As the weather begins to change, the cold rolls in and snow starts to fall, the University of Idaho campus continues about its normal business. However, there is one common task that is often overlooked, but seldom forgotten — the dreaded walk to campus through the snow.
Everyone has been in that awkward situation. You are walking along and then you feel your foot start to move along the ground in a direction you did not intend. Your body jerks in reaction and, even if you manage to catch yourself, you still perceive that you look foolish.
The truth is that everyone around you is also worried about the exact same thing happening to them. As an experienced snow-and-ice walker, I want to provide some key tips for surviving your winter walks.
As a citizen of Moscow for over six years and having recently spent two years in Canada, my life-long winter walking experience gives me unique insight into strategies for surviving the ice and snow.
1. Plan ahead
More than likely, your walk will take more time than usual. If you are in a hurry, you will slip and most likely fall. Be prepared to slow down and take your time.
2. Wear the right equipment
Before you even open the door, be certain you are properly dressed. Put on your coat and hat, but, more importantly, lace up your boots. Hint, they are not boots if the soles are flat. Make sure the soles of your boots have good traction.
3. Shorten your stride length
By decreasing your weight displacement, you will be less likely to slip, because you will not have as much of your weight moving forward as you will downward.
4. Increase your knee bend
If you slightly increase the bend of your knees through your whole stride, you will lower your center of gravity — increasing your balance. Additionally, if you do slip and your knees are bent, your legs will have more time and space to recover and keep you from falling.
5. Walk from your heel to your toe
Even when going down stairs and downhill. This will help to get your center of mass over the top of your feet as opposed to behind your feet if you are walking toe to heel.
6. De-emphasize ankle movement
Most people’s tendency is to flick with their ankle from heel to toe when walking. While this helps with speed, it will increase your risk for slipping. Instead, use a forward lean and movement at the hip and knee to generate your walking speed in the snow and ice.
7. Use a slight forward lean
By leaning forward slightly, you will again help keep your center of gravity in over top or even in front of your feet. This helps to eliminate the dreaded backwards fall.
8. Make wide turns and lead with your outside leg
Keeping turns wide will decrease the momentum heading the direction you were previously going and gradually shift it to the new direction. Additionally, if you lead your turn with your outside foot, your inside foot will be there to catch you if your outside leg slips.
9. If you have to walk on a hill, go either uphill or downhill, not on a side slope
Walking with your own momentum going
with the hill is much easier to control than walking with your feet at an angle where slipping will occur in the direction you are not traveling.
10. Watch where you are stepping
If you are aware of where the slope your foot will be hitting, it is much easier to predict which direction the slip might occur, and you can plan how you can potentially avoid that one bad step that leads to a fall.
Be confident but not over-confident. If you think you will fall, you probably will. Similarly, if you think you are invincible and don’t pay attention, you will probably fall. Think positively and enjoy the winter wonderland around you.
Matt Vaartstra can be reached at [email protected]