For those of you who do not live in a winter city, you might think we don't walk in the winter. Not true. Minneapolis is a very walk able city. In fact the City Council of Minneapolis on October 16th adopted a pedestrian master plan. It is a 92 page document that promotes walking. It addresses cleaning sidewalks after snow storms, maintaining boulevard trees, and improving pedestrian infrastructure.
The trick to walking in our temperature is to wear layers. People who are new to Minneapolis go out and buy heavy boots and bulky coats. That only make you fall down. What you want are thin layers of good fabric that keeps the moisture away from your skin and is a barrier to the wind. Once you start walking and burning calories, you will notice you open up your jacket and start removing the layers. I am always tying the outer jacket around my waist once I get going.
For those who are a bit nervous about walking on the ice and snow, there is a cure for those nerves. You take the poles of cross country skies and use them as support as you walk along. You will gain confidence and soon not need the poles. You will be surprised how cleared our walks and paths are and the surface to walk on is easier than you can imagine.
Minneapolis this weekend will go below zero. That won't keep us in. What happens is when it gets cold here, like below zero or one above, the skies get so blue and the sun shines on your face and warms you right down to your heart. You need a good pair of sun glasses for the sun will shine off the snow and be brilliant. I know some of you cannot imagine what I am writing about, but it is true. The crisp air will sting your lungs for a minute, but then you warm up and think nothing about it. You watch the squirrels run around. The birds soar into view. You see people on frozen Lake Harriet fly kites. You wonder how people who live elsewhere can do without all this good stuff.
Downtown Minneapolis has miles and miles of skyways. People who work downtown often don't venture outdoors or wear coats. Their world is sealed into glass walkways, their office buildings, and the parking ramp. So you see for those of you who can't handle the cold, work and live downtown Minneapolis and take the skyway. I get lost in them so for me the sidewalk is a better bet.
At night, which can be about 5:00 pm., people walk with little lights on their hats and wear exterior clothing that glows in the dark. We put coats on our dogs and even boots for the hounds that need them. Off we go burning the calories we have taken in that day and get our hearts pumping. You have to remember that people living in Minneapolis have their family stock coming from Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Germany. Hearty is our middle name. Now we have residents in Minneapolis from all over the world. They catch on fast and join in on our winter walking.
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