We’re brushing up on our scuttling technique that we learnt during a winter in Poland. It kept us upright on the icy pavements there, and so far it’s working here too. Just as well as having to walk everywhere – don’t fancy cycling.
Weight forward.
Short steps.
Sole down first, not heel.
Shuffle forward.
Repeat and scuttle.
You can really move quite quickly and confidently like this. Just watch how young children get around on the snow and ice and you’ll get the idea.
It goes without saying (I hope) to wear flat footwear with a reasonable tread, and that slopes are trickier. Walk sideways up and down these so if you slip you won’t fall back or forwards with a crash. And no hands in pockets – get some decent gloves! – otherwise you land on your elbow (ouch) or face.
If you’re still not confident, there are lots of grippy thingies to put over normal shoes, but we’ve never tried them. I wonder if they clog up with snow and then don’t work? And do they slip once you’re on paving slabs? I have got some heel crampons for my winter walking boots (for when full crampons are over the top) but find that I can never tighten the strap enough so at some stage they always dislodge. (I now wish I’d bought the instep style instead, but never seen these on sale since.) So I’m a bit doubtful about the usefulness of those overshoe grips that only fit with one strap over the toe or the heel. Guessing the instep style is the way to go, or the full shoe style.
