glitter fell from the sky

It's February in Pennsylvania, so that means it's snowing. Again. But today was different.

I woke to about 2-3 inches of the finest snow possible. I was out shoveling and it sparkled. Like Mother Nature dropped a bottle of glitter. I'm guessing it was micro pieces of ice. But I have no idea. It was beautiful. Made my day.

I shoveled it and it blew right back. It was that light. After clearing the front sidewalk, I walked up the hill and back down the alley and did the back. Then retraced my steps and went home.

The only other walking I did was my scenic route around the college.

Otherwise I've been working on my resumes, job hunting, and trying to build an online portfolio.

Saturday, I'm doing the Tail on the Trail snowshoeing event. I have to call and reserve.

baby it's cold outside

It snowed maybe an inch last night. Okay. Maybe two inches. Clearly wasn't worth the end of civilization weather reports from last night.

At about 7:30 I went out to clear the snow. Shovel, might be too strong a word. It was single digits. And very windy.

This is what I wore. I probably looked silly.

TWO pairs of gloves. When I came back in I couldn't feel my fingers
Long undies, top and bottom
Long sleeve shirt
Pullover fleece
LL Bean coat with hood up
Sweatshirt with hood up
Fuzzy hat under all those hoods
And a scarf

Except for my fingers I was not cold.

I did the front, walked up the hill, around to the alley and did the garage and the back sidewalk, then went up the hill and came back down to the house.

After getting half that clothes off, I went out to make breakfast. Bonnie called. "Let's drive to the Poconos and go for a three mile hike." "Okay." Alas, she was teasing. But I really did want to go to the Poconos. Angel was picking the girl-child up from Moseywood. I toyed with the idea of hiding in her car and walking around lake Moseywood. (Supremely jealous of girl-child—snowshoeing, cross country skiing, sledding, painting snow—why don't they have adult weekend in winter?)

I did some work, then put all that clothes back on, and headed out at lunchtime for my walk. Alone. Lydia had been a maybe for today, but she called and said it was F@*&‡!G cold out. She was going to the movies instead.

I went down to Itaska, and wove my way to Broadway. Out Broadway and back up thru Lehigh.  One reason I chose the university is I knew the sidewalks would be clear. They were so clear they were dry.

Even the stairs were clear. So I took them.

At the top of the hill I headed out 8th Street toward home.

Sadly, it was barely two miles. I only have 7500 steps for the day, but I do have 38 floors. So I'll need to do at least 2500 steps in the house later. Unless I decide to bundle back up and head back out.

 The view from 8th Street

Oh, I weighed myself this morning. Up another two pounds. I think I'm going to stop watching what I eat. More exercise. Less and better food. I do not understand.

fat girl, shoveling

First time I've typed those words in 2015. It took a generous hour to shovel the front sidewalk, the garage and the back sidewalk. I'm thinking we received about 6 inches. I was not missing the days where I had to do five sidewalks. The first round of shoveling netted me about 1500 steps. Cool.

Thank goodness we got the snow and not the freezing rain. Ice is pretty, but it's dangerous.

I'm really itching to go snowshoeing. I could have walked up and down my block. They didn't plow until 12:00. (The alley at 12:30.) But alas, that is not in the cards today. Shoveling, school, now driving to the airport will take up my daylight hours.  I did manage two trips around my personal block, looking to see what was shoveled and what wasn't.

Another storm is coming Monday. Looks like Mother Nature has finally synced her calendar.

Do you want to build a snowman?

boom. splat. a snowshoeing missadventure.

Today it snowed. Again. Another three inches.  I think that brings the total to 44 inches. Or maybe it's 49. Does it matter at this point?

I spent the day in online class, or getting ready for my traditional classes. At about 3:30 I decided to walk up to junk park. Now that little Girl Scout voice was whispering "take a buddy". Bad Girl Scout, I didn't listen.

I put my snow shoes on in the garage and headed up the barely plowed alley. I arrived at junk park to a wall of snow. There was footprints, so clearly someone was able to climb up there. Not me. It was taller than my waist.

Okay, plan B. I'd go down to the road thru the cemetery and go in that way. Wrong again. But at least I had what was left of the fence to hold one to. It took several falls and several attempts to get on top.

I immediately sunk in.  My knee is at the top edge of the snow. Can you even see the snow shoes? Hmmm.  I thought with snow shoes you walked on top of the snow....sort of. Clearly not. I tried to walk and fell. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Finally I took off the shoes and slid back out into the street.

I was sore, cold, and wet. I just went home. And shoveled the latest three inches

Next time I must listen to the Girl Scout voice. And take poles.

the grocery store

If you are too lazy to shovel a larger space, you park on the sidewalk.

