When author Heidi Hill was writing Fit Family, she received advice from many parent/athletes.  Two of the most helpful were Dave Blumenthal and his wife, Lexi Shear.  They provided stories of hiking and skiing and several photos which we used in the book.  Dave is the tall fellow in the photo below.

Dave was killed in a bike/truck collision in Colorado last week.  Dave was competing in the Tour Divide race  which runs the length of a 2,745-mile trail that crisscrosses the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains.  It has been described as the toughest mountain bike race in the world.  Here is a writeup from our local paper.

One of the ideas we used in the book was the Young Adventurers Club which was conceived by Dave and Lexi.  It's a wonderful example of how active parents can engage their kids in a variety of outdoor activities.

Dave and Lexi also shared with Heidi Hill some examples from their two-week hike in Austria when their daughter, Linnaea, was an infant. They noted that while they had to carry more because of lugging an infant, going hut-to-hut gave them many options.   Let me share a few of their thoughts:

 

 “We usually had breakfast and then Linnaea would just about jump in the pack. She’d fall asleep within ten minutes and we’d put our noses down and hike. She usually slept for about an hour and then would look around for another hour, totally content. We’d stop for an hour – some place useful for a stop. We usually hiked about seven hours a day, but it varied depending on when we arrived at a hut as we’d have to make a decision whether to stop or go on to the next one.

Linnaea is an aggressive eater and eats anything we’re interested in. This was fortunate since a lot of what was served at the huts wasn’t kid fare. In town, she was eager for fresh fruit and yogurt. We also carried the European equivalent of graham crackers. These were easy to feed her in the pack and they were handy if she was restless and we had another half hour before getting to the hut.

A challenge was that the sleep set-up was different every night. The huts varied from being like a cheap hotel room to haylofts of a barn to a rustic cabin. The best scenario was when there was a line of mattresses on the floor. We could move them into a corner and move furniture around so Linnaea didn’t flip into anything. We learned a lot about how she slept – how she flips around – which is typical for a child… We were worried about how she’d sleep in a new place every day, but it wasn’t a big deal.

Austria was a good location for hiking with kids for a couple of reasons. We didn’t need to bring extra equipment because we stayed in huts. Also, the hiking was pretty but it was never really remote. If the weather was too cold or she wasn’t into it, we could walk downhill a couple of hours and get to a bus or a train and go to a village. It was easy to bail out.”

A memorial service will be held at Green Mountain Club on July 10, 2010 at 3:30pm with a walk on the Short Trail (a one-mile loop) to follow. 

 

 

The Vermont weather is downright miserable -- cold and rainy with little sign of spring.  It's too cold to bike or paddle, there's no snow for xc skiing, and the back roads are too muddy for running.  However, if you pick your trails, it's a good time to hike.

I've been out with the dog every day this week on a hike of an hour or two.  Earlier in the week, the ground was frozen and the wet areas were passable.  Today, I picked an area called "Irish Hill" in Berlin which has a series of hiking and mountain biking trails that are well-drained and suitable for early season hiking -- or at least they were today.

 It's wonderful to have protected land (this is within the City of Montpelier's watershed) so close by and to have them so interesting.  Forested and steep, this is an area which has been hiked for decades.

It was raining lightly and the temperature was 35 degrees but the dog didn't care, nor did I once we got climbing.  I followed the mountain bike singletrack which serpentines back and forth up the mountain -- lost it a few times, but could easily keep oriented by the highway noise for I-89 not too far away.

I had my binoculars but no birds were about -- I heard a purple finch and flush a ruffed grouse and had a few blue jays commenting on our passage.  Penny got a great workout, as did I, and we were both surprised to meet four hikers and their four dogs as we neared the trailhead.  

 There's a trail to the summit with a couple of lookouts and a geological item called a "roche moutonnee" or "sheep rock", a landform sculpted by the "Big Ice."  We'll go that way next time.  

If you enjoyed this article, then please subscribe to our RSS feed or via email to receive all new posts. 

I’ve just finished a great book called “On Watching Birds” by the late Lawrence Kilham -- who was widely known for his work with viruses and infectious diseases and later in life, became a distinguished expert in the behavior of birds, particularly woodpeckers.  It is a fascinating book.

