Image source: https://www.globalmentalhealth.org/

by Erick Wikum

Let’s take a step off of the Little Miami Scenic Trail (we’ll return soon enough) to consider a critically important topic—mental health.  During this past summer’s Olympic Games, Simone Biles’s very public withdrawal from most of her gymnastics events highlighted the pressure that she and all athletes face.  Her issues led Michael Phelps, the winner of 28 Olympic medals who has experienced mental health struggles of his own, to remind viewers that “it’s okay to not be okay.”  In an interview after winning a gold medal, swimmer Caeleb Dressel fought back tears as he noted that the past year had been very difficult.

Let’s face it; the pandemic has been hard for all of us.  Our “new normal”—whether working or attending school from home or limiting social engagements and family visits—is anything but normal.  News of more dangerous variants and fresh outbreaks coupled with concern for our friends and loved ones takes a real emotional toll.  We wonder when and even if this plague will end.

The UK Mental Health Foundation has published a pamphlet (available at this link) that includes the following 10 tips for looking after your mental health:

1. Talk about your feelings
2. Keep active
3. Eat well
4. Drink sensibly
5. Keep in touch (with family and friends)
6. Ask for help
7. Take a break
8. Do something you’re good at
9. Accept who you are
10. Care for others

Perhaps number 6, asking for help, is the most important of these tips and the most difficult to do.  Admitting you need help is not easy, but doing so is a sign of strength and not weakness.  It is okay to say you’re not okay; it is okay to admit you cannot go it alone.

The record more than 2 million people who availed themselves of the Little Miami Scenic Trail last year know the importance of number 2, keeping active.  Exercise is good medicine, as is enjoying the sights and sounds of the river, vegetation and wildlife.  The trail can play a role in your overall mental health plan.  Be safe and be well!

October 2021

by Erick Wikum

When I get ready in the morning, I value a close shave.  When using the Little Miami Scenic Trail, though, a close shave is one of the last things I want to experience.

I recently rode my bike through South Lebanon and east through Morrow.  In Morrow, I decided to take the road rather than the trail.  I stopped at a stop sign before rejoining the trail at the bridge.  A sixth sense told me to check very carefully before proceeding, and it is a good thing I did.  A bicyclist emerged from the bridge at a very high rate of speed and blew through the stop sign.  I hate to even think about the collision that would have resulted had I continued without pausing.

Shortly thereafter, I went for a hike on the trail.  As I approached two walkers going in the opposite direction, first one and then two bicyclists queued up behind the pair of walkers, waiting for me to clear before passing.  In the meanwhile, a third bicyclist approached, passed the first two bicyclists and squeezed through the narrow gap between the walkers and me at full speed.  The two bicyclists who had slowed had a few choice words for the other cyclist, and with good reason.

What’s the lesson here?  Close calls can happen to anyone at any time, so when using the trail, be alert and expect the unexpected.  Slow down when approaching others and wait to pass until it is safe to do so.  Adjust your speed to avoid passing more than one other party at a time.

I feel fortunate that these two close shaves were just that, close shaves, and not accidents.  Stay safe on the trail and save close shaves and other such activities for your morning routine.

by Rick Forrester

Chain sawing is critical to maintaining the trail to remove downed trees blocking the trail or cutting overhanging branches presenting a safety hazard to bicyclist, or access hazard (we try to maintain 12 feet over the trail for emergency vehicle access).  As we have several models (mostly Stihl) stored in the various tool caches, I thought it might be good to explain a little of the coding for the Stihl chainsaws.

All Stihl chainsaws start with the letters “MS” which comes from the German word “Motorsäge” that means “chainsaw”.  Some models are MSA or MSE.  MSA means it is a battery powered saw and MSE means it is an electric saw.  MS by itself means it is a gas powered saw.

Next comes a three number code.  Prior to year 2000, chainsaws usually began with a zero like the MS 025.  After year 2000, the number was moved to the end of the three number code.  For example, the MS 025 became the MS 250.

The “new” first number (post-yr 2000) generally represents the engine displacement, and models range from 100 series (eg. MS 170) that have 23.6-31.9 cc engines all the way to 800 series that have 121 cc engines.

The second number is coupled with the first number to give the general model design features.

Information for this article was excerpted from an article published by Hutson Equipment and written by Austin Gordon.