WHY IT'S HEALTHY TO BE A TRAIL MAINTENANCE VOLUNTEER

reprinted from TREADWAY by Don Cangiano

When trail-maintenance day rolls around, hypertension seems to disappear; suddenly there's no one phoning to ask if you want your air ducts cleaned, have your windows replaced or send you on a cruise for next to nothing. And you haven't had the time, before you leave for your work party, to look at the morning newspaper only to discover that some politician or corporate executive has taken an all-expense paid trip to Naples for some conference at your expense.

You arrive at the section of trail where the work is to be performed; the walk in is about a 3-kilometre hike. Walking is good exercise, especially when you're carrying a 20-pound pry bar, a chainsaw or a pail of nails. Add to that a 15-pound backpack and 5 pounds of work boots and you have yourself a descent work out - as good as you'll get in any gym. Pounding nails for about 3 hours or digging a drainage ditch doesn't do you any harm either. 

You eat healthier. Lunch on the trail is usually a chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread, water or tea, a banana and a handful of raisons. There's no temptation to dig into the cookie jar or fry up a batch of bacon and eggs. Even the rendezvous at Tim Hortons after the work party is good for you - there's nothing wrong with a diet Pepsi and a bran muffin.

And then there's one of the greatest experiences of all, the contact you have with people who share the same values that you do. You talk about things; and because your co-workers have become a second family to you, you tell it the way it is without feeling you may be offending someone. They understand. At the end of the day you look back on what you've accomplished and there's a feeling of accomplishment knowing that what you've done will bring someone happiness and joy for years to come.