Latest news with #trails
CNA
7 days ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Feet care tips: a step by step guide
If you're planning to go on a hike on uneven trails, how do you find the right footwear for hiking safety and feet protection? We hear from Timothy Maiden, lead podiatrist from The Foot Practice.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Portions of Catoctin Mountain Park to close this weekend — here's what to know
Portions of Catoctin Mountain Park will close starting at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 18. According to a community announcement, closures will last until approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 20. All trails, parking lots and public use areas will remain open. However, Park Central Road will be closed between the Hog Rock Parking Lot and the Camp Greentop entrance. For more information, call 301-663-9388 or go to This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at The Herald-Mail is growing its local news: Send your news to us This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Weekend closure at Catoctin Mountain Park could affect your visit Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
20-07-2025
- General
- CBC
How accessible are the NCC's trails, really? Now there's an app for that
Social Sharing For people with disabilities, finding a trail that's sufficiently accessible can be a challenge. A new web application from the National Capital Commission (NCC) aims to change that. The idea was the brainchild of the Canadian Disabled Outdoor Society, co-founded by Chelsea Ogilvie and Brie Birdsell. They approached the NCC and then partnered with the agency to develop the Inclusive Trails app. In developing the app, Ogilvie said they wanted to see the reality on the ground for themselves. "We actually went out and did some ground-truthing," she explained, referring to the process of verifying information in person. "We went with mobility devices ... to see how easily we could access those trails." We're trying to get rid of that guesswork and just make it so that folks can confidently go out and know exactly what they're getting into. The Inclusive Trails app tells people how steep and wide a trail is, or if there are any surface hazards such as steps or tree roots that might pose a problem. "It'll tell you the grade, and so you can decide for yourself is this is a manageable slope for you," said Ogilvie, who uses a wheelchair. "We really want to increase the amount of information that's available so folks with disabilities can confidently plan their outings." The app also describes what services are available at the trailhead, such as accessible toilets and parking, as well as any other points of interest such as benches, picnic tables and boardwalks. Ogilvie said she has experienced first-hand the disappointment of arriving at a trail only to find barriers. "That's really what fuelled this project with the NCC," she said. "There are so many times I looked on a … website that said a trail was mostly flat, or even trails that were marked as wheelchair-friendly. I would get there and there would be a six-inch bump up onto a boardwalk, or a bunch of roots and rocks right off the start." WATCH | How the app works: Here's how to use the new NCC tool for accessible hiking trails 4 minutes ago The Inclusive Trails app tells people how steep and wide a trail is, or if there are any surface hazards such as steps or tree roots that might pose a problem. Impediments can be a 'deal-breaker' Those are the kinds of unexpected impediments that can ruin an outing, Oglivie said. "That can be a complete deal-breaker for me," she said. "We're trying to get rid of that guesswork and just make it so that folks can confidently go out and know exactly what they're getting into." The trails chosen for the first iteration of the app are considered low-barrier, Ogilvie said. "Because for a lot of people with disabilities, that's enough. Depending on their equipment, their support, their fitness level, their strength, they can access a whole lot of terrain that falls outside of that universal accessibility." Sometimes, those barriers aren't so obvious. For example, Ogilvie points out that some inclines are barely noticeable on foot. "But if you're trying to move yourself with your arms in a wheelchair, or if you have a walker or balance issues, you're very attuned to even the slightest inclines," she said. The app also provides photographs and 360-degree videos of the trails "so you can really explore that obstacle from every direction and decide if it's something you can and want to tackle," said Ogilvie. Six trails totalling 12 kilometres have been mapped using the new app, including paths in Gatineau Park and Ottawa's Greenbelt. More will be added. For Ogilvie, it's about inclusivity as much as it is about accessibility.
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
March ice storm cleanup continues across Simcoe County trails
Many trails across Simcoe County remain closed on Wed. July 9, 2025, following a destructive ice storm in March. Downed trees and branches and weakened tree tops along the Mid/Pen Link trail that connects Midland and Penetanguishene have been an issue for trail users since the March ice storm. Volunteers have been out clearing and removing what they can in recent months. The cleanup will continue on Thursday thanks to volunteers with the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association. 'We are still working hard at clearing the debris that fell on the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, which is 500 kilometres, and which was effected in it's entirety pretty well,' said Frieda Baldwin, with the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association. Simcoe County trails closed Many trails across Simcoe County remain closed on Wed. July 9, 2025, following a destructive ice storm in March. (CTV News/Rob Cooper) 'There's still a lot of dead fallen trees and branches and debris on the trails. We've cleaned up most of our section but we have a little bit left to do and I'm hoping we can get it done tomorrow,' said trail director Larry Piitz. It's a similar scene right across the county. The Simcoe County foresters say there are still some areas in the county that need massive clearing. The foresters say people may notice some significant differences next time they're out on a trail. 'Recognizing the changes that have happened in some of the natural stands, as well with the amount of broken tops and limbs and the amount of light coming in, so there's been a quit an impact across the board,' explained Graeme Davis, a long-time professional forester. Simcoe County trails closed Many trails across Simcoe County remain closed on Wed. July 9, 2025, following a destructive ice storm in March. (CTV News/Rob Cooper) The group Living Green Barrie is a registered environmental charity that helps people make responsible environmental choices. It's executive director says they are hoping homeowners who have lost trees seriously consider replanting. 'The trees that were a safety hazard or a perceived safety hazard that were cut down and taken out completely I would suggest every single one of those trees, plus three, should be planted in it's place,' said Andee Pelan with Living Green Barrie. Anyone using County trails is reminded to extra careful of what could be dangerous tree tops, and residents are encouraged to stay off closed trails until they are safely reopened.
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Health
- New York Times
6 Outdoor Workouts to Try This Summer
The sun is shining, the pickleball courts are full and you can't find a parking space at your favorite trailhead. It must be summer. Here at the Well desk, we believe that the best time to exercise outside is from early January to late December. But on these perfect summer days, it's especially hard to resist a jog through the woods or a bike ride around the neighborhood. For anyone looking wistfully out the window at a cloudless summer day, here are a few of our favorite ways to work out in the great outdoors. Walking outside is an enjoyable, accessible way to get some exercise in while experiencing nature. But heading away from civilization can be intimidating. Here we lay out a few of the fundamentals, so you can go hiking with confidence. Grab a rain jacket, pick a good route and venture out. For more of an upper body workout, grab a pair of trekking poles. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
