Walks Saturday, December 4 to Friday December 10

 Ouch!

Smiling now at least!

Let's talk about walking safely this week, for obvious reasons.

The first thing is to say, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to avoiding slips and falls. A lot of that will come down to "defensive walking". More on that later.

That said, some winter wear is better than most at mitigating the chances of slipping on ice. 

Vibram has developed a technology called Arctic Grip that is licensed to various shoemakers that reduces slippage to a certain degree. As well, Marks sells winter boots that feature a tread that incorporates what they call IceFX. It's been scored by the CBC's Marketplace and did best within the brands they reviewed.

It's important to note that both do best on wet ice. The greatest hazard is slick ice with a thin snow dusting (this comes from bitter experience for more than one of us in the group).  

So what else works? Yaktrax (and similar spring and rubber based soles) are a cost effective option. The downside is they are best when there is a sufficient depth of snow, and they are annoying, again at best, when the roads and sidewalks go from thin snow+ice to bare. Cleated soles are better in some circumstances but not the most comfortable on bare concrete and asphalt.

Even with “better grip” footwear, slips are still a possibility, so some best practices are suggested as well.

• When safe, walk on the roads in quiet neighbourhoods. Asphalt being dark and a bit more porous than concrete, it tends to be relatively warmer and less prone to icing.
• Be particularly wary when on sidewalks of areas at the end of driveways. Snow can melt off the driveway but quickly freeze as the water flows over the concrete of the sidewalk.
• Walk where others have walked; you'll see the footprints.
• Take shorter steps.
• Walk with others.
• Always carry your health card with you.
• Have a cell phone on you for emergency calls.
• Follow the weather forecasts.
• Avoid walks after a melt or rain, then a drop in temperature below freezing. More so if it then snows.
• Look for indoor locations for winter walks (i.e., the PATH).
• If in doubt, skip a walk. We're doing this for our health, right?

I hope that helps. Please add in any other pointers to the comments if you think of anything I missed.

Weekly Walks

Saturday's forecast is above freezing. Please sign in to let everyone know you'll be there (or not). Inside coffee and treats at Tim's for après marche will require vaxx certificate and ID. If it rains, some of us may investigate the PATH as a fallback. Please check the comments and WhatsApp for updates.