About 2:00 I walked to the grocery store. It's about a mile from my house. I was not busy. It took nearly 1.5 hours. Let's just say the walking wasn't easy.

Thankfully most people had shoveled. However, few—including businesses—shoveled out the corners. And we had 15 or 20 inches of snow.

I had walked out Itaska toward Wyandotte. In the street. It was a sloppy mess. I crossed to Wyandotte  and encountered my first wall of snow. Wyandotte is a busy street. Walking in the street was not recommended. I had to go all the way to Summit, around the corner and out to almost Carlton before I could enter the sidewalk.

To make matters worse, the plows piled snow at the corners. Then the residents piled theirs on top. There were walls of snow to climb over almost 4 feet high. The five points was ridiculous.

At Ontario and Broadway there was a path cut. It lead to a puddle. I thought is was a small puddle. Wrong. It came up past my ankle toward my calf. There was a woman behind me (we climbed the snow walls together) with a 3- or 4-year-old.  I turned around and said to her, watch the puddle it's nearly as deep as her! She laughed. But she picked the little one up. Hard with bags of groceries on her arm.

When I returned home the plow had come thru the alley. So I had to re-shovel in front of my garage. Then I offered to help the man next door.

It's going to snow again tomorrow. I guess I won't get to snow shoe again. Junk park is better for sledding.

i feel like the energizer bunny....i keep shoveling and shoveling and shoveling

It's been an especially hard winter. It's been awhile since we've had one like this. I'm eating more and walking less. It just damn hard to walk on uncleared sidewalks.

Yesterday we had about 15 inches of show.

Last night we had about an inch of sleet and two more inches of snow. Tonight we're getting more.

I spent four hours yesterday shoveling. And another two today. Still can't go anywhere since they haven't plowed my alley. They did plow my street an hour or two ago.

Four hours of shoveling was only 4000 steps. Really? I wanted a nap when I came in. My Fit bit told me I was "very active" for 14 whole minutes. Clearly, it and I have two totally different ideas of what very active is.

I had wanted to go snow shoeing afterwards—when I thought shoveling was a 2 hour task— but I was too tired to walk to the park. Maybe tomorrow.

This afternoon I'm going to try and walk to bottom dollar. Unlike Ahart's I can use all side streets and walk in the streets.

unsafe at any speed

Wasn't that the name of a Ralph Nader book form the 70s? Hmmm. In this case it pertains to walking.

The official total for Monday's storm was 8 inches. Tuesday I had two classes and driving wasn't horrible. Snow is fairly easy to clean up.

Wednesday we were hit with two to three inches of Wintery Mix—rain, ice, hail, sleet, snow—basically Mother Nature dropped her Slurpee and we got to clean it up. I had to dig out and dust off my Wellies. It was wet and sloppy and really, really heavy.

 Quad and Library, Lafayette College, Wednesday

I went to work for the delayed 11 am opening and by the time I arrived, we closed. But I stayed. It took 45 minutes to get there. I parked on the parking deck again, and walked to my office. Some sidewalks were still not done. Four of us showed up. When I received news at two that my classes were cancelled that night, I came home and shoveled the next round of Slurpee. Overnight, the Slurpee froze into a brick.

Thursday it was a skating rink—my neighborhood still is. Classes were on, and I went. Once I arrived on a main road it wasn't too bad. And the sidewalks at the College weren't bad either. Since it was unsafe in the 'hood to walk I walked around my building, went to the Classroom Center, and looped around there.

Friday, I usually walk with Betsy in Allentown. She called at 7:30 and said her road—and development—was still a sheet of ice. Walking was off. It was probably for the best because I had another walk to do. Saturday was to be the South Bethlehem Volkssport walk.  I received this email from the president. "Let me know on Friday if you think it is safe to do the walk on Saturday."

So instead of walking with Betsy, I did part of the South Bethlehem Volkssport walk.  My report.

"Just came back from doing the 6K.

Background: we had 8.5 inches of snow on Monday, and 3 inches of slush on Weds. Then the temp dropped and the 3 inches of slush turned to a brick.

My vote is to cancel.

The 6K could be doable, but some of the intersections are really bad, and the Greenway has not been done yet.  —since it's 3 inches of frozen slush—you don't sink, you walk on top. (The city is still cleaning out parking meters. I think parks are last on the to-do list.)

The Comfort Suites is fine, and walking up Brodhead there is one bad block that wasn't shoveled at all (the side of Gene Diamonds old store.) before the school.

