HOW SENIORS WALK

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to attend some further training in relation to doing assessments for memory loss and other conditions related to aging. In the course of our training we had a brief workshop on gait analysis. This involved examining how an individual walks and how that can be evidence to support a particular diagnosis.

Gait analysis gets used often in assessing orthotic devices for athletes or people with common anatomical issues related to walking. It can be used in a highly specialized way for elite athletes to refine their technique towards maximal performance. In the case of my training we were looking particularly at how gait relates to events that may be occurring in the brain or nervous system. Of primary interest were dementias, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, palsy conditions and so on.

Within the workshop we watched a set of video demonstrations by an extraordinary physician named Benjamin Weiss. Here is a link to Dr. Weiss's video set which you may find interesting in describing disease-related walking conditions.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaCGXOiLr-_WEbnybtwNYGnLiYaK_MB40

On that same channel you can also find more general links to gait analysis as it might be done in a chiropractic setting.

Yours , on the journey,

Ray

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet

Thich Nhat Hahn

MANITOU MOUNTAIN PART 2

The KAPPS walk on Sunday was another in the set of the past four incredible walks. We began at the Barret's Chute end of Manitou Mountain and walked over to the Eagle's Nest again. This was about 10 km, including some interesting side-trails. It took us about 3-3.5 hours.
This trail was absolutely breath-taking. It was that time of year with flourescent yellow, golden brown and lime green foliage. The trail was almost obliterated by fresh leaf-fall. Fortunately we had the services of our loyal track-master, Josh, who sniffed his way to indicate where to go, when the blue slashes eluded us. 

We climbed one lookout at Red Arrow Lookout. From there I thought we would walk below Manitou Mountain Lookout, but we actually walked right up onto it again. This put us back on the trail we did in August. It felt somewhat familiar, but with the changed colours, it had a freshness too.
We looked for a back access to Eagle's Nest and tried 2-3 different side-trails. Maybe we gave up too soon. Who knows. We never did find anything in spite of Doug's "theories". 
Afterwards we all ate like starved children at Mumfords. Even Joshy got a half-sausage and some bacon trimmings.
Thanks to the whole walk team.
The other insight we got from the walk is how many more great walks are waiting for us on Manitou Mountain.

As a side-note, I attended a lecture at the Renfrew Library the weekend before. It was given by a wonderful Algonquin elder/dancer who described what indigenous life in the Valley was like 400 years ago. He made many references to the area around Calabogie, where he grew up and where his ancestors lived. This added some interesting dimension to our walk.

GOODBYE OLD FRIENDS

These old friends are retiring today. 
These are my Keen walking shoes, can't remember the model name but they have been wonderful companions and earned their rest.
They have supported me through sun, rain and snow; beaches and mountains, trails and sidewalks. Their slim soles (souls?) taught me not to pound the pavement but to slip into each step. To feel the ground and roll along it.
You can tell that the lesson was not fully learned by the heavy wear pattern on the right heel. As is my pattern, this is more pronounced on the right than the left. The black mark on the left toe-cap is from the persistent wear/pressure from a small fungal  growth that has re-appeared on my 2nd toe over the last few years. Sometimes its big and hard enough that it wore that hole.
This model seems to have disappeared, so I will go back to the Keen catalogue ( I wouldn't wear anything else) and find my next companions.

THANKS FOR THE BLUEBERRIES

Went out on the Blueberry Mountain hike as advertised. Great to have Doug, Maura and new friend Pat along. And the Padakun Walkin' Dog too of course, who joined the other 2 dozen four-leggeds. A real mix of seniors, kids, families and couples. Nice to run into a few old acquaintances from our days in Almonte.
The approach is a gradual and flowing blend of the best of eastern Ontario Shield landscape. About 10 minutes from the summit it tilts upward and gives an exhilirating mini-climb, leading up to another spectacular view. Its similar to Eagle's Nest, only a bit higher. You could see all the way across the Valley to Bon Echo Park.
I'd never been at the Alba Wilderness SChool and I could now imagine it being a fine place to visit. Mr. Clifford Junior had a fascinating "soundscape" set up. He had micropones buried in pond mud attached to headphones. Lots of folks got to "hear" the many critters chatting away in the swamp. Cool!

