One of my concerns has been how to maintain my walk therapy routine through the months of winter snow. I have discussed this with Dr. H and she has the same concern. She suggested walking within the sheltered environment of a shopping centre, or similar facility. I see problems with such an approach: 1) Six miles is a long distance; 2) The aerobic benefit derives from the walking speed. The required speed is well above the travel speed found in most malls; 3) I suspect the mall owners would be displeased with anyone making a few hundred high speed circuits and then departing without making any purchases; 4) Not sure I would enjoy the stuffy, noisy environment.

Today I went on a test walk. We had eight inches of snow cover last week and another two inches last night. My immediate goal was to identify a street circuit that I might walk when the woods trails become impassable due to snow accumulation.

Findings

1) The sidewalks range from poor to near impassable. Some multiple unit dwellings do not shovel their sidewalks at all. These walks are impassable without snowshoes. Some property owners appear to shovel snow onto the sidewalk. These are passable but difficult. Some property owners appear to properly maintain their walks. Thank you for being considerate of pedestrians.

2) Walking on snow filled sidewalks is very hard work, much like trying to traverse miles of soft beach sand. The effort required is fairly high, the muscles notice it.

3) In many places the sidewalks were full of snow and the street was bare pavement. Walking on the street was fine apart from the danger posed by stretches of glazed snow which were as slippery as ice. Nearly fell once.

4) The creek bridge trail was firmly packed. It was better than walking on the bare street pavement, considerably better than almost all the sidewalks. The forest short cut also appears to be similarly packed. I need to explore further but I suspect a closed loop circuit is possible.

5) The overpass route to the post office is unplowed but passable. Should improve as more foot traffic packs the snow. The sidewalk from the bridge to post office was difficult with many snow blocks.

6) The parking lot route to the copy shop was passable without problem. Snow mountains cut down the sight lines which increases the need to watch for speeding vehicles.

7) The back route to the grocery store was blocked. I broke trail in this area. The bridge overpass was also variable.

8) The stretch from the lights to the Hill trail had tracks from a single snowshoe transit and old post holes filled in with drifting snow. I found it was better going in the post holes rather than on the snowshoe track.

9) The Hill trail was great. Firmly packed snow, stiff underfoot. It was difficult making the hill climb but that was due to the pitch not the footing. The return trip back along the dyke was also excellent going.

10) I was wearing the backpack to carry the materials to be copied. On return home I noted twice the normal sweat build up. Most of this was likely due to the strenous effort required on segment paragraph 8 above.

Conclusion

I should have no problem finding suitable routes. The direct to grocery store and return trip is a little over 3 miles. The direct to Super-Store and return is a little over 6 miles. The Hill trail loop is .6 of a mile. I need to establish the length of the Bridge trail loop. I should also test out my snowshoes.

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Views of the Same Scene

Hill in July
Hill in August
Hill in October
Hill in March