The four inches of fresh snow that fell a week ago is long gone.  The ski trails at the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area have bare patches where it is not icy.  The conditions for skiing are not good but they are ideal for the kicksled.

When I went to the trails yesterday, there was one other vehicle in the parking lot.  That is my favorite type of outing; when I'm alone in the woods.

I packed up my backpack and attached it to the handlebars on the sled and put the ice cleats on my boots.

The trails were perfect for the kicksled.  With the icy surface, I got more glide for the stride.  I moved forward further with each kick.  It was a fantastic day to be outside.  The sky was blue and the sun was shining.

Just before getting back to the parking lot, I met up with two ladies.  They were just heading out for a hike but they stopped for a chat.  Their first question was ' What is that thing?'  I get that a lot.  I got to show them how everything worked and they agreed that it was another fun activity to do in winter.  We finished our chat and both said they were going to watch as I headed back to the parking lot so they could see how the sled worked.  I was just hoping that I wouldn't wipe out!

Back in the parking lot, a couple of park staff were replenishing the firewood.  They watched as I removed my backpack, folded the sled down and stored it inside my vehicle.  I could tell that they too had never seen a kicksled before.

I wasn't ready to go home just yet so I drove to Elk Island National Park to check out the skating oval.  It had been cleaned off but was pretty rutted.  That didn't stop me from taking the sled onto the ice to give it a try.  I figured it would take even less effort to move forward on the ice than it did on the icy ski trails.

What fun it was!  It was safer to go out with the sled than with skates on.  I left the plastic runners on.  I had read that they should be removed to move across the ice but keeping them on worked great.  That could have been due to the rutted surface.  

The sun reflected off the smoother sections of ice.  I was the only person out on the lake.  The loop goes around Archer Island and back.  I could see a few dog-walkers stop to watch me glide along.

I love using the kicksled.  I can hold onto the handles and walk behind it, giving me some extra stability on the hard crusted, uphill surfaces.  I can kick and glide on the straight sections and ride on the runners where the trail goes downhill.  If there are no spots to sit to enjoy a view or take a rest break, there is a seat that travels with me.

I saw a newscast a couple of years ago about some family activities that the City of Edmonton was promoting.  During the report, a video of someone using a kicksled caught my eye.  That made me search the internet to try to find out more information on it.  When I found out that they were available locally, I had to have one.  There's been no turning back since then; just a lot of kicking and gliding.

The sled is great for all ages and abilities.  It provides another means of enjoying the winter season.  Some people harness their dogs to the sleds.  I don't have one and prefer to kick and glide by my own power.  

If anyone wants to try them out before making a purchase, they can be rented from the company that sells them in this area.  Check it out.  It's another fun way to spend a beautiful winter day!

http://www.kicksledalberta.com/