Preparing to get out and enjoy the great outdoors – safely and smartly

As we slowly enter a world that is beginning to look like what we enjoyed pre-COVID, some of us are speeding ahead to ditch the mask and enjoy unrestricted socializing. Imagine!

At time of writing, however, there is still a lockdown in Ontario with a slow reopening plan based on vaccination numbers and cases.
With beautiful weather now upon us, we continue to look outdoors for safer ways to exercise and enjoy some social activities.

Even though it is clearly safer from a COVID perspective, it is important to plan and prepare to make the best of your outdoor pursuits.

After all, there is no better time to get outside! Among the most popular activities are hiking and biking.

Here are some good tips for both:

Hiking

• When you head out for a hike, there are few things to prepare before you leave the house.

• Know the trail. There are many resources available to help you pick a trail suited for you. An excellent website that gives you options for trails in your area is ontariotrails.ca. It also gives you the length of the trail and the level of difficulty.

• Bring water, insect repellant, sunscreen (apply before leaving your house and reapply according to instructions). Have one smartphone with the group.

• Check the forecast and wear weather-appropriate clothing – ideally light layers that you can remove as you warm up.

• Wear decent hiking shoes with some ankle support. Ontario trails are no place for sandals. A sprained ankle takes a long time to heal.

• Unfortunately, ticks that carry lyme disease are now in many regions in Ontario. Visit ontario.ca for a map and to learn more about how to identify a tick, and the actions you should take to prevent contracting the disease. If you brought your dog, inspect them thoroughly afterwards. If you are walking through an overgrown trail, ensure you have long light pants tucked into socks and full shoes. Better yet, don’t go off trail.

• Bring a couple of healthy snacks that you can eat on the go. Some nuts or a healthy, low sugar granola bar are good options

• Take out what you take in. Don’t leave your garbage.

Biking

The saying is, “It’s just like riding a bike,” implying this is something you never forget how to do. And that is true, to a degree.

However, you are probably not the same as you were 20 or so years ago. Perhaps your balance or vision or hearing isn’t what it used to be. Biking can still be a great way to get outside so there are many options to stay safe and enjoy the wind through your helmet.

I don’t recommend biking through your neighbourhood until you’ve done a test run in an empty parking lot or somewhere that is safe. Pick a dedicated bike trail. This way, you won’t have to worry about traffic.

Bring all the same things as for hiking – but add, importantly, your helmet.

To plan a route, visit ontariotrails.ca, or ontariobybike.ca is also a great resource. There are many old railway trails throughout Ontario that are now dedicated bike trails.

There are so many more outdoor activities you can enjoy, but this is a great start. And don’t forget to stop and take some deep breathes and enjoy the stunning landscapes that our beautiful world has to offer!