VVMTA Monthly Vail Daily Column: April 1, 2026
Above photo of Boneyard trail from February 14, 2026.
It has been hard to wrap my head around the lack of snow and the warm weather we experienced this winter. It has brought up a lot of emotions for me, like anxiety, fear, anger, and unrest. My mind starts racing, and the same questions keep running through my head. What is summer going to be like? How dry is it going to get? Are we going to have wildfires? What happens if our trails are closed because of fire? What if it gets so smoky that I cannot go outside and experience nature at all? How do I take care of my health and happiness without getting outside in nature? How will our community be affected?
This early trail season has been a tough one to grapple with. The sunshine and warm weather feel amazing, and I would be lying if I said otherwise. But right alongside that joy comes guilt, because this is not how the weather is supposed to feel. I cannot sit inside and boycott the warm weather. I have to find a way to enjoy being outside while still being aware of what this season may mean. I have really had to reframe my mindset so I can still feel the joy and excitement that come with a trail run or bike ride.
At the same time, it has been revitalizing to see so many people back out on the trails. After winter, the trails become a place where our community reconnects. Friends run into each other. Families get outside together. Our community comes alive after hibernation and we remember how good it feels to move outside on a trail and to connect with nature.
At the VVMTA, we are feeling the pressure to serve our trails community much earlier than we normally would. We keep hearing the same questions. When will trail work start? What are conditions like out there? We always do our best to share information and education as quickly and clearly as we can. The reality is that each of us also has a responsibility as trail users and stewards to know what is open and to respect seasonal wildlife closures. Even in a warm and dry spring, it means making thoughtful choices and recreating responsibly.
When I feel myself starting to spiral, I keep coming back to the same question. What can I control? I can control my choices. I can choose which trail to run on, knowing it is open and dry. I can mix it up, keep it interesting, and embrace the weirdness of spring on a limited number of trails. I can choose to get outside with friends. I cannot control whether we get a wet spring, whether wildfire smoke fills the valley, or how dry and dusty the trails may become. But I can stay aware, let those realities inform my decisions, and use that awareness to guide both my own actions and our work at VVMTA.
Maybe the lesson for me right now is that I do not need to solve the whole season before it even gets here. I just need to stay focused on what is right in front of me, like my next trail run or bike ride. It is a reminder that even in an unsettling season, there is still joy to be found. That feels manageable and realistic.
At the same time, this season feels like a reminder for all of us to stay present, stay flexible, and take care of the places we love. We can recognize how unusual these conditions feel and still be thoughtful about how we show up. We can love our trails not just by using them, but by respecting closures, making good choices, and looking out for the land, wildlife, and each other.
I do not know exactly what the coming months will bring. But I do know that this community, which always seems to come together and show up, gives me hope. When we show up with care, patience, and respect for one another and for the land, that makes a difference. In a season that already feels uncertain, that shared responsibility feels like a good place to begin. In the meantime, let’s hope for a wet and snowy spring!
The VVMTA’s mission is to maintain, create, and advocate for sustainable trail systems that connect people to nature, promote environmental stewardship, and strengthen community well-being. The VVMTA is the trusted and enduring leader in trail-based recreation, connecting a diverse community to well-loved trails, supporting health, quality of life, and economic vitality, while championing a model of access and stewardship of our public lands that benefits everyone.
