by Erick Wikum

I spent January and February in Northern Wisconsin and skied three cross-country marathons, including my 19th American Birkebeiner. The “Birkie” is a 50km (~30mi) point-to-point race that finishes on the main street of Hayward, Wisconsin. The finishing stretch is lined with hundreds of cowbell-ringing fans. There’s a particular point on the route that features a tight turn where snowmobilers gather to rate and provide good-natured jeering to skiers who fall. Tight turns are just one challenge of ski racing. Another is sharing the trail with thousands of other skiers.

Sharing the Little Miami Scenic Trail with others is far easier, but just as important. The trail is home to bicyclists, walkers, runners, roller skaters, roller skiers, horseback riders, and others. The benefits of using the trail in so many ways come with a responsibility to respect the rights of others and to act in a way that promotes the safety of our fellow trail users and ourselves.

To remind you of the importance of sharing the trail, I would like to share this video from a cross-country ski race, the 90km 2012 Swedish Vasaloppet. This video shows a particularly challenging, heavily trafficked downhill on the racecourse. The spills are a cross between painful and humorous. As you watch, be mindful of the importance of sharing our beautiful Little Miami Trail with others safely.

March 2023

by Erick Wikum

In writing, a comma is used to indicate a brief pause, providing the reader with a chance to catch their breath (as illustrated in this very sentence). By contrast, a period is used to indicate a longer pause, a chance for the reader to digest the meaning of the sentence just read. In fact, a period is also known as a full stop.

In the context of road crossings on the Little Miami Scenic Trail, a brief pause versus a full stop takes on a whole different meaning. Recently, I bicycled north on the trail. As I approached the road crossing at South Lebanon, I scanned the roadway and noticed a car approaching from the left. And then, I sensed something else. To my great surprise, a trail user riding an e-bike approached from my rear, veered around me without saying anything, and zoomed across the intersection at full speed.

Now that’s a recipe for disaster, but here’s a recipe, including four tips, for crossing roads safely:

1. Come to a full stop.
2. Check left, right, and left again.
3. Proceed only when it is completely safe to do so.
4. Remain vigilant while crossing expeditiously.

If a car stops for you, ensure that cars in both directions have stopped. You may wish to wave cars through, or to remain back from the intersection until you can cross with no cars present. Also, for your safety and theirs, overtake other trail users on the trail, and not while approaching or crossing a road.

Road crossing may just be the most dangerous aspect of trail use. The only way to cross is with extreme care. Full stop.

November 2022

by Erick Wikum

This picture shows four of my favorite clothing articles for enjoying the out-of-doors in winter weather. My most favorite is a bicycling jacket. This jacket not only protects me from the wind, but also, combined with base layers, keeps me warm on even very cold days. The zipper allows me to regulate my temperature; zipping or unzipping by an inch can make a big difference. With its glow-in-the-dark armbands, this jacket keeps me safe and warm day or night.

Two of my favorite clothing articles keep my head warm—a headband for warmer winter days and a balaclava for colder winter days. Both items are compact and can easily be carried in a pocket. Both are made of breathable fabric to prevent moisture buildup. Both can be combined with sport glasses for extra face protection. In fact, the headband has slots to hold glasses in place. The balaclava can be combined with a hat for extra warmth.

The fourth of my favorite clothing articles keep my hands warm. Lobster mitts provide added warmth by grouping pairs of fingers together, while still allowing for dexterity. These gloves feature windproof outer panels and long cuffs to cover wrists.

Dressing properly is just one of the things I consider when venturing out during the winter. These previous Safe Trails articles contain tips I follow as well:
Get Away From It All and Winter Wonderland: Enjoy safe winter outings
Stay On Two Feet: Avoid slips and falls
See And Be Seen: Be visible to others

January 2023