How to walk in the winter
Don't let the cold keep you from your steps
We had snow this week. We don’t get a lot of snow here. Whenever it snows it seems like a big deal.
Earlier in the week we started things off with a wet, barley freezing slushy snow. The local news seems to find this a big deal. Their website certainly seemed exciting. It’s storm mode index 3, after all. Any more serious than that and it would be a 4.
It wasn’t a lot of snow. It didn’t even really cover the grass. But it was windy enough and wet enough, and the snow was coming down with enough fervor to make it feel like things were really happening.
Cheered by the prospect of a bit of snow, I gave myself a half snow day and went for a walk. I overdressed, as you should, wearing my ski jacket and snowpants. Putting on winter gear for the simple task of going outside always feels a little bit like I’m going into one of the Calvin and Hobbes winter snowscapes.
Calvin and Hobbes would have been disappointed that the snow didn’t allow for proper sledding opportunities, but It was one of those afternoons where I felt like I was getting away with something. I headed to the MKT. I was in the mood for snow covered trees, uninterrupted steps, and a bit of shelter from the wind. The MKT provided all in spades.
It was a lovely walk.
On my way back I crossed Providence road and the cars driving through the wet snow looked so miserable. I couldn’t tell if the people in them were actually miserable. I suppose they were not. They were likely quite pleased to be in a nice warm car and heading home from work a bit early. Still, there was a sense of seriousness in the motorists that my winter amble pleasantly lacked. In these days of quantified weather alerts it is worth remembering just how nice winter can be. How simultaneously invigorating and peaceful, the cold air can be.
Later in the week it got much colder. Today, Temperatures were around 10 degrees and are supposed to get colder over the next few days. This is by far the coldest I can remember being in the several years I’ve lived here. We are being warned of the possibility of dangerous wind chills.
Fortunatly the local news continues to take this very seriously.
Still the wind chill warnings and obvious inhospitableness, made me wonder if maybe I should skip my typically Saturday afternoon walk. Heeding the serious weather, I dressed warmly. Fleece pants under snow pants. Several layers under my most puffy jacket. Scarf. Hat. Mittens. Ski shell in the backpack just in case things got hectic. Hot coffee in the thermos, of course. “No bad Weather, just bad equipment” or whatever the saying is. It is true. I was perfectly comfortable. Too hot even at one point. I could have done arctic exploration or summited mount Everest or some other similarly inclement task with what I was wearing. I must have looked a bit unusual and was offered handwarmers and an “are you alright?” from a police officer directing traffic for an (indoor) sporting event. I declined the handwarmers, as I had some in my well stocked backpack already.
Walking in the cold is lovely. A bit of snow can transform a landscape, especially one that doesn’t see that much of it. The winter world of austere grays and whites, has its own kind of beauty to it. Footsteps are softer in the of snow, and you can track your progress with visible footsteps, especially if no one else has yet trodden on this particular bit of sidewalk. Knowing you will arrive home to a warm apartment, and there is a bit of coffee left over from the morning that you can warm up if you want to, makes it all the more pleasant.
Don’t let bad weather stop you from walking, but winter walking will not be fun if you aren’t comfortable, so do be sure to dress appropriately. Usual cold weather advice applies, lots of layers, good socks. Mittens, not gloves. Walking in an urban environment offers a little more opportunity for warming up, than a proper nature walk. If you find yourself too cold you can duck into a nearby combination Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins. (I wasn’t too cold on my walk today, but I didn’t let that prevent me from stopping in to the combination Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins.) For the winter pedestrian, Ice is a bigger concern. Today I slipped a few times before abandoning an oddly treacherous section of sidewalk for the bare road. Be aware of your steps, and walk with appropriate caution. Also, be extra careful about vehicles which may have a harder time seeing you and stopping for you in snowy conditions.
With a very little bit of prudence and proper equipment, winter walking is a delight. Cold is much more manageable than heat, which you can’t really dress for. So the next time the flakes start falling, lace up your boots, grab your coat and scarf, and head outside.
Happy walking, and stay warm!