Getting outside ‘helps us keep our sanity’ during coronavirus. Here are your options
During stressful times such as these, being able to walk, run or bike outside, in the words of a local health official, “helps us keep our sanity.”
Question is, what are the proper protocols for outdoor exercise during the coronavirus outbreak? And didn’t Gov. Gavin Newsom order all 40 million Californians to stay home indefinitely?
Yes, in fact, he did. But that doesn’t mean we’re being ordered to remain indoors 24 hours a day. There is some wiggle room.
“You can still take your kids outside, practicing common sense and social distancing,” Newsom said Thursday evening. “You can still walk your dog.”
For some people, strolling or jogging around the neighborhood is all the outdoor activity they need. Some prefer city parks, which are open in Fresno, Clovis and Fresno County. (Based on my own observations this week, local parks and bike paths are fairly busy. I’ve seen some good examples of social distancing and some not-so-good.)
Others will choose to venture further out. Yosemite National Park closed to all park visitors at 3 p.m. Friday. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park remains open, for now, and is not charging entrance fees. However, don’t expect normal operations. All campgrounds, restaurants, markets, hotels and visitor centers are closed.
It’s a similar situation at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, where the campground is closed but trails, beaches and boat launches remain open. On the Madera County side of the San Joaquin River, Sycamore Island Park is closed, but nearby Wildwood Native Park is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Campgrounds, picnic areas and Sno-Parks in the Sierra National Forest and Sequoia National Forest that are normally open this time of year remain so.
Also open, and a great option for spreading out in nature, are the array of state and national wildlife refuges and areas located around Mendota and Los Banos. Visitor centers have closed, and fees have been waived.
“Getting out and taking a walk, taking a trip to Yosemite, we have got to do that to keep our sanity,” said David Pomaville, Fresno County’s director of public health. “Those are good things.”
Pomaville reinforced the importance of social distancing – remaining at least 6 feet apart from people you’re not isolating with – as well as the dangers of being in confined spaces with groups of people. Hand hygiene is also “critical.”
Those warnings are especially true for seniors 65 and older or those with compromised immune systems, he added.
“There’s things to plan ahead before you go,” Pomaville said. “Make sure you have some extra wipes or bring along hand sanitizer – and also being a little more thoughtful in terms of what situations you may encounter. But I really think, particularly, with the nicer weather coming, being outside is going to be a good outlet for people.”
China Peak reopens, closes
Skiers and snowboarders had a temporary outlet at China Peak, which on Friday was the only ski resort operating in California. All others in Lake Tahoe and Big Bear, along with Mammoth Mountain in the Eastern Sierra, are closed with travelers being asked to stay away.
Owner/operator Tim Cohee planned to keep the chairlifts running this weekend. Instead, Friday was the final day of operation following a request from the Forest Service.
Why did China Peak, located 65 miles east of Fresno, buck the industry trend?
Cohee said it’s because his resort has relatively few visitors (800 Thursday) spread across a large area (1,400 acres) and is not located near one of California’s major population centers.
“China Peak is well known for being one of the most uncrowded ski areas on the planet,” Cohee said. “You cannot stand in line in this ski area. This is a big place without many people.”
The resort took steps to conform with COVID-19 health guidelines by limiting indoor access and eliminating indoor seating.
“Honestly, we would not have (opened) if we felt we couldn’t do it the right way,” Cohee said. “We have plenty of space for social distancing.”
Stricter restrictions in Europe
Local groups less confident of their ability to keep people safely separated suspended activities sooner.
The Sierra Foothill Conservancy has postponed all public hikes and classes at its preserves, a major bummer because spring is the best time to visit. The Central Valley Hiking Group stopped adding outings and suggested members keep hikes to “small intimate groups.” The Fresno Cycling Club halted all group rides.
My advice to anyone wishing to venture out of the house, besides doing it safely and responsibly, is to do it ASAP. Why? Because we don’t know what’s coming next.
On Thursday, for example, France joined Spain and Italy in banning all recreational cycling and also ruled that people can only exercise within a 1.2-mile radius (2 kilometers) of their homes. Daily outdoor exercise had already been limited to one hour for children and 30 minutes for adults.
Could similar restrictions be on the way here? I’m not qualified to give a definite answer, but based on how much our lives have changed over the last two weeks, it seems like a fair bet.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 2:05 PM.
