Introducing Our New Guest Column: On the Trail With Dayle
Dayle Hayes on Peets Hill.
“Every bird, every tree, every flower reminds me what a blessing and privilege it is just to be alive.”
I don't remember the first time I heard the Gallatin Valley Land Trust slogan Main Street to the Mountains. Now I think about it every day I am in town. My home is a block from Main Street, and I can see mountains in two directions.
I moved from Billings to Bozeman a little over ten years ago, in May 2015, but I never actually tried out the words Main Street to the Mountains until a couple of weeks ago. On a sunny, cool Sunday in May, a friend and I started out from Main Street and Church. She brought a dog named Greta, and I brought snacks and plenty of water. We left around 9 am and three hours later, after a break on the bridge near the fish hatchery, we were on the top of Drinking Horse Mountain surrounded by wildflowers. That was truly a blessing!
On any given day, I use the Bozeman trail system to commute, to do errands, to meditate, to visit with friends, and to connect with nature (aka shinrin-yoku or forest bathing). Just last week, I took sidewalks and trails up to Bozeman Health on Highland Avenue for an early morning blood draw. In the three-mile round trip, I enhanced my physical health, saw four (maybe five) mountain ranges, enjoyed fields of wildflowers, and logged miles for the GVLT Summer Trails Challenge—all before 9 am! It is always satisfying when health care providers ask how you are feeling, to tell them that you walked to the appointment from downtown!
While Bozeman’s trail system is now the foundation of my daily physical and mental health, it saved my sanity a few years ago. I returned from California on March 13, 2020; the following week Bozeman—along with the rest of the world—shut down for COVID. Since I did not own a car then, walking was my only option, and I used the trails much more than usual. I was often the only human on the trails in Story Mill Park and Sunset Hills Cemetery, sometimes with deer and a flock of turkeys for company. As the world gradually opened, friends and I would meet—at a distance—on benches along the trails or in parks. The pocket trail park at the northern end of Church Street was a favorite ‘oasis’ with coffee and pastries from nearby stores.
I am clearly a fan of Gallatin Valley Land Trust and their partnership with the City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation. I am happy that a portion of my city tax assessment supports parks and rec, but I recognize that it is not enough. I support GVLT with financial donations as well as my time—helping to maintain trails and pick up dog poop regularly. I also let GVLT business backers know how much I appreciate their community sponsorships.
I am beyond grateful to GVLT Communications for the opportunity to write this “On the Trail with Dayle” column. I have lots of ideas but no specific plans for future content – I welcome your input and all your thoughts. My list of possible topics currently includes favorite spots for shinrin-yoku, inspirations for exploring new trails, smartest footwear for different seasons, reflections on trail photography, and interviews on the trail. I’d love to hear (and see photos) about how you use our precious trail resources. Email me at DayleHayesMT@gmail.com and watch for my occasional posts on Gallatin Valley Land Trust Facebook and Instagram.
"Every bird, every tree, every flower reminds me what a blessing and privilege it is just to be alive." At nearly seventy-five, I am grateful to be alive—and healthy enough—to enjoy the privilege of walking from Main Street to the Mountains!