakes or reptiles
in the Park.
Like everywhere else there are some
mosquitoes, wasps, hornets, horseflies, deerflies, etc. in the Park but that's
life.
