“My uncle started walking 5 miles a day when he was 60. Now he is 97 and we don’t know where the hell he is!” — Al Simpson
The snow is melting, the temperatures are climbing, the bugs are not out yet. It’s time to get out there and start walking!
Wyoming folks have so many choices when it comes to walking and hiking.
Our buttes, mountains, canyons and deserts offer amazing hikes, but this column will pretty much stay with walking. Yes, there is a difference.
Walking can literally be done anywhere. You can walk downtown to the convenience store to grab a breakfast sandwich or a cup of coffee, for example. That counts as a walk.
Hiking involves proper shoes, protective clothing, safety devices, a good backpack and a little bit more knowledge about the terrain you are covering.
Good planning always makes for a better hiking experience.
I love both hiking and walking, but today we are writing about walking and our wonderful walking paths around the state.
Wyoming City And Town Paths
Since Wyoming folks are generally a pretty athletic lot, our city leaders in our municipalities have gone out of their ways to create some wonderful walking paths.
I always say you have to be tough to live in the West. Folks here in the Cowboy State are more fit than folks in most other states.
And despite the fact that, on average, we are also a little older than folks in most other states, most of us are avid walkers.
Even during the COVID years of 2020-2021, you could find people all over the state walking.
Many wore masks, which looked pretty ridiculous at the time, but still they were out there in the fresh air building up their muscles.
Early Risers Benefit
Is there a better place in the world for a morning walk than a nice path in Wyoming? Especially quite early in the morning. This time of year, you can actually start walking before 9 a.m. but you might need a layered approach with a sweatshirt under your jacket.
Most Wyoming cities and towns have wonderful walking paths. Cheyenne has done an amazing job. Greybull has a superb walking path. Sheridan. Lander, Casper and Worland are into providing spaces for walkers. Evanston has transformed itself into a walker’s paradise.
I know a lot of folks in these cities and towns who are dedicated walkers.
This column is for people like my wife Nancy and myself. We are a little older than average and, in my case, packing some extra pounds. My exercise of choice is to walk 7,000 steps a day.
Some tips for wannabe walkers would be to first notice if you have a smartphone, Fitbit or Apple Watch in your possession. Among the most amazing technological developments in recent history are modern sensors that really do sense the most miniscule things and do it very accurately.
Fitbit started doing this over a decade ago. It really does count the numbers of steps you walk, the floors you ascend and the miles you pile up.
Built into most smartphones is technology that will tell you how many steps you have taken each day. I am amazed at how accurate my Apple Watch is.
It also keeps track of my sleep and has a fall warning, which is a great safety device.
When the late U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi had his fatal bicycle wreck a few years ago in Gillette, it was his Apple Watch that first set off the alarm.
Ten Years Of Records
I only started keeping track of my steps since about 10 years ago. My little device even has a breakdown of what time of day I walked.
But I did not realize that it was keeping track from day one, when I bought my smartphone. Sad to say I was pretty sedentary back in early 2016 except for Feb. 19, 2016, when I walked 20,689 steps.
Not sure what the heck was going on, but it sure was a busy time.
But I digress.
Here are just a few tips for walkers:
• Invest in good shoes and good socks. Nothing takes the fun out of a good walk faster than blisters and sore legs and feet.
• Walking on hard cement is hard on the feet, ankles, knees and entire body. Many walking paths are cement, which can be a little discouraging.
I sometimes walk on the grass along them. My preference is blacktop, which seems to “give” a little under my feet. This is why, as a motorist, you might get frustrated driving up on some walkers and they are walking down the side of the street instead of on the cement sidewalk. Saving their legs, you see?
• Be sure to walk in an area that has public restrooms. Amazing how regular your bowels can become with those brisk walks. Be prepared if nature calls.
• Find an area that has some elevation gain. Do not just walk on the flat but push yourself by finding some small hills. Walk briskly up them. Ultimately, you will find you are climbing to the top without huffing and puffing so much.
By the way, I am not advocating stressing your heart too much, but it is vitally important to get your old ticker beating somewhat beyond normal for you to improve your health.
Best Pathway Systems
Lander and Riverton both feature great walking paths in the city limits.
Cheyenne and Casper, as our state’s two biggest cities, offer fantastic trail systems. Casper’s River Walk is just amazing.
Laramie, Gillette, Sheridan and Rock Springs feature well-developed trail systems, often including historical locations. Most towns have wonderful monuments to veterans, but I especially love the one in Gillette. Check it out.
Cody, Powell, Jackson and Douglas have good systems, too.
I love the trail system in Evanston, which features lots of water and the Bear River.
Just about every big city and little town has some kind of trails. Greybull’s pathway along the Big Horn River is impressive as is Buffalo’s along Clear Creek.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and rack up some steps.
