Why Walk?

When winter rolls around, some of us retreat to the comfortable indoors. Challenge the natural urge to hibernate with an invigorating walk in the great outdoors. If it's cold where you live, bundle up and go for a family walk. If the ground is blanketed in white, do it in snowshoes. You'll discover that winter's a wonderful season in which to be active.

Walking gets your moving parts moving. Walking stimulates your metabolism, which means you burn calories. Regular 30- to 60-minute walks can bring reduced risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, and breast and colon cancer. No less a thinker than Aristotle taught his students while walking -- his followers were called "peripatetic," meaning "walking about." He believed that walking stimulated the mind and enhanced learning. It's a healthy, smart habit to bequeath to your kids, and it's just plain feel-good togetherness fun.

Part of the fun and novelty of a winter walk is enjoying the change of season. Another important part is enjoying a change of scenery. Jump in the car and go somewhere you and the kids haven't seen before. It doesn't need to be far away. It just needs to offer an invitation to explore.

Nature never disappoints. Maybe you're in the mood for critter-watching -- or listening. If so, winter in the woods, or somewhere safe and away from development, holds plenty of activity for the observant eye. Beyond the general impression of silence, there's a lot of natural noise going on. Get your ears attuned to the quiet, and suddenly you'll discover a lot to listen to. Depending on where you live, you might see and/or hear birds, deer, and squirrels on their daily quest for food and water. Conifers are still green; take a tree-identification book and find out what kind of evergreens you're looking at. City, county, state, and national parks often have marked walking/nature trails. Even if the trails are snow-covered, passing through woods on a winter's day rejuvenates the spirit.

Try snowshoeing! If you can walk, you can snowshoe. If you don't own snowshoes, you can get buy a pair online by doing a keyword search on "snowshoes" in a search engine. Many backpacking stores carry snowshoes and might even rent you a pair if you're not sure you want to invest yet. Snowshoes distribute your weight over a wide area of ribbing so that you don't sink into the snow; some people also use ski poles for support. With a pole in either hand, you can get a real stride going and cover ground where you'd otherwise be up to your knees in powder or slush. To get you started, the Mt. Washington Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center Web site provides information on basic snowshoeing technique. As their experts explain, snowshoeing is like walking with big feet -- so get out there and try it. If it's allowed in the spot where you try the sport and if it's safe to do so, try snowshoeing under a full moon. There's nothing like quietly clomping your way across a snow-covered field lit up by a shining moon. Always check in at a trailhead or otherwise let someone know when you're venturing out.

Mt. Washington Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center