Ice can be beautiful; seeing it glittering as it hangs off of everything in the middle of the woods or in a pretty little village (before the exhaust from passing cars greys it). But how do we enjoy this sight without bruising our backside? I will explore various methods by which you can enjoy this seasonal delight.
One option is to get the right equipment; you can learn to ice skate and be the talk of the town all winter. If this sounds like there’s a little too much investment, skill, and speed on hills involved, you can try crampons. These can be purchased for $10, but more advanced models can cost $150 or more. And no, they don’t have anything to do with that time of the month; they are just stretchy implements that go over your shoes and help you grip the ice better so that you don’t slip as easily. You have to be careful with them, though, because if you wear them on pavement they will get worn out.
Another option is to take the advice other factoidz writers have given, and carry around salt or gravel to sprinkle on the ice which will either help melt it or just give you a more uneven, less slippery surface to walk on.
If you don’t have the income to purchase these things, or don’t want to have to carry them around, you can try walking very carefully over the ice, keeping your feet flat and balancing on your toes, as another factoidz writer has advised. A more fun option might be to just go ahead and get down on your hands and knees or butt, push yourself around with your hands, and save the fall. However, if you have mobility issues with bending, my suggestion would be to get two long walking sticks, (can be found in the woods for free either by you or a helpful child), or canes and attach some kind of sharp implement to the bottom with a very strong rope lashing. Make sure that the stick(s) and your arms can hold your weight first! If you use a walker or a wheelchair, I haven’t been able to find or think of a way that you could stabilize yourself, but as soon as I do, I will update this article for you.
Oh, and by the way, the EASIEST way to walk on the ice without falling, if there’s a snow bank around, is to go ahead and walk in the snowbank. Like you didn’t think of that already. So go walk in a Winter Wonderland already!
