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:

Should I?

Keep track or not?

So far this year I've gone on a walk/hike every single day with the exception of two days with the dangerous wind chills. On some days I remember to take my cell phone and activate a free app called MapMyWalk. 

I don't always remember to activate the app while taking my daily hike/walk. 

When the temps got up to 11 degrees I thought Charlie and I should go check out the old ridge road on the neighbor's land. Part of that old ridge road is used as a snowmobile route in the winter.

I thought the footing would be nicely packed and I wouldn't have to break trail.

I activated the app and thought it would be fun to see exactly how far it is to the creek and back using the road and the old snowmobile road.

The footing was not great. Charlie decided about a mile in that he wanted to be carried and we trudged all the way to the creek. AND I mean trudged. The trudging was downhill and as I trudged I thought, this is going to be very difficult going back up.
Normally with good footing, this is an fairly nice hike, yes it is uphill but it is not difficult. It is a good cardio workout.

We did stop at the creek where I wanted to look for some beautiful frosty formations along the water. The snow was over my knees when I climbed down to look for ice and frost.

I got a few shots to prove to myself that I was there and decided to head back up the hill.

With the drought, the creek has really been diminished. It flows, but the grasses and weeds that grow along its bank have taken over.

Still, I like to just go down into the valley and listen to the water. The sounds it makes are so pleasing and relaxing.

Here is Charlie standing guard on the trail while I climbed down next to the water to try and get a shot of the frosted grasses.

Frosted grasses and multi flora rose growing into the creek:

Returning UP the HILL was

demanding. And exhausting.

I figured it would be with the slightly churned up trail. IF I'd worn snow shoes I may have had a better grip. 

I decided I wasn't in a race and took my time.

Of course, I've never mapped out this walk and checked the details carefully. From where the mile numbers are in the map ---> 1 and 2, to the creek is a descent of 300 feet in a half of a mile. One section is very steep.
In 2/10 of a mile the ascent from the creek is 100 feet.

Huh.
No wonder I was struggling! Did I mention that I was carrying Charlie too?

When I got to this point I heard a snowmobile coming so I scooped up Charlie and stepped off to the side of the trail.

What a nice surprise. The fellow that was traveling, stopped and asked if I was okay. Did I need a ride somewhere?

[OMG...did I look that bad???]

I replied that we were fine, just out hiking and I lived about a mile away. 

When he continued on I looked up and saw a Sun Halo!

Cell phone shot....

Well indeed! That alone made the whole trip worth it.

When I got home Charlie and I stretched out on the couch and snuggled. 

So in the end. I wonder if it would be fun to track my daily mileage -- when I remember to activate the app. 

My second wondering...

Snowmobiler to friends: So out in the middle of NOWHERE, was a lady with a tiny dog and a backpack walking out of the valley on the trail! Was SHE nuts or what?

So far with my 'tracking' this month, I've had 16 miles of hiking just around home. I missed those subzero days for obvious reasons.

Snow! Snow!

 ...and more snow???

These shots are from Monday before we got snow...
Charlie and I went looking for some cool tree roots. 

This is a cottonwood tree in the creek bottom...
this tree is ancient and its roots extend 40 feet
or more along the creek.

I think this is an oak tree. It lives in the

dry run where I found the cars.
Charlie is investigating the area
under the roots.

Another grand cottonwood that
is ancient.
This one sits on the fence line
between my neighbor to the 
west and I.
The drop down to the creek here 
is about 20 feet.

This is one of my favorite spots to go to.

Next stop was further west where Charlie and I sat to watch the trout swimming back and 

forth.

It is the black dot on the terrain map is where we stopped to

watch the trout.

The elevation change between my house and the creek is

about 150 feet.

The distance is about 1/4 of a mile. I'm often asked if the creek

would ever flood our property. No it won't.

I should compile photos of this spot

over the years.

It is another 'spot' that I almost frequent every day.

The changes over the past 20 years are amazing.

Hmmm, sounds like a cool project for a subzero day!

Another curiosity. This was a
deer stand built in the meadow
in 2003. The cattle left the land
in 2005 and the forest
has reclaimed the area.

This is in the meadow east of our land.

I find it a shame that people just left their crap laying there.

This is what we woke up to on Tuesday morning.

The mules are currently eating hay out of the feeders and also browsing and digging for grass in the summer pasture. They seem to love searching in the deep snow for delightful tidbits under the snow.

The next shot is off our driveway. It is much cleaner looking this year than it was last year. Driveway maintenance is really important when your driveway is a long hill.

The hill rises 200 feet to the ridge where our mailbox is located.

We were plowed out by yesterday late morning. I'm really happy that the same guy who did the work on the driveway will also plow it for us. He knows this driveway better than anyone else.

Hubby did it for years and so did one of the former neighbors before he moved away.

When I was working odd shifts, I'd park on the ridge during a snowstorm so I could get to work. Sometimes I'd stay in town with my MIL overnight so I could be close to a plowed highway.

Everyone deals with winter in different ways. 

Charlie and I love it.

44 second video of Charlie enjoying snow and mousing!

Today, Thursday I head to town for a meeting with our Financial Advisor and an Estate Attorney to go over a few things. It is never too early to keep your ducks in a row.

We have a Winter Storm Warning just issued for tonight through Saturday. I've polished up my snow shoes and pulled my x-country skis out. We'll be ready for action.

This weekend we are expecting blowing snow and much colder temps. I am bringing out my skunk hat and my goggles. Looks like winter has finally arrived and will be making a Big Statement.