This video from the Associated Press highlights what trail cameras in Alaska have documented over the years. FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - There are more than 100 miles of trails in Fort Wayne, and in 2024, more residents than ever before explored what nature has to offer within city limits. Over one million trips were recorded last year, with a trail user count of 1,008,243, according to a release from Fort Wayne Public Works. A total of 21 infrared counters are positioned around the city to sense each trail user, and there are several factors that determine the data collected, Greenway Manager Dawn Ritchie told WANE 15. Life-size statues of Jesus proposed for along Fort Wayne trail In 2020, when there were 14 trail counters, the data showed just over 660,000 people used the trails throughout the year. The following years would prove to be quite the hike as the numbers eventually climbed to the million mark. A number of variables affect how many people are counted -- there are the more obvious reasons like weather, trail closures due to flooding, or other environmental factors like construction and detours. As some of the original counters aged, there were technical issues as well as environmental factors affecting the accuracy of the counters, Ritchie explained. To make the statistics more accurate, older counters were replaced and additional counters put in place as the amount of trails themselves expanded. Officials have also worked to find the best placement for each counter to reflect numbers as accurately as possible. Fort Wayne Trails and the Northeastern Indiana Regional Coordinating Council both partner with the city to collect and analyze the numbers behind trail usage. “Our greenways and trails continue to make a meaningful difference for residents and visitors,” Mayor Sharon Tucker said in the press release. “Reaching this important milestone demonstrates a strong commitment to ensuring that the public has outstanding quality of life amenities and recreational opportunities to enjoy.”