The quieter days, darker evenings and lower temperatures have been a relief from a busy summer that saw hordes of tourists; many of them rude and overbearing, also fires that raged nearby and long hours at work that seemed to get the better of me.

I feel tired and in need of quiet. This past week I have made a point of seeking solitude after work for at least a few hours. It is what I need and what I value right now. I have let being alone, walking in the bush or along the river escape me for many years now. It was something I used to do often and had done so since I was a child. I have always enjoyed being alone. This past week has reminded me how important it is to my sanity. During the day at work it is what I look forward to and it gets me through.  

***

I hiked on a trail last weekend that is maintained by, Summit Trail Makers Society. They maintain eleven popular hiking destinations by clearing the trails, putting up signage and publicizing the locations and themselves on social media.

The trails they have taken over were always popular, now however, due to increased awareness are incredibly busy with locals and especially tourists.

To hike one of these trails is the equivalent of playing a game of golf, either you are approaching another group or being overtaken by one. They do, however, serve a valuable purpose and the Society should be commended.

When The Village of Radium Hot Springs started to develop 2nd and 3rd homes for our Alberta neighbours, many of these dwellings were placed on a hill where the old drive-in theatre use to stand. To locals they were hideous abominations. An old-timer put it into perspective for me and made me accept it a little better. He said, “The Albertans and their city condos may as well be all grouped together overlooking the Radium sewer lagoons then spread throughout the valley.”

By the same token tourists may as well explore, The Summit Trail Maker locations en masse then be spread in every direction. Again, this is not a criticism of the Society or the people who frequent the trails. They are people who love nature and enjoy the sights and exercise these trails provide, however, what they do not value is solitude that the mountains can provide in an ever increasing busy world. 

***

Unfortunately now, the 2nd and 3rd vacation homes are not just overlooking the Radium sewer lagoons anymore. They make up the majority of real estate surrounding the lakes and can be found in every nook and cranny stretching from one end of the valley to the other. Soon it will be the same of the recreational enthusiasts, checking off the hikes they find on the internet.

For people who call the valley home; our sense of place, the place we love, where we have laughed and cried, where our children were born, will be stripped of flesh. Soon only scraps will remain.