Berks walkers hit the trail to beat the winter blues

A hush fell over the group walking through the woods near the Berks County Heritage Center Saturday morning as they came to a stop.

They cast their collective gaze upwards, looking intently about halfway up a tree. There nestled in a hole left by a broken branch, blending in almost perfectly with the brown bark, was their object of interest.

Some peered through binoculars. Others zoomed in with their cell phone cameras.

They remained quiet as they watched, making sure not to disturb the napping screech owl.

“I love being able to see something like this,” Paula Shivers of Wernersville said as strolled along. “I probably would have walked right past it if I were walking alone.”

The surprise sighting was just one of several highlights for the nearly 25 people who spent Saturday morning enjoying a leisurely walk on the gravel towpath between the Tulpehocken Creek and the former Union Canal. 

The hike was the latest Winter Wellness Walk organized by the Berks County Parks and Recreation Department. 

Lisa Gauker, recreation and special events supervisor for the department, said the monthly wellness walks are designed to get people outside and moving during the coldest season.

“It can be difficult to get motivated to get outside and stay in shape in the winter,” she said. “But being in nature, getting some exercise and meeting new people lead to overall better physical and mental health.”

Jennifer Heist of Womelsdorf and Mickey Korman of Shillington were among those who took part in the walk who said they were glad they decided to participate in the nearly three mile journey. It was the first guided walk along the trail for the two friends.

“I’m trying to start some new healthy habits this year,” Heist said. “It’s too easy to get stuck in a rut staying at home during the winter, but you realize that when you do get outside it brightens your mood for the rest of the day.”

“These walks are great for physical and mental health,” Korman added.

Edward Robinson of Stowe wasn’t a newcomer to the walk like Heist and Korman. He first joined one of the guided treks last winter, and has been taking part in them ever since.

Robinson started getting outside more during the pandemic in part to relieve stress, and said Saturday’s walk was his latest adventure.

“I think the pandemic shook us all up,” he said. “It really highlighted the need to connect with nature and with each other. And this group has grown quite a bit since my first walk last January and that has been something nice to see.”

Dave Miller of Reading also said he enjoys having the chance to connect with the great outdoors.

“The weather is great for February,” he said. “It’s great to get out into nature. I take a lot of walks alone but doing something like this gives you the camaraderie of doing it with other people.”

Lil Wolfgang of Wyomissing said she enjoyed the social aspect of the walk.

“I like walking with like-minded people,” she said. “It gets me off the couch. It’s good for the body and spirit to be outside and around people.”

The next Winter Wellness Walk will take place at 9 a.m. on March 2. The group will once again meet at the Berks County Heritage Center before heading out on the trail.