We have state forests throughout Massachusetts, and are lucky enough to have several near where I live. Upon has at least two separate parcels of open space, the better known area where the CCC headquarters building stands off Westborough Road, and the parcel of forest behind Nipmuc High School on Pleasant Street in Upton. We visited this second portion of state forest on a recent weekend, and found almost no one on the nearly 2 mile loop trail that takes travelers alongside the West River as it flows on its way to the Blackstone River.
Last spring we visited Hop Brook Preserve in Blackstone and took in the views of the triple waterfall cascade tumbling down the hillside in this area that is clearly former pasture.
During this year of 2020, we have headed out more and more on road biking adventures. This trip took us to Monterey, MA in the Berkshires, to Beartown State Forest, to see if what looked like a road through the forest was rideable on our adaptive tandem. Turns out, it was!
Summer for me means getting outside on our adaptive tandem bicycle. Outings during Covid-19 have increasingly become road biking since our beloved rail trails are so well-loved they are more crowded than we feel comfortable visiting. We headed out recently to Dudley, our second try. The first attempt my cooling vest clogged and the trip was aborted because of the heat. This time, the day was cooler, and we also have another cooling vest in hand.
View from the water–Blackstone Greenway/Triad bridge in front of us, active railroad beyond the bike path, footing for the third bridge on the right, which was never completed
We have done little kayaking in the last number of years because of a serious shoulder injury by the one who does the heavy lifting to get our kayak into the water. We have become adept at figuring out how to continue doing what we love, regardless physical abilities. We are back to being able to use our tandem kayak, with the helping hand of a small trolling motor that reduces the strain on shoulders.
The morning was overcast, and we started relatively early. Both are great strategies for finding fewer people on trails that have felt overcrowded in these days when we are still rather limited in our activities due to the ongoing pandemic. Sure enough, only one other car was in the parking lot when my friend and her children arrived to meet me for a physically distanced walk along the SNETT in Bellingham.
One of my trail books, Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are offers lots of information to support those with mobility issues, including elders, parents with small children who need to use strollers, those who have been recently injured, and others who live with chronic mobility challenges. It also offers support to those who have simply never spent very much time on trails.
You may never plan to climb Mount Everest. (I have no plans to either!) Regardless of your challenges, the outdoors is not off-limits . With this in mind, I offer these suggestions:
6 “must haves” to bring with you on your next walk
Good boots, and socks that do not slide into your boot are important tools for keeping you safe on the trail
Appropriate clothing
Boots in good condition with lug soles will prevent slips and falls. Socks with good elastic will not slip inside your boots. (We line dry our hiking socks to keep the elastic from quickly wearing out in the dryer). Sun hats keep you from overheating or getting sunburns. Winter hats, mittens (not gloves) and layers of clothing help keep your body temperature in safe bounds. Comfortable pants with pockets offer a safe place to keep things like keys and cell phones.
Make sure your water bottle seals tightly!
2. Water in a tightly sealed container
Having water along on a walk is essential, especially in warmer months. In case of sunstroke, overheating, or suffering minor injuries, have a supply of fresh, clean water can make the difference between having to deal with an emergency and arriving back to the trail head in good shape.
Packs come in all sizes–school backpacks work too!
3. Small pack to keep your belongings safely stowed
Purchasing expensive backpacks in not necessary. While there are many choices of smaller packs on the market, many of us have school back packs in the closet that will work great on the trail. Make sure you choose one with no holes!
Keeping your hands free to manage any obstacles on the trail is a great safety practice. Juggling water bottles, cameras, binoculars, and other things you thought to bring along can be distracting, and cause possible injury.
Headlamps keep your hands free in low light environments, like dusk
4. Headlamp to keep your hands free
Especially if you plan to be out close to sunset, having a lightweight headlamp in your pack in case you’re been delayed is a great tool to bring along to assure you see the trail on your way back home. Familiar trails look very different in low light.
Protein bars, or homemade gorp can make the difference between smiles at the end of the trip or cranky kids (or grownups!)
5. Snacks for yourself and companions
Some gorp (high protein snack that includes nuts, chocolate, pretzels or other starchy snack) or protein bars can make the difference between feeling wiped out by the time you return and having the energy to keep an eye out all the way back to the trail head.
Cell phone, along with everything else, all fit into a pack or are wearable
6. Fully charged cell phone
While cell reception can be spotty in mountainous and hilly areas, it’s still a great idea to have a fully charged cell phone within easy reach. Most phones take great photos, and you never know what you might see that you’d like to share with friends or family. Apps like Rockdhttps://rockd.org/ help identify underlying geologic formations you are walking through, or INaturalisthttps://www.inaturalist.org/ for plants can add extra fun to your outings. Of course, a gps app can help orient yourself in case you have taken a few turns on the trail that have left you feeling confused about how to find the way back to your car.
Additional “Must haves” depending on your situation
You may have additional “must haves” that are needed for your comfort and safety.
If you have allergies and use an epi-pen, or an asthma inhaler, be sure to bring it along in an easily reachable place, and make sure your companions know where it is in case of emergency. We share the outdoors with stinging insects of various sorts. Exercise, and exposure to elevated humidity and heat can increase vulnerability to asthma attacks. Even for a simple walk in your neighborhood, if you have these medical aids, they should be included in your “kit.”
If you have concerns about your balance, bad knees, illness or injury, consider using hiking poles with rubber tips to help maintain stability.
Note my pants are tucked into my socks, an effort to discourage ticks, which are making their presence known, for sure.
In colder weather, bring extra clothes.
Depending on weather reports, rain gear in good condition is light, easy to bundle up in your pack, and good to have on hand for that unexpected down pour.
Your “kit” will vary with the season, and your individual needs and preferences, but having these few items in one place, ready to go when you are, will go a long way towards keeping you safer, and insuring you have a more enjoyable time in the outdoors.
Whether you venture on a new trail, or stay close to home, taking a little time to educate yourself, and being prepared, will help make sure that you look forward to “next time” whenever, and wherever it is. Happy Trails!
We are getting out very little these days hoping to avoid interacting with the Covid-19 virus. We are working from home, and making few social plans. After supper we headed out on a quick errand, and ended up doing a little exploring close to home. As we turned onto Mellen Street, off Grove Street in Bellingham, we hoped to find an access to the Upper Charles River. The sign said, “Bridge Out.” We stopped the car and continued on foot to see how close we might get to the river.
An imagination is a terrible thing to waste; I practice using mine every day. At times well-intentioned people have advised me to “just relax.” If it were so easy, I would have become calm and serene long ago, unruffled as I anticipate life’s challenges.
For the most part, I’ve been surrounded by caring people who have been patient with my timidity, encouraging me, while staying nearby throughout the process of coping with change. Always alert to instances of “creative hand-holding,” I store these memories away, never knowing when they might be of use. Perhaps because of this, I’ve been drawn to beginners, fascinated by the transition from “I can’t” to “Hey, look at me!”
Ahhh, the cool of morning calls me back to Silver Lake (with no cooling vest or scarf)
One of the tips in my new book, Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are for avoiding crowds on trails is to head out early. When we got up this morning the temperature was in the 50s. Yeah! After a quick breakfast, we headed down to the lake for a quick walk before starting work, and it felt wonderful.
Marjorie Turner Hollman 