Outside my window the skies are gray and there is thunder off in the distance – this after a nice morning walk in the sunshine. I can’t deny it spring is definitely here.
In my last post, I noted a few things that you’ll definitely want to have for our nature walks. In this one I have a few recommendations of things that might make your life a little easier on them.
For me, after I lace up my boots, I like to pull out a pair of hiking poles or a good solid walking stick. These can help you with balance and/or focus (when on a mountain trail), and can help ease you down when walking down hill. Most of the poles on the market today are adjustable for most heights (including mine). While the majority of poles adjust with a quick twist, my personal preference are poles that have a clamp feature to lock them in place. The reason for this is that if a pole gets stuck or jammed you might twist it to get it loose. If you do that, the next time you put weight on it you might go down, because your twist unlocked the pole from where you had it.
After my poles are set, I grab a pair of work gloves. Not only do they save your hands from getting scraped up when you take the unexpected tree root or rock to the toes and crash, but they can also help to keep the swelling in your fingers to a minimum.
A good hat, baseball cap, or visor can help to keep the sun out of your eyes on walks that have you out in the open. It can also reduce the rain getting into your eyes when the weather changes without warning and you find yourself caught in a downpour – which has happened to me countless times here in Colorado.
Finally, a good backpack or bicycle rider waist pack. You can carry a small first aid kit, lunch, water (essential here in Colorado regardless of how far you’re going), and other minor essentials that you think you may need on a day trip. In my case, I usually wear a waist pack that I keep my first aid gear in which has spots for sport bottles on either side AND a small pack that I carry with my lunch, extra liquid, a small snack and sometimes a rain poncho in. It never hurts to be prepared.
Be safe out there folks and enjoy the weather. Spring has sprung.
The XO