This time of year, there is nothing I like more than to head out on the pathways of Cochrane. My favorite walk is along the Bow River from the West end, under the Highway 22 bridge, down to Spray Lake Sawmills Centre and across the tracks at the east end by the tennis courts.
However, the number-one question when you head out is, “What is the footing like?” There may be some clear sections on the path, but there is also some very slippery sections. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve talked to several walkers who have taken a tumble due to the conditions.
In a Jan. 7 article in the Calgary Herald, Valerie Berenyi noted that “Calgary is a downright dangerous place to navigate by foot in winter. After countless freeze-thaw cycles, parking lots harden into skating rinks, sidewalks and roads turn into treacherous and stairs morph into hazardous slopes. Some people become housebound because they’re so terrified of slipping and falling on the ice.”
She went on to write that these concerns should not be taken lightly. “Falling is a common cause of injury in Alberta, cutting across all age groups and is largely preventable, according to Alberta Health Services,” Berenyi wrote. “And in particularly glacial years, snow- and ice-related injuries soar. Last November, AHS reported 364 slip-and fall patients landed in Calgary emergency rooms, compared with only 124 in November 2021.”
Even though I ski, snowshoe, and hike regularly, I’d become more fearful of falling in the winter – until I met a few traction devices that completely changed my outlook.
Sue and I were feeling the same way about the winter conditions and after reading Valerie’s article, we decided to see what traction devices we could find in Cochrane. Our first stop was Marks’ Work Warehouse. They had a number of choices and we went with the “DurACare Unisex GripOns Snow and Ice Grips.” The packaging stated “Get some extra traction on the ice this winter with these sturdy grips from DuraCare. Grip-ons add another measure of safety to the soles of winter footwear, giving you more confidence when walking on slippery roadways. They stretch to fit easily over any type of shoe or boot and are flexible and compact for easy carrying and storage.” At $21.99 a pair, we figured they were worth a try.
That afternoon, we headed outdoors with our new grips on our feet. I have to say that they made a big difference. We both felt more confident walking on the snowy, ice-packed sections of paths, and our footing was definitely more secure. However, make sure you test your footing and as Nana Parnell always used to say, ”Look before you leap!”
© 2023 Martin Parnell
