Oh, winter. The season of short days, cold temperatures, and slick conditions. Though winter may be dreary, it’s also enchanting. Winter offers unique outdoor recreation opportunities that allow you to stay active, connect with others, and enjoy the beauty of the season.
The winter months can be daunting for those with vision loss, myself included. Navigating slippery sidewalks, over unplowed curb cuts, and through frozen slush in the cold is really, not appealing. The blinding glare of snow, not pleasant.
Also, let’s not forget the challenges of traveling with vision loss in less daylight.
I resented winter for these reasons. Over the last few years though, I’ve learned to appreciate and adapt to this time of year. I’ve also learned of adaptive winter recreation and the community of winter enthusiasts who are blind or visually impaired.
If you’re interested in getting outdoors this winter, here’s a few tips on starting out.
Finding the Community
Trying a new outdoor activity can be intimidating, especially by yourself. Facebook is a fantastic platform for connecting with people who share your interests. For every activity I mention in this post, there is most likely a Facebook group associated with it. Local Facebook groups offer an array of information, from firsthand experiences to upcoming events and opportunities.
Whether you have to travel a few miles or a few hours to get to adequate snow, transportation is one of the biggest hurdles to pursuing winter recreation. Several of the activities I mention require at least six inches of snow. Getting connected with others through Facebook groups creates many possibilities, including finding a ride and good company.
Getting the Gear
Many winter activities require specialized gear which doesn’t come cheap. Before purchasing gear it’s important that you find what works best for you – whether it’s the activity or type of gear. Facebook groups are a great resource to turn to for questions and recommendations. You can also visit local outdoor gear stores and try on different equipment to see what fits right.
Some cities have rental services for snowshoes and skis that you can try out. College campuses and local nature organizations may provide these rental services, free or with a small fee. Nature centers or other nature-based organizations may also hold seasonal events where you can try snowshoeing or skiing
Gear also includes eye protection! Being out in the snow all day, especially on sunny days can really be painful. It’s wise to consider eye protection when spending extended periods of time out in the snow.
And one last tip: Wear warm layers and avoid cotton. Snowpants are great. Baselayers are great. You may be bulky, but you’ll stay warm!
The Importance of Trust
Depending on your vision loss, you may or may not be able to do some of these activities independently. There may be a time however, when you can no longer do these activities independently and must rely on a guide. Whether you’re with a friend or a trained guide, it’s incredibly important to communicate your goals, needs, and feelings.
And yes, sometimes you just need to find the right friend or trained guide who collaborates best with you.
You also must trust yourself. Your body, senses, and knowledge. Trust in yourself and in others takes time and work, but it results in beautiful relationships and experiences.
Get Back Up!
Falling is bound to happen, no matter what skill level. Starting out, you may be more prone to falling and that’s okay! It’s all part of learning a new recreational activity, especially one that involves slick, snowy surfaces.
Alright, let’s get to the activities.
Winter Walks
Going for a stroll during the snowy months Is the most affordable and accessible winter recreation activity there is. All you need is warm, winter apparel and a mobility aid, if you use one. The best places to walk in the winter with vision loss are city parks, in my personal experience. Typically, paths in city parks are paved and plowed. Neighborhood bike paths may be plowed as well. If you’re wondering about trail conditions, call your local parks and recreation department or visit their website/Facebook page for trail information.
There’s often a possibility of slipping on ice or a heightened chance of falling when walking in winter. Thankfully, there’s helpful tools to reduce your chances of getting hurt. A white cane can help you detect slick ice ahead and routes around it. Hiking poles may also come in handy for keeping your balance on snowy trails your white cane might not be able to manage. Traction also helps with reducing your risk of falling. Consider investing in YakTrax, which attach to the bottoms of your boots and provide more traction while walking on slippery surfaces.
I’ve grown to enjoy walking in winter over any other season – yes, even summer. Why? Well, I can see the trail a whole lot better! Paved trails contrast so well with snow. Even on unpaved trails through the woods, I’m able to see the path through the trees – something I’m not able to see as well during the warmer months.
That’s one big advantage to snow, the contrast it provides! If you prefer high contrast, consider walking in the snow or checking out one of the other winter recreation activities.