From the school thru Lehigh and back to the Greenway is as good as it can be. But nothing is melting because it's too cold.

The Greenway has not been done yet—it's 3 inches of frozen slush—you don't sink, you walk on top. (The city is still cleaning out parking meters. I think parks are last on the to-do list.) I found it very strenuous. And falls are a distinct possibility.

The casino, arts quest and back to the bridge are as good as they can be. Actually the casino and ArtsQuest are really good.

The 10K is not doable. They plowed all the snow onto the sidewalk of the bridge ramp. Again, clearing that is probably a low priority. I just turned around and went back to the hotel.

A little while later we received this email "Gayle our POC just checked out the walk. It is unsafe due to bad footing."

That's fine. I'll do the 30/30 event in Slatington tomorrow. I can take my snowshoes, right? Nope. A few minutes later I got this email from Tail on The Trail

"The special event scheduled for Saturday, February 8, has been postponed.
 
Due to icy trail and access road conditions around the Nature Center, tomorrow's event has been tentatively rescheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2014, at 10 am (weather and conditions permitting). Location to be determined. ..."

I can't go. I'm doing a Warm Hearts 5K that day. It's for heart research, and it is Jarrod's birthday.

Sunday I am doing Tri-To-Help, and indoor triathalon in Lancaster. And there's another storm on the horizon.  

Clearly, this winter, it's unsafe to walk at any speed.

second snow shoe adventure

Lydia did finally arrive. We left the dog with the roomie ("my baby is here!") and headed to Monocacy Park.

The lot was slightly plowed. It was not as bad as the one at the rail trail. I strapped on my snow shoes and we did the 1 mile nature trail loop. Lydia wanted to take snow pictures. At one point the trail was so narrow by the creek I was afraid I would fall in. Good thing it's not deep. But it would be cold.

Climbing over fallen trees also was a challenge. Should use poles I guess.

Then we walked down the railroad tracks toward the mill. Illicks Mill Road was totally clean, so I took off my snow shoes and put them in the car. I should have carried them to the other side of the street. We headed to the waterfall expecting it to be frozen.

I also expected the creek to be more frozen. Every day at Lafayette I watch the ice float down the Delaware. There has been ice dams all month in Philly. But the Monocacy was running freely. The mallards were swimming, but no Canadian geese could be seen. I guess they can't stand the cold? Maybe they finally went back to Canada.

Then it was off to BJs, and AC Moore. When we got home, a certain doggie wanted a walk. I'm a sucker, we took him.

snowshoes and almost getting a ticket

I haven't done any real walks this week. It's been snowing. And snowing. And snowing. So all I've really done is shoveled. And walking tapes. And sadly, walking from the office to the bathroom and back a zillion times. I managed to get to 10K steps 5 out of the 7 days. Didn't make my 70K goal, again.

On the bright side, all that snow gave me an opportunity to try out my snow shoes for the first time.

I retrieved them from their perch in the garage, and headed to pick up Bonnie. (Lydia was hosting a coffee hour.) I realized that I lost the little paper that said how to adjust them so we went to LL Beam. The nice man adjusted them. Bonnie found me a coat. On sale. My old Land's End jacket is at least two sizes too big. But it comes in handy when you have six layers on.

My shoes adjusted, we headed to the car and out to the street. The light was red. We waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, I turned right, and went up a bit and made a U-Turn. Right at the no U-Turn sign. As a copy was driving past. He waited for me. I was sure I was getting an expensive ticket. I made an illegal turn right in front of me. But he left me off the hook! I got the follow the rules, especially in this weather lecture. Yes, Sir.

Finally we arrived at Upper Saucon Park and the gates to the main park were locked. I went down to DeSales and turned around and headed for the library lot. The trail goes behind the library.

The snow was deep at places. I'm sure it has been drifting.  Because of the snow we couldn't find were to enter the trail, so we just went into the woods. Oops. Missed it. We were in the section that isn't finished yet. We followed the tracks of a cross country skier.

After having to climb over a mound of snow, we finally got to the trail. In front of us was either Bigfoot, or another person on snow shoes. Alas, it wasn't Big Foot. Good thing because the battery on my camera was dead! Again. I really hate that it gives you no low battery warning. Bonnie did take some photos on her phone.

We went about a mile out, and a mile back. I felt like I walked a 10K. Using snow shoes is supposed to burn twice as many calories. I guess that is true.

We past people on cross country skis, snowshoes and lots of dogs. They need to plow at least one lot. Parks are not a one-season place.

On the way home I stopped at Popeye's for shrimp for the roomie and chicken for me. Now I'll need to do another hour of exercise.