Doug and his monocular

 

BLUEBERRY MOUNTAIN WALK, OCTOBER 4

 

Our September KAPPS walk is a Special Event, only partly because its not in September! We will bump the September walk a week forward to October 4 so we can join an important walking and environmental day in this region, the Annual Fall Walk to Blueberry Mountain on Sunday, October 4th, at 9:30 a.m. (rain or shine)

Each year the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) offers its annual Fall Colours Nature Walk at cliffLAND. Registration for the Nature Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. and a guided, interpretive tour will set out at 10:00 a.m. sharp. A donation of $10 per person (children under 12 are free) will go towards maintaining the Land Trust's protected properties. As usual, refreshments will be served following the hike.

For more on the MMLT and cliffLAND, including a map, go to http://mmlt.ca/event/fall-colours-nature-walk-on-blueberry-mountain/
For info, call Ray at 433-9405.

DISCOVERING THE CITY SECRETS

In the last few months I've been reading about the modern history of walking in city environments. This walking practice has to do with discovering aspects and subcultures within the city that are either invisible to vehicular traffic or at risk of being erased by urban development. It might seem a stretch to be considering this kind of walking in a small rural town, however that has proven not to be the case.

Over these last few weeks, partly in combination with my Blue-Box Walking,I've discovered two or three secret places in our small town. It's easy to see how people could ignore these places. They're not very well developed, but they clearly provide a getaway for certain citizens of our town. You can call them secret patios,since what they seem to provide is outdoor social space where people will meet. I have no idea who these people might be, they could be youth or homeless or secret drinkers. There doesn't seem to be the usual kind of evidence that one sees with a secret drinking place - no beer cans, wine bottles or the like. My guess would be this is a secret meeting place for young people who probably have no similar place to meet. These are the kind of people also see hanging out in schoolyards or on Main Street. Further, since our municipal government has removed all public seating in the main public spaces,young people or people limited to very small or shared housing have few options but to create personal social space where they can. What I believe that I see are such spaces.

These are not random places either, clearly they have arranged seating and cleared away brush to make room for sustained visits and conversation. And in some of them there are even small fire pits where I would guess a small inconspicuous fire has been set, partly for warmth and partly for social ambiance.

Yours , on the journey,

Ray

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet

Thich Nhat Hahn

CELEBRATING THE HILLS

Sunday, September 13, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
150 Donald B. Munro Drive, Carp
A donation of $5 per person, $10 per family is requested.

Join the Friends of Huntley Highlands in “Celebrating the Hills”, a public event on a 50-acre private property in the Carp Hills near the village of Carp.  Surrounded by an old forest with rocky outcrops of rugged Canadian Shield, participants can enjoy many activities, explore nature trails, and climb to an exceptional view overlooking the Carp River valley. An art show and sale, guided and self-guided nature walks, music, refreshments, and children’s activities are planned.  The West Carleton War Memorial sculpture by artist Ron Cowle will be on display.

Celebrate the Hills has two purposes:  to raise awareness about this scenic and ecologically important wilderness area and to raise funds for the Friends of Huntley Highlands.  First and foremost is to show people how special the Carp Hills are.  These hills comprise the only expression in the city of Ottawa of the billion-year-old Canadian Shield, the oldest rock on earth and a Canadian icon worldwide that inspired the famous landscapes of the Group of Seven. The Carp Hills are also acknowledged by the City as one of its most important natural features and by the province of Ontario as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest hosting provincially significant wetlands.

Dr. Owen Clarkin will lead nature walks along paths in the forest and up onto the Carp Hills ridge. Dr. Clarkin is the conservation committee chair of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists, and is well known for his expert knowledge of trees. We are excited to welcome him back to explain the special ecology of the Carp Hills. The old red oak tree that was the winner of our recent Biggest Tree contest will be just one of the highlights of the nature walks.

A call-out has been sent to artists in the region to display their work at this event.  The art on display will be inspired by nature and depict the landscape of the Carp Hills:  hardwood and coniferous forests, wetland and rocky outcrop vegetation, spectacular igneous and sedimentary (including glacial) geology, and wildlife, including species at risk. A marketplace table will be selling small or donated items such as pins, cards, books, small trees, etc, and refreshments from local establishments will be available.

This will also be the final day to bid on Autumn Splendour, a oil painting by by the late, renowned Canadian artist, John Mlacak, donated by his widow, Beth.

Bring your family, enjoy the scenery, and discover the Carp Hills.  For more details, go to www.huntleyhighlands.com

Yours , on the journey,                           
Ray
Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet
Thich Nhat Hahn