Some time ago, a local writer interviewed me about the advantages of getting outside to walk on trails and paths and sidewalks. The resulting article sparked questions from readers, which prompted me to write about how I became a Granite State walker. I can hope this inspires soon-to-be-walkers everywhere.
(And for a bit more inspiration, you can read about one of my favorite walking trips by heading over to Granite State Walker and reading the three-part post entitled One Way to Celebrate.)
Getting started
For someone who hasn’t yet developed a habit of walking or hiking, what’s the first step? I’m supposed to say “get the OK from your health care provider.” I confess that I did no such thing.
Next thing to do is get good shoes. Think of them as a prescription: high priority, worth the price, essential to health. I’m a thrift-store shopper for the most part, but when it comes to footwear for walks and hikes, I head straight for the local specialty shoe store with a staff accustomed to working with active adults. Good shoes are cheaper than medical care necessitated by poorly-fitting shoes or a sedentary lifestyle.
If you’re exploring trails in New Hampshire, get a Hike Safe card online from New Hampshire Fish & Game, and read the Hike Safe website.
If your mobility is impaired for any reason, even temporarily, work with your health care provider for strategies that will help you explore the outdoors.
Where to walk
The hardest part of developing a habit of walking is simply deciding to get out there. Walk around the block or through the neighborhood. Ten minutes on pavement is better than ten minutes of looking the nearest screen. Just start!
If you rely on assistive devices for mobility, look for trails that are paved (like the Windham and Londonderry trails) or are otherwise well-surfaced.
Look up your town’s Parks and Rec department and Conservation Commission. Both are likely to have properties with trails and trail maps. Check out state parks, too.
The Fire Tower Quest sponsored by New Hampshire Forests and Lands led me to towers near and far, from Federal Hill in Milford to Mt. Magalloway up in Pittsburg. The views are worth the uphill walks.
The Forest Society has properties all over New Hampshire, many of which have marked trails. Find out about properties and download their maps at https://www.forestsociety.org/visitor-guide. A few of my favorites are Dame Forest in Durham, Madame Sherri Forest in Chesterfield, and the Merrimack River Conservation and Education area in Concord.
Browse the New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition website, nhrtc.org. I’ll bet there’s a rail trail near you.
What’s the difference between a hike and a walk? Very subjective. To me, if I need boots, that’s a hike. Don’t let yourself think you’re not a hiker just because you’re not on the way to the summit of Mt. Washington.
Safety
I always let a family member know where I’m going and when I expect to be home. While I prefer solo hiking, I know it’s a good idea to hike with a partner. When I choose a solo trip, I’m deciding not to have someone around who can summon help if I’m injured and unable to fend for myself.
New Hampshire Fish and Game offers a list of the Ten Essentials to carry on any hike. Even on a local walk, I’m sure to have my phone, keys, a whistle, a small flashlight that hangs on my keychain, and ID. If I’m on a trail, I have a printed map.
I always bring my phone, and I never stake my life on it. Batteries run down. Some of the places I go, even in my own town, have weak or no cell signal. Calls might be impossible and texts might be sketchy.
Why bother?
I started recreational walking for my own mental health. As I pace, I can pray, or mull over a solution to a problem, or learn from what I see around me. As a young mother of five, I found the walks refreshing. Now that my children are grown, I still do.
“Movement is medicine,” says my massage therapist. My experience bears that out. I have a genetic predisposition to some annoying things that have been kept at bay by regular physical activity. Joints including my spine have stiffened; they’d be stiffer still if I weren’t literally putting them through their paces several times a week.
Walking teaches me to appreciate where I am. I am no Olympic athlete. My aerobic capacity is not comparable to that of a distance runner. I will never set a speed record beyond the ever-challenging Personal Best. And you know what? I’m a walker anyway. I’m grateful for every step. Gratitude gets easier with age.
Finally, walking has taught me to see what’s around me. I see things that a runner or cyclist or motorist would miss.
I was in my mid-thirties when I started walking for exercise. Most of those walks were once around the block (did I mention I have five children?). Now, thirty years later, I just wrapped up a trip that included 66 miles of walking. Your style and goals might be different, and that’s fine. Just start.
This is a condensation of a post that first appeared at Granite State Walker.
Ellen Kolb 