Lydia is coming over shortly and we are headed to BJs for dog food. Maybe we'll walk there. Or maybe we'll go to the Monocacy trail. Stay tuned.

fat girl shoveling

It snowed! I really have no idea how much. At some places on my side walk it was 3 inches deep. At others, a foot. It's blowing around like crazy. My guess, about 6 inches. The paper hasn't come yet. I can't find anything on the internet. And the television channels are all having a snow wet dream.(The weather person just said 7.2)

I was out shoveling early, maybe 7:15 am. It's now about 10 and the neighbors are coming out one-by-one. If Sharon still lived in the 'hood we would have been out about 5:30!

It's odd just having to do my property. At one time we were doing five—two elderly neighbors, mine, Sharon, and the empty house in between. We would often do the house next to Sharons also. Then people moved in, the elderly went to live elsewhere, and Sharon moved. Last year my friends house was up for sale, and I did their property. But, thankfully, it sold.

Still I was out there shoveling for the better part of 90 minutes. I did the front and quickly realized I was under dressed for the "arctic blast". My hands were like ice pops. My ears felt like they were going to fall off even though I was wear 2 pairs of gloves and a hat. I came in for warmer gloves, and a hat that covered my ears, and went out again. When I finished that initial batch, I came in for breakfast. After the neighbors shovel out their cars, I'll go tidy it up, and dig out the storm drain. I don't want everyo nes melting snow in my basement.

Then I went out and did the patio, back sidewalk and the driveway. Thank heaven for my neighbor that plows snow in winter. He always plows the alley in front of my house, and then down the hill and out to the street. The city rarely does it. We always joke that they only plow the street if there is a funeral. That isn't quite true. But it seems like it.

All in all I only did about 3000 steps. I was kind-of shocked. My upper body—clearly my weakest point—feels like I spent the morning with Ali.

(OMG! The snow plow just went up my street.)

I think tomorrow I need to help Bonnie unpack her cupboards. Maybe after that I can go to Saucon Valley and try my snow shoes out on the rail trail. It's been a year since I bought them and they have never been worn. Hopefully Bonnie can come along to take a picture. We wear the same size, we could take turns.

In a little while, I'll head out for a snowy walk to the grocery store. I think I'll take the scenic route thru Lehigh. Still don't think I'll make 10K steps today.

(OMG! The snow plow just went up my street AGAIN. Miracles do happen. Will the alley actually get done?)

we found David!

Clearly Dave was hiding in Nome. Maybe avoiding me? Rechecking the finisher's roster, he arrived before his wife Barb! Easter sunrise services in "Nome" were lovely and now we're all headed home. The sensible people are flying. I've rented a car to drive home.  Sharon's coming with me. She's aching for a road trip.

After weeks of snowshoes in Alaska, I don't know how I will adjust to spring in Pennsylvania. But all good things must come to an end.

All the "scoobies" have been found and accounted for. Here's how we fared in the standings:

59 – me. I've spent my waiting time snowshoeing. Haven't lost an ounce.
102—Adonis (and Lydia). Clearly Adonis was walking with Carol (aka Bobodancer) from the Liberty Bell Wanderers. Carol came in 105. Does it count that they walked back to Anchorage?
429—Dave. He did a good job of hiding. Nome is not that big!
435—Sharon. She's still sleeping. Exhausted from the walk. "Never again" she says.
461—Barb H. Didn't see her much. Maybe she was hiding with Dave part of the time?
518—Megan. She "flew" right back to Louisville to train for a Half-Marathon and stopped logging miles. Why she didn't want to train in the snow and the cold is beyond me.
634—Bonnie came in 634.  She was not last.

The dog sleds have left. The walkers are leaving. Pretty soon Nome will return to a quiet sleepy town in Alaska. Hopefully the Boy Scouts raised a lot of money for their camp. 

it snowed!

It snowed. But only 3-4 inches. I was hoping for a foot. But I wan not hoping for the nearly 3 feet they received in Boston and Maine.

So this morning my exercise was shoveling—front, back and at ML's old house. I still have to finish the gutter, but the car parked there has not moved. The front was partially done as a random act of kindness. Someone used a snow blower and made a stripe down the block and out to the street. Happy moment.

I also did my section of the alley, because the city didn't do it. (They did a little while ago.) I think it was because the residents in my hood park in the alley. While in the alley,  I met and worked with one of my new neighbors.

Then, after it was all cleaned up, I drew on it.

So now it's off to walk in the snow. Do I walk in the 'hood, or do I get in the car and drive somewhere to test the snow shoes? I'd really like to test the snowshoes, but being alone, and the first time, that's probably foolish. What if I fall?

