Hamilton Lakes Park Trail - Greensboro, NC
“Walking is man’s best medicine.” - Hippocrates
“The moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.” - Henry David Thoreau
The Story -
Due to a COVID outbreak in my immediate family, I was unable to hike this week or leave the area out of an abundance of caution. My whole family is vaccinated and boosted, yet the Omicron variant still found its way to our door, scary stuff for sure. And while the vaccine didn’t prevent us from contracting the virus, it did keep our symptoms mild, similar to that of an nagging cold, and we all are fortunately fine and thankful to have gotten the virus only after being vaccinated.
Afoot and Lighthearted -
In what some might consider coincidence, Ginger gave me the book Afoot and Lighthearted for Christmas, in which the first chapter reminds us that we all have a neighborhood, and no matter how accustomed you are to its characteristics and patterns, there is still much to be learned from it. The key is to see it as a tourist or as a newcomer would, taking time to really notice your surroundings similar to your first time, despite your familiarity with the area. Little did I know how soon I would need this reminder.
A Plethora of Parks -
We are blessed in Greensboro to have many wonderful parks and trails and I am exceptionally fortunate to have four fabulous ones very near my home, all within close walking distance - the Greensboro Arboretum, the Bog Garden, the Tanger Bicentennial Garden, and the Hamilton Lakes Park Trail.
Each of these four are truly amazing for urban parks, each deserving a post of its own, yet I decided to focus on the Hamilton Lakes Park Trail for this post. It is the longest and larger of the four trails, with ample room on the trail and arguably the fewest people, therefore minimizing my contact with others and reducing the risk of spreading the virus to others.
A Hike (Walk) To Remember -
The Hamilton Lakes Park Trail is a pleasant almost three-mile hike on a natural path, following along a bumbling stream, and encircling the scenic Lake Hamilton. My favorite part of the hike includes a section of plants and shrubs not normally seen on hikes - mature somewhat overgrown boxwoods, hollies, mahonia, ligustrum, virburnum, and hydrangeas - remnants of the old Lindley Nursery, which was located nearby at Friendly Avenue and Lakewood Drive. A 2012 article by Preservation Greensboro details the area’s history in more detail, and can be found here.
To Be Or Not To Be (A Hike) -
My family and I often debate the distinctions between hikes and walks, and we mostly agree that while all hikes are walks, not all walks are hikes. Simple right? Well, maybe not. The Hamilton Lakes Trail is a perfect is it a walk and or hike example. Webster defines a hike as “a long walk, especially in the wilderness or country.” Ginger’s position is that a hike must be on a dirt path or trail, with walks taking place on sidewalks, concrete, or another man-made surface. Alex feels obstacles and elevation changes are needed to be considered a hike. In regards to The Hamilton Lakes Trail, Webster’s definition can be seen as ambiguous while Ginger’s is clearly a hike.
What do you think?
