Snippets #11: on walking in snow...

i don't know how many people out there care, or feel like they know this already, but i though i might share some of my recent learnings with others who come from the warmer climes.

walking in snow is hard fucking work. if you've ever run in loose dry sand you'll start to get the idea. like sand, in snow your feet sink. unlike sand, you pretty much need to lift your foot out of it before you can move on, and there's more chance of slipping. on a footpath the foot-traffic crushes it underfoot, and as it melts and freezes and melts and freezes it gets slippery under the layer of fresh flakes, so what looks like nice clean crunchy snow turns out to be ice which makes things treacherous. this means you wind up placing your weight straight down which, if you try it, makes for slow going, and requires you to use ankle and calf muscles you don't usually use. so far, i've found the best method is to look for bits of snow that are less-walked on because that's more likely to crunch and give you some decent traction.

of course if, like i was today, you find yourself in a field of sheep where the snow's the 2-odd foot deep, the only thing for it seems to take it slow and easy, and gods help you if have to walk up a steep slope. i had to stop and rest every 5-6 steps - that's how hard going it was.

the single best thing i can suggest is to make sure you leave the house with a pair of over-the-ankle boots. i like workboots, myself, since they're designed with non-slip soles and deep tread, but good hiking boots are fine too. just don't go in uggs - the soft leather will get waterlogged before long and then they'll pretty much fall apart. or trainers - there'll be melted water running down your instep before you know it.

oh, ballet slippers? don't make me fucking laugh... actually, do - i could use the cheering up. personally i can vouch for Steel Blue work boots. they've worked remarkably well so far...