So the hood wins. I know. It's time for a photo essay. See you all in an hour and a half!

snowshoe clinic

I went to L.L. Bean tonight for a snow shoe clinic. Everything you wanted to know about snowshoes but were afraid to ask.

Actually, there isn't much.

It's pretty much walking with really big shoes. You need to lift your legs high, think almost marching, and move forward. You land with your toes, then your heel. Your heel is actually not strapped to the shoe.

Turning is fun. You take one foot and move it into a V pattern the direction you are going. Then bring the other one to meet it. Repeat as often as necessary.

Most important, don't walk on your shoes, especially when turning.

The aluminum and plastic base disperses your weight. There are claws (they told me the name, I don't remember) that dig into the snow.

The recommend you wear higher boots because the snow will kick up behind you. Or gators. They also recommended poles for balance, but they aren't mandatory unless you are snowshoeing something like the AT.

They are sponsoring a snowshoe adventure on January 19. If there's no snow it will be hiking. Thinking about going.

what are you doing new years day?

I was going to do the Commitment walk. But the Philly one was cancelled. Supposedly they are giving me my money back. Not a great way to start the new year.

But it's okay. Today it snowed, and I played outside. Then when I opened my email there was two events from the LLBean Center Valley Outing Group.

The first one was for snowshoeing basics, January 1st. That gives me a week to find shoes. Hard to learn without them. Hoping for snow.

The second was for a snowshoeing hike on January 19. That's a Saturday or Sunday. It would be at the Poole Wildlife Sanctuary. If no snow, it would be just a hike. Thinking about that one.

Off to troll craigs list and ebay.

it's snowing!

I am so excited. I should have gone to LL Beam this morning and bought those snow shoes. I so want to try them out.

Alas, I walked to the post office instead. And boy was it cold. Not as exciting, but exercise none the less.

I'm making a huge pot of sauce and carbs for dinner. I ate a European style lunch. Homemade cheese, an apple and grapes. All I was missing was the crusty bread and the wine ...

l.l. beam

Stopped at L.L. Beam today on the way home from Betsy's. I wanted to check out walking sticks. I have been searching on line, and they give me ton's of information, but frankly it might as well be in Chinese.

I got derailed looking a snowshoes, and the clerk asked "Would you like some help with snowshoes?" I said no, I came for hiking sticks. They were in the next section.

I went to pick one up to look at it, and he said "No." And in the kindest way possible he told me that heavier people needed this type, with the locking adjustment, not the screw like adjustment.

I asked why. Because the screw style is not stable enough to hold the weight if you fall. It will collapse.

Of course, these at $79. (20% off till Sunday.) But they are a pair, instead of one stick. With cork handles, so they won't get all sweaty. For slightly more I could get the all season ones. A good idea if I'm thinking about snowshoeing.

Speaking of snowshoes, this is their basic model.  First thing you do is get on a scale and find your side. I was right on the line between 21 and 25.

Below is the basic model. (Again, 20% off.) They run about $100. And have detailed instructions on how to adjust them. I'd prefer if someone would do it for me.

But before I buy, I must rent a couple times. Don't want to waste money.

snowshoeing?

 I love snow. Regular reader are saying, there she goes again, snow, snow, snow. That little wet snow has given me the winter itch. Can't help it.

It must be karma, because today I received my Volkssport newsletter and in it was a snowshoeing adventure in Vermont. A $500 bus trip. Sadly you'd spend two days on the bus, and two days in the snow. Not my idea of a good time. Plus I'd have to miss some work. Not a good idea.

So while my students were working on their projects and I was killing time till the next question, I looked up snowshoeing on line. The rail trails will be a great place to do it, but I'm a klutz (regular readers know that as well!) I want some instruction.

My search lead me to the LLBean Center Valley Outing Group. They have all kinds of cool adventures. (Of which the equipment you can purchase at their stores.) Last night was snowshoing basics. My timing is off. I couldn't have gone anyway, I had class. So far there is no group outing, but we'll see. I signed up on their meet-up page and became part of the group. I think I'll go to the book club meeting. An odd activity for a outdoor group, but at least I'll meet people. These shoes run in the hundreds of dollars. I'd need to rent first. Maybe the ski places?

I found a first-timers article/video in Snowshoeing Magazine. I'll have to give it a read when I get time. It's also where I borrowed the pix.

We'll see what happens.

Now what's really odd is after class I went to check FB, and Lydia is posting all about snowshoeing on her bariatric page. Coincidence? Perhaps. Or maybe the angel spiked the snow with some sort of snowshoeing fairy dust.

We'll see.