Trail Running/Walking In Winter

I love getting out on the trails, regardless of the season. Rain, snow, mud, ice. Bring it on! As long as I prepare for the weather, I always have fun exploring new trails or returning to a local favorite. Getting out a few days a week, feels great, and helps me stay mentally focused and physically healthy. Hitting the trail with my faithful companion, Luna (a Red Healer), helps me clear my mind and get my beans out, as my wife would say.

Last week, after a mid winter rainstorm, the trail conditions were snow covered ice, one of the hardest conditions to run or walk on. I was determined to get out, so I put on my hiking boots and tossed a few different pieces of gear into the truck.  Short gaiters that go around my ankles helped keep snow out of my boots and prevented my socks from getting wet. Although, the key to running on the ice were my traction devices, called Yaktraxs.They worked great on the flats, but were a little slippery on the hills. I also had in the truck a pair of instep crampons which would have worked better on the inclines, but a little more bulky and would slow me down.