Winter walk
Active Pictou County shares recommendations for winter hiking and activity
Plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors in Pictou County
When people discuss the subject of hiking during the winter months, it’s usually in wistful tones, about the spring, summer and autumn to come.
Sally O’Neill, trails co-ordinator with Active Pictou County, wants to change that narrative.
“Winter is one of the greatest times to enjoy free physical activity. There’s sledding, skating and so many fun, active things to do that are totally free,” said O’Neill. “It’s more than just a time to hibernate and have ‘storm chips.’”
O’Neill said one of the biggest myths she wishes to dispel is that there is nothing to do in the winter. Among those free things is winter hiking. O’Neill stressed how easy it is to enjoy the many hiking trails and parks in Pictou County.
Communities in Pictou County have a great deal of outdoor spaces to enjoy. Both O’Neill and recreation co-ordinator Michelle Young recommend the Jitney Trail in particular, which is groomed and plowed throughout the winter.
“It’s used quite regularly in the winter,” said Young. “There are a number of different ways you can use it. It’s a pleasant hike, along the water — it’s easy walking — and it’s very scenic.”
Other trails great for easy winter hiking include Trenton Park, or the Samson and Albion Trails in New Glasgow and Stellarton.
For more challenging hikes, O’Neill suggested trails like the Cape to Cape Trail, 6 Mile Brook and Fitzpatrick Mountain. They take hikers across far more rugged winter landscapes — ones that can easily be explored using snowshoes.
Often, the biggest impediment to hiking in the winter is being underequipped for the cold and snow. O’Neill stressed how easy it is to get past that, and to be prepared for the joys of winter hiking.
For starters, she said, the Town of Trenton has snowshoes and nordic walking poles available for loan at Trenton Park.
O’Neill said the most important thing is to be comfortable and warm.
“Playing in the snow, sledding, hiking — even just breathing in the fresh winter air is great. People tend to hibernate inside in the cooler weather, but being able to get out and be active in
the winter with that clean air will clear your mind and make you feel good physically, as well as mentally,” she said.
To prepare for the cold, the best strategy is simply a matter of dressing in the right kinds of layers.
“Base layers are important; a lot of people like wool or silk. You have to make sure it’s not cotton. You want a nice warm layer next to your skin that’s not made of cotton,” said O’Neill.
Cotton is a bad choice for a layer in the winter for the same reason it’s a good choice in the summer: it retains moisture and has a cooling effect on the body.
The layers a person wears to insulate them from the cold needn’t be expensive, either. Long underwear, wool socks and simple sweaters work perfectly. A hat, mitts and scarf are also necessities. Something as simple as a rain suit with several layers underneath can suffice, noted O’Neill, who added, “it’s mostly stuff you can get over at Frenchy’s.
“Try it out, and test what works best for you. When using snowshoes, all you need are boots with a little bit of a lip or ridge on the soles, so you have something for the snowshoe to grasp onto,” said O’Neill. “As long as you dress in layers, and as long as you have a coat you can open up if you get too warm, you’ll be fine.”
Another recommendation O’Neill made was to not enjoy the refreshing winter scenery on your own.
“For winter walks, I recommend going in groups. Even with the moderate hikes, don’t go by yourself. Go with at least one experienced partner when hiking in the winter,” she said.
A great way to get familiar with the Jitney Trial — and many others — is participating in one of several guided hikes Active Pictou County has planned for 2018.
There will be a guided snowshoe hike at the Jitney Trail on Feb. 18.