Snowshoeing along...

Walk the Walk, Walk into Winter, Snowshoeing!
from Jack Welch

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER (afternoon)
Snow Shoe At Ft Tuthill
Location: Ft Tuthill County Park (exit 337 off I-17) in the parking lot next to
the Navajo Ramada which is located across from
the County Parks and Recreation Offices. Some road
construction in the park so follow the signs to this different location (not the inmate hut)
Time: Noon
Cuyler and Tom Boughner will be the leaders. Beginners welcome but Tom is excited about leading some
more experienced snow shoers on a more difficult trail. Participants are expected to bring their own snowshoes and winter gear. Check the yellow pages under "Ski Equipment - Rental and Sales" for information about rentals/purchase or contact the newest business in town interested in snow shoe rentals and/or sales called the Nordic Nook/KickStand Coffee and Equipment shop which is located at 719 North Humphreys (former home of the Coffee Pedaler). You can call Tim Allen at 779 5393 for more information.

Snow shoeing can be hard work so please honestly access your physical fitness!

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER - Evening -
Walk The Walk
Luminaria Night Walk in Coconino Estates
Start Location: Marshall School Parking Lot which is located at the corner of
Thorpe Road and Bonito Road
Time: 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
We'll follow the luminary route along the streets of Coconino Estates to see
their Christmas outdoor decorations. A visual treat! Lots of fun to meet the people responsible for this wonderful community event. About 3 total miles. Dress Warm!

TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER (MORNING)
Walk Into Winter
Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER (EVENING)
Snow Shoe Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM
We'll discuss the Ft Tuthill Snow Shoe activity on Sunday and then put together
a schedule. We expect a lot of questions as Sunday was our first organized effort.
Come help us work out the kinks and the store bought, fat free, low cal cookies will be
looking for some eager eaters! We'll also have some nice raffle prizes

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER
Flagstaff Trails Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM
Erv and Kay Perelstein have agreed to show us how the new CPR technique is done and we'll
have some tips on equipment for winter outdoor activities. Plus, I will do my best to answer your questions about local trails. I have some exciting new information about the Colton Park intersection in the downtown Raffle prizes and cookies galore!

It's going to be a long winter, unless...

We have had a terrific snowstorm here in Flagstaff: snow, wind, cold. I enjoyed the snow but am reverting back to my dislike of the bitter cold that comes after the snow. As a result I have been hunkered down inside, while my son has played and played and played outside during the two and a half snow days.
And there’s the rub. In order to get through the winter I need to be active outside, otherwise I will get cabin fever way too early. I took a short walk with my dog today and it was nice, but limited.
My super walker friend does not let snow stop her walks. She has walking poles and a sort of ice cleat on the bottom of her shoe to help her walk on icy streets. Once I called her while she was walking around our local Buffalo Park in snow over a foot deep. I could tell that it was hard work by her hard breathing. She also said that she had to plow through the snow. I could also tell she loved the challenge. Ummm, I was happy for her.
My husband loves downhill skiing. He actually gets a little low when the weather turns cold yet no snow arrives. He says it’s what gets him going in the winter. And I can tell that’s true. I have tried skiing and while it was fun, it is not for me.
I do enjoy cruising along on cross country skiis, on fairly level ground. And I have had fun on snowshoes. But I just don’t think snow activities are my type of thing. What do you do to get yourself through the grey of winter? Any ideas?

Bird bath during snow storm

Backyard after storm, see bird bath

top of St. Francis statue, statue must be a little over 2 feet tall, we had 22" of snow

Monday's Musings

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

~ Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, Let It Snow

Work n' Walk

Walk the Walk, Walk into Winter, Meetings
from Jack Welch

The following is our update from Thursday 3 December Through Friday 11 December

THURSDAY 3 DECEMBER
Friends of the Rio Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM
The "Friends" describe themselves as interested in the promotion of the Rio de Flag's natural stream system as a unique and valuable natural resource, an asset, and amenity to the City of Flagstaff and the surrounding community.
I hope that is of interest to you also. I know it's important to me. You can become involved by attending this interesting meeting that will feature a presentation by a Natural History Class out of the Coconino Community College about their erosion control project on a side drainage of the Rio de Flag.
We're also getting some long awaited projects involving the Rio underway as well.
Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend!

FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER - Please note the change in the start location
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Aquaplex Parking Lot on the east side of the building
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood. If the weather is bad we can walk inside on the indoor track. Cost: $4.00 for an all day pass which entitles the holder to use the hot tub, swimming pool and exercise room plus the indoor track.

SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER
Pull A Weed Project at Picture Canyon
Location: Park along the Flagstaff El Paso Road between the Wildcat Waster Water Treatment Plant and the El Paso Gas Company
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll work on getting some of those pesky weeds removed. Bring gloves, heavy clothes a shovel etc
We'll provide the bags. The work part will finish by Noon.

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
Location of the Restoration of Turkey habitat
Start Location: Mormon Ranger Station on Lake Mary Road across from John Wesley Powell Blvd
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking - expect a few hills - as we explore the area this project will use to help bring the wild gobblers.

TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood.

***************************
Winter Challenge Monthy Work Sheets
Please return the November sheet to me as I have to make a report by Friday. You can pick up the December sheet at our next walk. Prize Drawing every month but you must turn in your sheet to qualify.

Noticing

My walks have recently caused me to think about what I notice. One day awhile back I saw some deer tracks heading the opposite direction and I thought to myself, “the deer could have been in the woods next to the trail.” I would never have noticed. They could have quietly watched as we walked by.
Usually my dog alerts me to the presence of animals, or people. My dog often spots deer on hillsides among rocks, grasses and oak trees. I can only see them when they move, they blend so well with the brown grasses and rocks. Pip will stop, look in the direction with ears alert. If he continues his walk it’s almost as if he is tip-toeing, his eyes never leaving his target. I have learned that I need to go to him at these times otherwise he might take off. Although he has learned that is a very bad, bad thing to do- according to me anyway, not to his dog-sense.
Once, in the fall, we were walking next to a field of dried out sunflowers and we heard a loud snuffling and snorting. I thought for sure that some giant pig had gotten loose from a yard and was snuffling about. I could just see the back of this snuffling animal about twenty yards away. Pip, a little uncertain now, came back to me, his body on full alert. Much to my surprise the animal’s head popped up to reveal that it was a dainty mule deer. I have no idea what it was snorting about for. I do know that Pip and I would have walked right past this animal if it hadn’t been so loud. The goodies in the soil must have been just too good, because the deer didn’t even appear to care to look around for danger. And the wind must have been just right and carried our smell away.
More recently Pip has, on several occasions, alerted me to the presence of a man who has taken to sleeping in the woods- sometimes to the obvious tent that I had somehow totally missed, sometimes to the not obvious figure sitting on rocks. I don’t know how Pip does it but there Pip will be in his characteristic alert poise. If I follow his gaze I usually find his object of interest.
Heavy snow is supposed to be on its way. After the initial blanket of white, everything moving to and fro in the forest will leave a trace, tracks that maybe even I can notice.