Roughly 40 parents and kids turned out Tuesday afternoon near Pyramid Island for the Haines Library’s first trail walk of the year.
The program, now in its second year, will host a walk on a new trail in town every Tuesday and Thursday through mid-August, led by librarian Holly Davis. The walks will progress from easiest to most strenuous, in what Davis described as a “who’s who”of best walks and trails in the area.
Upcoming walks include Tanani Point, Battery Point, and Lily Lake. The program will be capped-off by an end of summer hike of 7-Mile Saddle, complete with two different pace groups led by Davis and Jordan Baumgartner.
Even though the event is part of the library’s summer programming, none of it takes place inside and no books are involved. Davis said that was part of the point. “Working at the library I’ve learned it’s not just about storing books — it’s about access to information,” Davis said. “I’m hoping that introducing people to these different trails, showing them where they can go, where they can park, it becomes a place they can keep coming back to. That’s something they might not learn from a book.”
Tuesday’s walkers featured a large contingent of Haines elementary and middle school students, but Davis emphasized everyone was welcome — longtime residents, newcomers, and tourists alike.
A sign-up sheet at the library asks parents to list open carpool spots so that kids can attend even when their parents cannot.
As a proof of concept, Tuesday’s walk along the beach between Pyramid Island and Mud Bay Road was a major success, and Davis said the large turnout was higher than expected. That was despite a howling wind that made headway up the beach difficult.
Attendees were undeterred, and around the main walking group, made up mostly of parents, the younger walkers ran circles, did cartwheels and practiced identifying edible plants. Owen Stickel, Elias Mason and Luke Hall charted new waters by leaping their way over a stream beside the path.
They managed to stay dry crossing the stream while the CVN reporter did not. “We can jump anything. We’re really good at it,” Stickel said. “We’ve been practicing.”
Next week’s walks will kick off on at 3 p.m. June 10 with a walk at Jones Point. More information can be found at the Haines Public Library.