I was thinking of his philosophy today when out hiking with the Vizsla.  I had binoculars along and was hoping to see some early migrants.  We’ve had a taste of winter and the ground is frozen, the wind nippy, and the birds pretty quiet.  As we climbed and climbed and there was nothing moving -- except the dog who was running to and fro, having a great time -- I started to get a little frustrated.  (Two weeks ago, I was hearing all sorts of bird calls and seeing 20 species or more on a walk .. in Texas.)  Then I thought of the book and Kilham's writing, particularly this passage:

“Enthusiasm for the beauty of life helps to keep the brain alive.  And there is a practical aspect to it. Things do not always happen when one goes out to watch birds.  There can be long stretches when nothing much seems to be going on, as when watching by the nest of a Pileated Woodpecker.  At these times I switch to thinking about how beautiful the world is, and instead of being impatient that the bird does not return, I find myself at peace with the world.”

What a great attitude -- although easier said than done.  I did mentally shift gears, noting the beautiful sky, the trees starting to show signs of budding, and my crazy dog, running joyfully through the woods -- not caring what the weather was nor whether she saw birds, squirrels, or deer.  

Combining those two attitudes: Dr. Kilham’s  “the world around us is beautiful ... slow down and notice it” and Penny’s “Hey, we’re out in the woods, let’s have some fun” sounds like a good strategy for walks.  I’ll test it as we struggle through the coming weeks, impatiently waiting for green and warmth and migrating birds.

If you enjoyed this article, then please subscribe to our RSS feed or via email to receive all the updates

  Bookmark this on Delicious

The Vizsla needs a run -- she’s been waiting patiently all day and the rain has let up to a fine mist.  I’ll grab my poles and take a hike (nordic walk) up in the woods.

We start out on the loops on our land, which we walk several times a day, and she’s off on her “check the new smells” romp.  I’m caught up in thinking about some publishing issues I’ve just struggled with -- missing fonts in older documents because they were done on older computers.  I’ve been trying to create some ebooks using pdf and it’s a hassle -- I’ve got 900 fonts but not a couple we used five years ago.  So, let it go and enjoy the early fall afternoon.

The leaves are turning but mostly yellow here.  We’ve got soft maples and they seem to get speckled with brown -- although some will get red later on.  Higher up, there’s lots of red showing on the mountains.  The ferns, chest-high in spots, got frosted and are bronze.  The asters and daises, often head high, are untouched but soaking wet.

I’ve got my new LL. Bean slicker on and with the poles and climbing, find it pretty warm.  Robins are flocking up in every clearing -- they’ll likely be heading south on the next cold front winds.

We head up on to abutting forest and Penny flushes a couple of partridge.  She doesn’t point them, just chases them.  No wonder she flunked out of hunting school years ago.

I’m reminded of a time years ago when I was working on one of my mountain bike books and trying to tape record the ride description as I rode along.  I was climbing up this rocky trail, gasping into the mike about it, when a whole covey of young partridges exploded out of the weeds near my front wheel.  I wish I had saved that tape -- it was a breathless  “the trail gets more technical .... S.O.B...” accompanied by the beating of a dozen wings.  It was funny to hear when I was transcribing later on -- and still makes me chuckle as I remember it.

Then my mind veers to the photos I used to try to take on these rides.  You don’t meet riders on most of the rides I was doing and rather than just taking another photo of the bike against a trail sign, I’d try to set up the camera and use the timer.  I’d set up the small tripod I carried, set the self-timer, and then run back, try to hop on the bike and ride toward the camera.  What a joke -- it was either out of focus, or I was half on the bike, whatever.  I don’t know that I ever got a usable shot.

The rain has picked up a bit and I’m glad for the slicker.  It’s loud on the leaves and all I can hear is Penny’s periodic shaking to dry out.  She’s loving it, ranging back and forth, nose to the ground.  There are still some stone walls to check on the way back -- where she remembers critters from former walks.

We’ve been out a little over an hour and it feels great -- the trail is soft due to the rain and the temperature is perfect.  My hiking shoes and jeans are soaked.  We’ll head back and dry out a bit -- and Penny will smell like ferns all evening. 

