High Sierra Topix

Every community is different. Since I only visit the Bay Area, do not live there, to me, it seems really cramped and crowded. I would expect stricter rules there. If the estimate of need to stay home into June holds, I am going to get pretty tired of the same urban hikes! I do have some nearby options, as long as they do not start impounding cars parked near trailheads. Then I would have to camp in my back yard to get my backpack fix.

Yes, lethality and communicability are different. But the point of the closures is to spread out the cases over time so the medical system does not get overwhelmed. Those who spread and get mild cases still impact those who would get more severe cases, ending up in hospitals. A lot of us are going to get it eventually, and probably will be fine. Although just getting the thing, suffering a few weeks, and then get over it may be preferable for those with no underlying health factors, it is about protecting others. You would be amazed at how many Americans DO have underlying conditions (some as the consequence of our relatively unhealthy lifestyles and poverty).

From NYT today:

The importance of viral dose is being overlooked in discussions of the coronavirus. As with any other poison, viruses are usually more dangerous in larger amounts. Small initial exposures tend to lead to mild or asymptomatic infections, while larger doses can be lethal.

From a policy perspective, we need to consider that not all exposures to the coronavirus may be the same. Stepping into an office building that once had someone with the coronavirus in it is not as dangerous as sitting next to that infected person for an hourlong train commute.

This may seem obvious, but many people are not making this distinction. We need to focus more on preventing high-dose infection.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/opin ... e=Homepage

Grand Canyon NP was just closed.

More on aerosol transmission and some insights on why both the beach and the ocean may be more of a threat than we think:
https://www.latimes.com/california/stor ... os-angeles

Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 01, 2020 7:37 pm Grand Canyon NP was just closed.

This is terrible. How can I have my goat yoga class there?

Every spring, in Yosemite, Grand Canyon and any other national park with cliffs, there are a rash of "death by selfies". At least a few will be spared from that! Speaking of goats, I walked yesterday and a neighbor had baby goats in their yard; they were so cute. I see more animals on my urban walks than in the wilderness- goats, chickens both domestic and those that have gone wild, horses, geese, ducks, rattlesnakes, wild turkeys, coyotes, all sorts of birds feeding in the river, squirrels (we have a couple of unusual black squirrels in our neighborhood). Unfortunately, my favorite lizard that used to hide inside my house, is now where to be seen- probably eaten since we rescued a cat a year ago.

Just a note- ticks are out so if you go walking in brush check your self and your pets.

Still more evidence about aerosol transmission:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/health/a ... index.html

We're walking around town...today 7-8 miles along the river. It's a paved trail, but goes through some pleasant terrain. But nary a hill to climb.

Loved the TR and photos WD. Been doing the same thing around here.

A few more photos from my town walks.