By Lorraine Langan

New Year Greetings! Just like that it’s 2025!  Wishing you all good health and prosperity!   Many people take this time to look back on the previous year, and “ring in the new” with changes and resolutions. Yes, it’s time for a fresh start, a time to self-examine, a time for renewal.  You know the drill…blah blah blah.

I agree it’s a good idea to take time to self-reflect, to examine one’s life and objectively observe what has gone before and maybe what we can change. But to be honest, I’ve never been good at making resolutions. Or, at least not keeping them.  I start out with great vigor, ready to improve my lifestyle, diet, or behavior.  Somehow life gets in the way, or at least that’s my excuse.  If this sounds familiar to you, continue to read on.

I would like to share with you one thing that has changed my life considerably. No, it’s not a resolution. It is what I like to call a shift. A small change that can lead to a new habit. Once habits form, you don’t feel quite right unless it gets done, like brushing your teeth.  That small change for me was to spend more time outdoors.  It almost sounds too simple, right?  But it is, when you think about it, being outdoors doesn’t cost a dime, it is very doable, and you can skip it whenever you want without feeling guilty. The outdoors isn’t going anywhere!  Even if you are not an “outdoorsy” person, just stepping outside can have a profound impact on your spirits. According to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): “local parks and trails provide an ideal opportunity for everyone to get outside each day. As little as 20 minutes a day spent outdoors reduces stress”. Also, a quote from USDA Forest Services website says: “Being outside supports an active and healthy lifestyle which has shown to increase life expectancy, improve sleep quality, and reduce cancer risk”.

Yes, studies have proven that nature is an antidote to stress. Outdoor activity is also good for your bones, blood cells and immune system.  It exposes you to sunlight which supplies your body with vitamin D, which we need more of in the winter season. It lessens anxiety, and just makes you feel better overall.

So, having said that, being outdoors leads me to my topic for today: A great way that you can spend some time outdoors.  It’s right at your fingertips!  Pelham NH offers a program so that you can earn a winter hiking badge.  Some of you may already know that the trails in Pelham offer miles of beautiful wooded areas, wildlife and ponds. Officially announced by the Forestry Committee on December 1, the winter hiking badge program is a perfect way to begin a new wonderful and rewarding habit.  If you walk the trails this winter, you can earn a badge of your own and enjoy time with your friends and family.  The requirement is that you complete all 22+ miles of the Pelham trails within the timeframe given. Here are some of the details:

1. Anyone can earn the badge.
2. The Pelham trails must be completed between the dates of December 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025.
3. Each hiker is responsible for maintaining a list of the completed mileage.  You can download a form on the Website for your convenience. Program details can also be found at the Pelham Library.
4. Email the completed spreadsheet found on the Forestry Website to receive your reward, a Winter Hiking badge. Your badge should be received within a week.
5. The deadline to submit your completed form is March 7,2025.

Here are a few tips before you embark on the trails:

1. Wear comfortable hiking boots or shoes that are sturdy in the snow
2. Bring hiking poles for added support
3. Bring plenty of water and snacks.
4. Take your time and rest along the way. There are benches along the trails. Soak up the sights of winter.
5. Dress in layers. A backpack is helpful to store a removed layer as you warm up a bit.

In closing, I want to add that especially for children this is an important addition to their lifestyle. It gets them outdoors, away from TV and computer games.  They become closer to nature and closer to their loved ones as a result.  Embrace the long winter season, earn a badge that will give you and your loved ones a genuine feeling of accomplishment.  And, in the meantime, forming a new habit that will become an important part of their lives forever.

All information on this project is posted on the Pelham Forestry Website. A photo of the winter hiking badge is shown at the top of this article.

We look forward to seeing you out on the trails, enjoying the crisp winter air!

Resources:

USDA Forest Services: FS.usda.gov

NRPA-National Recreation and Park Association; NRPA.org

Pelham Forestry Committee: WWW.Pelhamweb.com/forestry-committee/pages/trail-maps