Birding
Even though many birds have flown south for the winter, there’s still plenty that stick around! Chickadees, jays, and woodpeckers are a few of our feathered friends who stay throughout the winter. The winter is a wonderful time to start practicing your birding skills. Birding by ear takes a lot of practice, but it’s such a rewarding hobby.
Because there are less birds in the winter, it’s easier to get familiar with a few species. Another perk to winter birding is less sound pollutiom from air conditioners and lawn mowers, which often drown out bird calls in urban settings.
If you’re interested in birding, there’s a plethora of online resources and mobile apps to help you start learning bird calls.
I love the Audubon Bird Guide App for learning new bird calls.
eBird is also a great resource because you can track which birds have been spotted in your county and start learning what they sound like. eBird has a website as well as a mobile app. I’ve linked their Hotspots below, where you can search your state and county to see recent bird sightings.
Cross-Country Skiing
Zooming through a snowy forest on cross-country skis is a feeling like no other. It’s tiring, yet tranquil as you move yourself down the trail.
With skis strapped and ski poles in hand, a cross-country skier moves along grooves carved out in the snow. No mountains are required for cross-country skiing, just your own movement. The terrain can vary from being flat to gently sloping.
The grooves of cross-country ski trails make this sport quite accessible to those with vision loss. You can feel the difference of when you’re in the grooves compared to not in them.
I cross-country skied for the first time when I interned at a school forest and fell in love with it! Since then, I haven’t had the chance to cross-country ski. I’m hoping to soon by getting involved with Ski for Light!
Ski for Light is an incredible organization making cross-country skiing more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. Every year they host a week-long event that pairs blind skiers and sighted ski guides. This event is hosted in a different location every year. There are also regional chapters of Ski for Light that host their own events and trainings. Check out their website linked below.
Downhill Skiing
Downhill skiing is fast-paced, and one of the only opportunities people with vision loss have full control of their body at speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour. A sighted ski guide will either ski in front or behind a blind skier and announce directions and upcoming obstacles. Guides may also wear beepers or communicate through bluetooth audio devices. It really depends on what works best for the blind skier.
This sport takes a lot of time to get comfortable with. It takes time to learn how to ski, find trust in a guide, and adapt to new slopes and ski conditions.
There are several organizations around the country that offer guided skiing for people with low vision, from Vermont to Colorado. Ski areas may also provide guides with experience leading blind skiers depending on the popularity of the winter sport in the local community.
The American Blind Skiers Foundation is a great resource to learn more about this recreational activity.
I’ve linked two videos of blind skiers. Both use different techniques to ski but have the same love for the activity. After watching these videos, I’d sure love to give downhill skiing a try!
- Blind Skier’s Edge – YouTube (Erik Weihenmayer)
- Downhill Skiing… Blind – YouTube (Unsightly Opinions)
Snowshoeing
Another way to enjoy the beauty of winter is by strapping on some snowshoes! I’ve personally only snowshoed a few times, but wouldn’t be opposed to trying it again.
Snowshoes are designed to keep you above the snow. A benefit to this is that you stay well above rocks, roots, and other tripping hazards you may stumble over in the warmer months. A new tripping hazard, however, is your mew kicks. They take a bit of getting used to, as you must take wider and larger steps to avoid tripping on your snowshoes.
I’d recommend snowshoeing with hiking poles and a friend who can let you know of any obstacles, as using a white cane or a guide dog with snowshoes seems a bit difficult.
I’ve linked a video below of Grant Hardy, who has vision loss, and his first time snowshoeing.
- Blind Snowshoeing – YouTube (Accessible Media Inc.)
I’ve only mentioned a handful of potential activities here, there’s still many more to consider, from ice skating to ice fishing! I encourage you to try out a winter sport that interests you and see what works best for you to fully enjoy that activity. Different adaptations work for different people. Get creative!
Do you participate in any winter recreation activities? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments, from ways you adapt to why you love that activity!
This winter I hope you consider venturing outdoors to take part in the seasonal activities. May you find wonder this winter and learn something new about yourself and the great outdoors.
Photo Descriptions
Featured Image: An image of snow-covered branches. White text says Staying Active in WInter with Vision Loss: 5 Winter Recreation Activities in handwritten font. The text is in a gray rectangle with a light blue border in the top middle of the image.
Photo 1: A paved trail weaves through snowy trees.
Photo 2: Shannon smiles as she as she cross-country skis. She holds a ski pole in each hand.