Seven ways to keep walking in cold weather months

Winter Berry, Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle. © GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY 2020

English author Alfred Wainwright, said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” In his book “Coast-to-Coast Walk,” he writes of a 192-mile long-distance footpath across England that is still popular today.

I’m not talking about a trek like that here, but even a 30-minute walk in the cold months can be miserable without the right clothing. So layer up under a warm coat! Put on hat, gloves, long underwear or tights, and warm boots. Throw in some hand warmers and wrap your neck in a scarf for extra comfort. Now that you’re appropriately bundled, check out these ideas to keep you walking!

Make it interesting. Look for signs of the season as you walk. Find plants with berries or blooms in these cool months. Look at the trees. Which ones still have leaves? How are they shaped? Can you see gnarly tree trunks or artful branches. Gather a few to rub or tuck in a journal. Are birds around? Can you identify them. See what kind of winter berries they are eating. Robins especially love berries, gorging many in one sitting. Look at the sky. What color is it and what are the cloud patterns. You get the idea...note as much detail as possible and revel in the stark beauty of this season. This is a fun activity to do with kids.
Call on your creative muse. Design your own neighborhood walk. Give yourself a couple of hours to wander the streets near your home. Make note of the streets with interesting trees, gardens, yards, views, blooming foliage, ravines, stairways, rock walls, parks, benches, hills, etc. Also, jot down the cross streets as you turn corners so you can remember where you walked. You many have to back-track, but that is part of the fun. Weave them into an interesting two-mile round-trip or loop walk. Bring your phone and snap photos along the way to jog your memory when you review what you put together. This can be your 30 minute go-to walk that you can take again and again throughout the year. One of my neighborhood walks includes views of the Cascade mountains, trails through an urban park with a pretty forest, a foot bridge, beek-a-boo views of the Puget Sound, stairways, and a kids playground (love the energy of those little ones). All that in about 30 minutes and I never get tired of it. It’s different every season and I’m amazed at how often I see something new. Try it!
See it as an adventure. Look for a nearby town to explore by foot. This can be a great walking experience. Do a little research ahead of time to find a foot path, local parks, an old town area, and anything unique about the town. Then design your walk to take you through the places that resonate with you. Remember to put on your curiosity hat, be spontaneous in your exploration, and dress for the weather.
Learn something new. Pick up an inexpensive bird field guide and visit an outdoor bird sanctuary. These places have great walking paths that take you through a variety of habitats, including meadows, ponds, wooded areas, and rivers. You’ll find interpretive signs to inform you along the way. Scan the trees, grasses and water for birds. Use your field guide to identify different birds and binoculars if you have them. Or, just skip the identification stuff and enjoy the walk. Keep on the watch for mammals that scurry across your path. This is a fun personal growth experience. Before you know it you’ll have covered a couple of miles.
Get your groceries outside. Find a year-round farmer’s market to visit. Although this might be a slower-paced walk than your walk through a park, it still counts in my book. Especially if you take a couple of rounds through the market and park several blocks away. The fresh air is fabulous, and the gorgeous fruits and veggies so tempting. You’ll be conjuring up visions of scratch soups along the way. Explore year-round markets in Seattle—Pike Place Market, Ballard Farmers Market, several Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets. All unique in their own bountiful ways.
Make it social. I create and lead urban nature walks in the Seattle area with my daughter, Tiffany. We’ve been doing this for four years and I have to say it has been one of the most rewarding endeavors on many levels that I’ve taken on. Our groups average from eight to twelve people with a mix of age and gender. We’ve got regular walkers who wouldn’t miss a walk, others who join every so often, and new walkers that generally join through word of mouth. Our walks are free, blending Seattle’s distinct neighborhoods with urban nature. They build uplifting, supportive connections among our walkers, promote great conversations and offer the best kind of natural exercise as we explore neighborhoods and parks. We generally start with coffee and end with lunch. An awesome outing for anyone. Up next on February 8, 2020 we’ll walk through downtown Ballard, explore the streets just of Market, walk around the Shilshole Bay Marina and end at a local Ballard restaurant for lunch. Read our Seattle Walks page for descriptions. If you can’t join ours, look for them through your city Parks and Recreation department.
Take your kids or grandkids on a nature walk. Grab your kids, head to the nearest park or around a few blocks in your neighborhood, and expand their world into nature. Birds, spiders, soil, water, mushrooms, flowers, trees, raccoons, woodpeckers and more are just waiting for discovery. They won’t be daunted by the cool weather, their enthusiasm will make you smile, and you might even feel a bit like a kid again.