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.
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!”
Since the beginning of the pandemic this spring, I have seen little of my sweet grands, even though they live in town. We are staying more remote than they have been able to, which has made visits difficult. But outdoor walks alongside Silver Lake work, with all of us wearing masks and walking apart from each other.
We headed out to Dudley, MA, planning to park at Nichols College to bike a rural route from there on road. The sun shone bright, we found a spot next to the entrance to the college, and saw next to no one around. Everything was a go, bike all set, extra ice packed, bike tools packed, snacks. And then, the cooling vest didn’t quite work right.
We continue to practice what we tell others they can do to #Avoidcrowds. We packed our bike the night before, including everything we’d need for the morning and got up early to head out first thing. It promised to be a hot, muggy day, and we wanted to avoid the worst of the heat. Our destination was Pascoag, RI, (a village in Burrillville) to a very short paved bike path. Our plan was to start at the Burrillville Bike path, and do some road biking from there.
Early evening on the Upper Charles Trail, Holliston
With the start of summer comes the longest days, the most sunlight (and the summer heat, of course). We had an early light dinner and headed out with our adaptive tandem bicycle to one of the closest local trails, the handicapped accessible, stone dust covered, Upper Charles Trail in Holliston, MA. A helpful strategy we have used for avoiding crowded trails is to get out early in the morning, or at supper time, when others are headed home.
Large beech tree at Thayer House Medway still holds on to a very few leaves as winter sets in
We’ve had some snow recently, then deep, deep cold that has turned the soft fluffy white stuff into the kind of surface that prompts one to think of ice skates. Turns out this has been a week I’ve been out on the trails quite a bit, so I’ve had the chance to sample many types of ice on the trails in the area. I hear we’re in for more snow, and possible rain, which will alter the landscape yet again so it’s anybody’s guess what next week will bring! Continue reading →
