Trails in the Mount Emily Recreation Area near La Grande.

LA GRANDE — The coronavirus, or COVID-19, is the constant topic of conversation for the last few weeks and will continue to be for an unknown time.

Like many, I am left with a feeling of being all dressed up with nowhere to go as the country tries to devise a plan to slow and treat the predicted onslaught of infirmed individuals. The most recent round of directives call for social distancing and the halt of all social and sporting events. Public places like pubs, libraries and schools are closed.

As our everyday lives are shifted to reflect these changes, it is important to remember that taking care of your mental and physical health, as well as the people around you, should reign supreme.

To that end, social distancing is not the same as quarantine or isolation. It means trying to limit the number of humans, outside of those you are living with, to swap germs with. Social engagements and the everyday rat race has been slowed to a crawl. This means more time for home projects, hobbies, game nights and life sports to rule. Fortunately, the number of life sport adventures available in Eastern Oregon that leave at least a 6-foot buffer between individuals is indefinite.

The local and distant ski hills have closed for the health of all, but the snow is still there. This is the perfect year to explore a little backcountry Nordic or Randonnée in the Elkhorn, Wallowa or Blue mountains. Those wishing for a groomed surface should like the Facebooks of the Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort and the Blue Mountain Nordic Club, as both have expressed the plan to continue posting updates and grooming Nordic trails as long as weather and wellness permit.

If more adventure is called for, I personally think Eastern Oregon is overdue for an Olympic duathlon team that sweeps the world of Nordic skiing and target practicing.

Mount Emily Recreation Area, PATRA, and Sno Road of Union County, Pendleton and Echo respectively all have trails that are ready for mountain biking, running and hiking. If you are looking to explore new trails, I suggest the free downloadable app Trailforks. For those wishing to battle it out in cyberspace, the app Strava has local routes with king of the mountain times to be beaten.

The weather is still temperamental with spring and the trails always change with moisture. Remember, if the trail sticks to your shoes, tires or hooves, take a different route or come back another day to preserve the trail for later rides.

Gravel and road biking are also calling. Look to places like Ride with GPS, also a downloadable app, for suggested rides and classic routes. This time of year, the gravel surfaces have been polished by the wind, rain and snow to a smooth, glassy perfection that will be lost later in the year as dust and washboard emerge as the water content abates.

This year of the coronavirus may be the reboot road riding has been waiting for. With the number of commuters and errand runners significantly down, it might be the perfect time to ride that busier road that is beautiful, but a bit scary due to traffic.

However you chose to make lemonade out of lemons, stay safe and strive to be the healthiest possible version of yourself. Eat right, sleep eight hours a night and get out in the fresh air and work your body.

With any luck this pandemic will result in an explosion of art, technology, scientific theories, close families, tidy homes, honed bodies and the occasional treasured baby.