Keeping Track

I find it interesting that the more technologically advanced we get, the more fascinated with tracking things we get.

I had a friend who posted every single day how many 'steps' she took. She wore a fit bit gizmo on her wrist and that told her the information. 
Some of the folks at the gym have watches they wear that can give them heart rate, blood pressure, steps, oxygen, and track your movements.

I am enjoying the fact that I can track my hiking [when I remember to use the app]. But so many folks seem to be over the top with tracking info.

Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? Is it really necessary?

I can see where it has benefits in many cases. Say you have a B/P issue, you can track it right? When I visited the doctor's office in December we discussed that very thing. She recommended that I track my B/P no more than twice a day. Too many readings don't really help she said, and they could actually make a person more anxious and increase the B/P. Interesting.

Another time I was sitting in the waiting room while hubby was doing a test. A nurse came out and called a name. She indicated to the patient that she was going to do a 12 lead ECG before his stress test. He absolutely came unglued and shoved his wrist at the nurse and told her not to waste her time. HE had a smart watch and it could tell her all she needed to know.

She rolled her eyes and tried to explain that her test was far more accurate than a watch on a wrist.

Okay. I see the point though. If you can monitor yourself for all of these vitals, it is pretty cool and perhaps a person can see if they are 'in trouble' or not, medically speaking.

When I did distance running, I did keep a little calendar notebook to track my training miles. So I do understand why we keep track.

I had a friend that was not well, she had a smart watch that she could answer calls on, monitor her steps, and all of those other things. She'd been advised to walk each day for a certain length of time. She figured out how to cheat the system by laying on her bed with her knees at the end of the bed. She then would swing her legs up and down and get her steps in. She fooled her smart watch.

I hike, I walk. I used to run distance when I was younger. I switched to bicycling distances, then I switched to riding an equine in distance challenges. Now? I like my two feet. 

For the past couple of years I did the trail challenge at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. For that Challenge I had to keep track of the trails I did. That introduced me to 'keeping track' in a new way.

I didn't just do the 60+ miles of trails, but I also made many many other trips and repeats of trails. 

So how far and how often do I move, walk, hike? Maybe it would be interesting to find out. 

I did track -- mostly -- my hikes since the start of January. It is pretty amazing how far a person can hike or walk within a relatively short amount of time.

For example this is the past week's example from MapMyWalk. Most of these walks were completed during hubby's nap times. It isn't totally accurate as I don't always think to take my phone with me or the phone doesn't have enough battery to take along...or it is raining or frigid.

However I think I get out and move more than what this indicates.

I'm fine with not counting chores, walking to the mailbox, or checking fence lines and all of the other things that are day to day stuff.

To me, the walks-hikes are not Workouts. They are times of seeking calmness and mind clearing pleasure.

This information is a good thing. But tracking your every movement? Is that really necessary?

Are we better off with devices like this?

Now that I am considered retired, the only time I keep track of Time is when I have an appointment to get to.

January stats:

Hunting the First Wildflower

 I am that strange person that delights busting through brush and briars to get to certain places in the spring to find that first wildflower.

It isn't a pretty wildflower and it doesn't even smell nice. It is the Skunk Cabbage.

Interesting enough, the Skunk Cabbage can push up through frozen ground and the bulb can create heat up to 70 degrees F to melt snow from around it.

Symplocarpus foetidus

While definitely not the prettiest wildflower, I find it one of the most interesting. It can create its own heat [thermogenic]. It smells bad because it attracts pollinators that like rotting meat.

Most animals avoid eating the plants as they emerge as the leaves create a burning sensation in their mouths.

The plants themselves like wet forests and stream banks. I find these near the Big Spring in PeeWee's Valley. 

The trek there is not an easy one any more. Years ago the brother that lived on the land had cattle that kept the land well grazed. 13 years ago the cattle left the land and the land has gone wild. Charlie and I explore the valleys in the late fall through late spring. In midsummer, the land is choked with tall Parsnip, brambles, and other plants. 

By June the grasses and other plants around the stream will be nearly 4 feet tall.

But for now, we will still enjoy wandering along the creek looking for cool things.

Antler shed and Iron Concretion.

Anytime it is cold but windy and sunny, I can walk in the valley and enjoy the weather without dealing with the cold winds. I took off my insulated flannel and hung it on a tree branch while walking east along the stream. I picked it up when I headed back home.

Charlie was a mud puppy. I had to rinse him off.

I'm so glad he is so easy going. When I got him out of the tub, I just laid him on his side and he let me towel him off. 

The marsh marigolds shouldn't be far behind as I saw them just emerging in the Big Spring. I'll go back towards the end of next week to see if I can find any blossoms.

I'm pretty lucky to have this land near us. There are easier trails to be found at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve or one of our many County Parks. Duck Egg has an abundance of wildflowers in the lower trail that burst with Ephemeral flowers each spring.

I can't wait.

To find more Spring Wildflowers.