“Dead of winter” is becoming “dread of winter” as Butler County is visited by heavy snowfalls and plunging temperatures again and again and again.

The succession of days filled with gray skies and white-knuckled commutes on ice-slick highways can wreak havoc on one's mental and physical health, according to local authorities.

The cold tends to keep people indoors and on the couch and that's the worst place for them, said Sandy Ihlenfeld, senior physical director at the Butler County Family YMCA.

Ihlenfeld said this time of year is especially dangerous to new exercisers as New Year's resolutions fade and spring remains far off.

“For most of our new exercisers, they stop exercising within six months,” Ihlenfeld said.

“It's not a habit, and it doesn't take very much to get them out of exercising,” Ihlenfeld said. “The two biggest constraints are time and convenience.”

With the snow and cold making every task take longer, Ihlenfeld said, the instinct is “to stay in one place and curl up under a blanket.”

But, she said, getting up and moving is the key to feeling better.

'Remember to keep it simple. 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a week can be chopped up anyway somebody wants,” Ihlenfeld said.

“You could walk up and down the stairs 20 times, twice a day,” she said. “Or walk through the house at a fast pace.”

“You just need to get on it,” she said. “Increased blood flow makes you feel good. It boosts your self-esteem and concentration, separate from the calories burned.”

“There are a lot of exercises. You have to have the faith to step out there and do them,” she said.

Besides avoiding immobility, Ihlenfeld said it is important to avoid comfort foods: cookies, chips, any processed food high in sugar.

“The bottom line is really to keep moving. Cardiovascular exercise is going to decrease depression and increase sleep. The American College of Sports Medicine calls exercise medicine,” she said.

A good opportunity to get moving might be the upcoming annual Cherry Pie Hike Feb. 22.

Put on by the Butler chapter of the North Country Trail Association, along with the History Department of Slippery Rock University and North Country Brewery, the hike leaves from the Jennings Environmental Education Center in Brady Township and is in honor of our first president, said John Stehle, president of the Butler chapter of the trail association.

“It's kind of an homage to George Washington, who walked through this area in 1753,” said Stehle. “And, of course, there's the whole chopping down the cherry tree of lore.”

There will be three start times at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. with two hikes, a 2-hour trip along the North Country Trial led by members of the association and the Butler Outdoor Club, and a shorter hike on one of Jennings' trails.

The curators of the Old Stone House, from the history department of Slippery Rock University, will present a program on the frontier history of the area before each of the hikes.

If hiking doesn't appeal, you could move to the nearest library, suggested Erin Wincek, director at South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St., Saxonburg.

“We have book clubs, a mahjong group that meets on Tuesdays and will always teach new people,” said Wincek. “It is a great way to get out of the house.”

“We have children's programming in the mornings that is packed,” Wincek said. “People are desperate to get out of the house with their children.”

“We do our best to make the place inviting for people to come to and spend time,” said Wincek. “They can read a book or use the Internet. They can do their taxes online here.”

<B>WHAT: </B>Annual Cherry Pie Hike<B>WHEN: </B>9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. Feb. 22, two hikes of different lengths<B>WHERE: </B>Jennings Environmental Center, 2951 Prospect Road, Slippery Rock<B>INFO: </B>Contact John Stehle via e-mail at stehles@gmail.com or call 724-256-0674 to reserve a spot. Please indicate which program (9 a.m, 11 a.m., or 1 p.m.) you would like to attend.