Walking Sticks for Adaptive Hiking and Fitness

Three people prepare to walk with sticks.

        It occurred to me recently that the walking stick may be the oldest, and indeed most ancient, of adaptive equipment. What early human, or even creature, picked up a stick and used it to aid balance? That moment is for sure shrouded in the mists of time. 

        A natural, sturdy stick can be used as a crutch or a staff, providing balance for anyone, regardless of age or ability, while hiking on rugged or slippery terrain, or purely to stay upright and assist motion. The human history of walking sticks is quite interesting - for further info, click here.

Ellisville Harbor Easy Walk to Rare Coastal Views

A flat, dirt trail through the woods.

 Guest Post! With permission for our Easy Walk friend, Marjorie Turner Hollman, here is her excellent post about an opportunity to experience an undeveloped coastal area and observe seals near Plymouth, Massachusetts.  Please note this is not a wheelchair accessible trail but does offer an easy walk to an overlook.                                                                                                                                      This was our second visit to Ellisville Harbor State Park in Plymouth, MA. On our first visit in August, we were led to believe the path to the shoreline was at least a mile. Since my “on foot” range is about two miles, this would leave no energy for actually walking on the beach. We chose to head on, and ended up at Shifting Lots Preserve, another open space quite nearby. We returned to the state park on a cool day in December, and decided to try reaching the beach. Turns out, the trail is closer to a half mile out, well within my capabilities when the weather is cool outside.

A Wonderful Micro-Adventure in Story Walks

The Story Walk begins with the book cover.

        I just discovered a new Story Walk at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls. Perfect for Thanksgiving, though unrelated, the featured story is "Thank the Animals", a Native American tale shared by Passamaquoddy storyteller Allan Sockabasin.

        If Story Walks are new to you, this family-friendly concept combines children's stories with short walks. Storybook pages are presented in sequence on posts for a reasonable distance that can be on a lawn or along a sidewalk or trail. Walking as you enjoy a story is a welcoming way to exercise, or warm up for a longer walk. The Story Walk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, in 2007 and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Now they can be found all over the U.S. and beyond.

Walking Up Wachusett Mountain with Waypoint Adventure

Seated hiker with helper in front and behind.

     This first week of November I had the pleasure of joining a Waypoint Adventure hike on Mt. Wachusett! It was our first DCR Universal Access Program hike on this prominent peak that dominates central Massachusetts. I was especially interested in seeing the TrailRider in use for two participants who cannot walk. This environmentally-friendly one-wheeled rig seems like a cross between a rickshaw and a wheelbarrow. Designed in Vancouver, Canada, it first seems lengthy and cumbersome but is fantastic adaptive equipment when plenty of help is available to assist seated hikers.

     Wachusett Mountain is a scenic state park with rugged hiking trails and spectacular views. A visitor center at the bottom of the mountain offers indoor exhibits and restrooms and is a great place to stop prior to entering the park. From here you can drive to the top via the auto road, however it is closed after October 31st and re-opens Memorial Day weekend. 

Cape Cod's Crosby Landing - A Special Spot of Natural Beauty

 

Cairn and vegetation along Namskaket Sea Path.

       A lesser known part of Nickerson State Park in Brewster, MA is Crosby Landing. While not a designated accessible area it is worth considering a visit, especially if you have someone to assist you if you use a wheelchair. You may be surprised to find that just past a short stretch of soft sand there is a natural hardpacked trail that parallels the beach for a half mile or so, with spectacular bayside views of marsh and tidal flats. It is called the Namskaket Sea Path. The trail width is just wide enough for wheelchair passage though dune vegetation.

        To get there, almost opposite the main entrance to Nickerson State Park, there is a short drive to the beach parking lot at the end of Crosby Lane. Along this paved lane, you'll pass a beautiful old estate, Crosby Mansion. In the lot there is one designated accessible parking space. 

Natural Riverside Stroll at Bradley Palmer State Park

A curve in the boardwalk through a wetland.

         One of the nicest accessible trails can be found at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, MA. I visited last week to check for damage after a summer of heavy rains and found the trail in great condition overall. I hadn't been there in 5 years or so and it was refreshing to stroll this natural setting along the Ipswich River.

        The half mile trail starts just inside the park entrance at 40 Asbury Street. After you pass through the stone wall entrance, take your very first left down a short lane past a house to the trailhead and a small parking area with two paved accessible parking spots designated.      

Visit Skinner State Park for a Big Perspective

People stand on deck overlooking river valley.

        September is a great month to visit Skinner State Park. October will be even better for fall color. I have been twice in the last two weeks - weekdays offer far fewer visitors than weekends. The wheelchair accessible Summit House perched on Mt. Holyoke offers a chance to appreciate a historic structure and some 19th century history. What everyone comes for is the scenic view of the surrounding Connecticut River valley. The entire outdoor walkway around the old hotel is fully wheelchair accessible. You can also contemplate some big perspective from atop the Holyoke Range.

Adventuring Along the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

   

Big puffy clouds over a smooth
expanse of water and distant mountains.

    The most beautiful rail trail in Massachusetts is in the Berkshires. The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail travels 12.7 miles from the Berkshire Mall at its southern end, northward through the town of Adams and a mile beyond. Along the way mountains are visible on either side and wide expanses of water provide delightful scenery while passing through the town of Cheshire.

    Last week I rode the northern section from Cheshire through Adams for the first time. What a treat! Where else can you ride a bike along a gently rushing river for several miles? This year's heavy rain has given the Hoosac River a lively energy. You can follow it through wetlands and below mossy cliff faces as it races along through the woods, then out into bright sunny meadows north of Adams.  

Short Strolls Through Time and Space in Western Massachusetts

A big round white rock at the entrance of the Geology Path.

        Some special places in the Greenfield area allow for very unique strolls through time and space. While at Greenfield Community College last week I discovered their Geology Path, part of an outdoor learning lab on the grounds, right outside the Covid testing area. On this accessible path of perhaps 200 feet, you can leap back 500 million years or so. At the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, you can take an indoor stroll that covers 410 miles.

Adaptive Watersports in Boston with AccessSport America

A windsurfer on calm water, assisted by Ross Lilley.

Looking for FUN? 

Seeking some warm weather ADVENTURE before the end of summer? 

Consider AccessSport America! This Boston-based adaptive sports organization is changing people's lives for the better, even during the pandemic.

Activities offered include windsurfing, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, stand-up paddling, rowing, cycling, soccer, fitness training and sports camps.

Benches and shade along the beach walk.

          I visited an AccessSport program at Malibu Beach on the south shore of Boston this week. Malibu Beach seems like a strange place to adventure in the city, with busy roadways on either side. I was surprised by the spacious opportunity to soak up the elements - sun, air, earth and water - and feel both fun and freedom. The unpopulated beach area offers accessible restrooms and an accessible beach stroll above the high tide line. Few people come to swim or sunbathe - its a great place to get some fresh air and open space off of William Morrissey Boulevard. Just be aware there is not much shade. The beach sand is a bit denser than on conventional beaches.