  If you enjoyed this article, then please subscribe to our RSS feed or via email to receive all new posts

Any sport becomes more fun when you have good gear and good equipment.  A new pair of running shoes or a lightweight bike adds a little speed and a lot of enjoyment to your workout.  The same goes for nordic walking.

 In my first post on nordic walking, I allowed how you probably have gear in the attic that will help you get started -- especially if funds are tight. However, for a modest investment, you can add zip and energy to your walks.  A book or video might also give you some good pointers.

Equipment

     Poles

Probably the best investment for making nordic walking more enjoyable and by doing so, give you a better workout, is a good pair of poles. I'd suggest that you stick to adjustable poles unless you have walked a lot with poles and know the length you like best.  Leki is one of the more popular brands and their Supreme model might be a good bet at a cost of about $100 US. 

Search Amazon.com and you'll find many options for walking poles from Swix, Colman, Power Walker, and others. You'll also find a book, The Ultimate Nordic Pole Pole Walking Book. There's also a DVD, Poles for Hiking, Treking, and Walking.

 

     Shoes

You can nordic walk in running shoes, walking shoes or hiking shoes.  I'd tend to use whatever is already comfortable and supportive and not spring for new shoes until you need replacements.

Nearly every active footwear company carries a women's walking shoe, but fewer make men's walking shoes and even fewer designate them as nordic walking shoes. Reebok has a specific nordic walking shoe for men.

 Technique

 While there's a lot to be said for just getting out and walking and not worrying about how to do it, some coaching or instruction can make your nordic walking more efficient. Here's some common sense instructions from the American Nordic Walking Association:

Every step should begin with the heel touching the ground and rolling forward to the ball and toe area, where you will push off to propel yourself forward.

The hands should constantly be in a “grip-n-go” state with the pole. They should grip the pole every time the pole hits the ground, then let it go as it is drawn back behind the body, finishing up with an open hand.

As the arms continue to move the poles, the torso and hips should be involved in a counter-swinging motion from the lower body. This effectively works the mid-torso muscle groups.

 Other Resources

Nordic Walk Now

Nordic Walking USA (contains long list of blogs and websites)

pole image from Leki website   shoe image from Reebok website

If you enjoyed this article, then please subscribe to our RSS feed or via email to receive all new posts 

 

On October 3, 2009, the spectacular Walkway Over The Hudson will open.  Through the work of many over the last decade, the former Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad Bridge has been converted to a delightful venue for walkers, cyclist, and bladers.  It’s opening just in time for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding by Dutch explorer, Henry Hudson.  The walkway, about 1.25 miles long, connects with twenty-seven miles of miles of rail trails and riverfront parks already built or planned in Ulster and Dutchess Counties.

The bridge currently is owned by a not-for-profit organization, Walkway Over the Hudson. The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (New York State Parks) is "Lead Agency" under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. The Dyson Foundation funded a significant portion of the design and inspection. Consulting services are being provided by the Bergmann Associates team.
From the book Bridging The Hudson: "The Poughkeepsie railroad bridge was the first bridge to be built over the Hudson River from the ocean all the way up to Albany. It was a technological wonder. Opened in 1889 soon after the Brooklyn Bridge opened, it is not only higher above the water than the Brooklyn Bridge, and founded deeper in the water, but also longer. When it opened, its promoters claimed it was the longest bridge in the world."

The Walkway Over The Hudson is an exciting place to visit.  Louis Rossi, author of Cycling Along The Canals of New York State, recently toured the facility.  His email back to the bridge contact person said: “WOW!!!  The bridge is Awesome! Staggering! Incredible!   My COMPLIMENTS to you-all!  Incredible job!!”

 

 

This is the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. The top of the bridge deck is 212 feet above the water and the width expands from 24 feet over land, to 35 feet over the Hudson River.  Come visit this great facility -- bring your bike or your walking shoes, and your camera.

 bridge image from Walkway website   photos by Louis Rossi

If you enjoyed this article, then please subscribe to our RSS feed or via email to receive all new posts