Winter Wonders

Now living in Wisconsin I have a bit of a bias towards winter, the deep snows and cold temps energize me and remind me that there is a whole winter world out there to be explored, most people I find forget this. So here's your reminder, winter is great and has just as many activities to do as the warmer seasons. Here's a couple activities to consider as winter approaches in the northern hemisphere...


Snowboarding / Skiing
Grabbing your feet sled(s), a backpack filled with snacks (and beers in my case), and a couple friends to go hit the hills and search for that powder to ride can be one of the greatest times of your winter even if you have no idea how to ride, carve, or plain stop! If you haven't gone before save up a bit and rent a set of skis or a board at the hill, come prepared with good warm clothing (no cotton) and a good attitude. Take it easy at first and warm-up on the bunny hills, ask the kids how to ride, they LOVE having a "big kid" ride with them on their level. Even if you biff it and take a digger the laughter of your friends will get you back up with a smile ready to hit it again. If you can bring a camera and catch these candid moments all the better, by the last run everyone will want to sit around the fire with some cider (harder the better!) and good food and review the antics of the day. If you're a bit more advanced I suggest taking the time to roadtrip out to a backcountry hill and making the most of the fresh powder. Rip the hill like it's your own and revel in the fact that nobody else can claim this powder this day! When I go backcountry I usually like to rent a cabin somewhere to head back to after a long day out, if you can't rent do some car camping or get a nice big group tent and campout with your friends; the comradeship you'll find is unlike anything else.

Tubing/Sledding
Classic example of finding your inner child and letting it out! Go to your local hardwear store or wal-mart and grab a couple $5.00 sleds, call all your friends and go to the local sledding hill. You don't have to stay long but you won't need to, the feeling of being 7 years old again will set in by the time you reach the bottom of the hill on your first run. If you would rather have a lighter faster ride go to a ski hill and go tubing. Much less impact on your person... specifically your south end. You can double up, go solo, or hang at the top while you watch your friends ride comfortably downhill and scream like they just saw a spider all the same! Make sure to have some after-tube snacks and drinks to spark a conversation and regail each other with stories of old and tales of long past days when we were all young ;) Make it just a little better by adding fire!

Camping
Whether your car-camping, backpacking, XC skiing on your trip always be prepared (as usual the boyscouts got this one nailed). Make sure to have a good meal system to keep your energy up; it should consist of 50% carbs, 25% protein, and 25% miscellaneous other fats/vitamins/minerals. The carbs will keep you going throughout the day and greatly increase your chances of staying warmer longer, the protein will keep your mind working and give your body something to burn other than muscle and fat tissues, and the other bits will round out your diet. This is to maximize your efficiency and maintain a good core homeostasis in conditions that we were never meant for. If you're car camping I suggest finding a campground that is well maintained and has some sort of running water (and bathrooms if you're lucky), get a site with electricity if you can and bring an extra heater to warm up your hands quickly (instead of running down your car). If you're backpacking make sure you stay dry and bring an extra set of quick dry clothes (just in case you find yourself looking like a snowbeast). If you're XC'ing it up get a sled to pull behind you, there are plenty of designs online if you'd rather make on yourself instead of buying one (much cheaper). I prefer the sled to a backpack on skis due to the balance issues and uncertain terrain. Any way you decide to camp make sure to bring that camera and document your shenanigans!

Hiking/Snowshoeing/XC Skiing

This is my all-time favorite category of winter activities, the kind anyone can do. Grab your warm booties and snowpants and run amok in the fields and forests of your local park like an antelope on the Serengeti! Explore a new area every time or take the old faithful trail out to your favorite lookout for your moment of Zen. Solo, group, or with your furry friends these activities give you the opportunity to explore the way the great explorers before us did. Make sure to bring along a hefty day pack with an extra everything (almost), if you're going with friends consider packing a "picnic" lunch complete with blanket (or tarp in this case) and sit around a small fire munching and conversing. Remember to keep your body as snow-free and dry as possible, this will prolong your trip if you keep on brushing yourself off. Remember to watch the terrain because obstacles and hidden trenches can be below any snowpack and you'll never see the coming until you're upon it. Also remember that anytime you see sun in the sky it's doing some melting to that snow you're on which makes it easier to soak up that moisture! As always go prepared and plan for an all-out adventure, even if you don't have one it'll still feel awesome knowing you came prepared.

Ice Fishing/Hunting/Wildlife Watching
In Wisconsin we have a hefty tradition of getting some shacks out on a lake and trying to catch a fish before we freeze to death or drink too much and fall into the hole... and it's awesome. As with anything outdoorsy if you come prepared and have the right gear you'll have a great time. Even if all else fails and the fish don't bit you can bust out your ice skates and play some hockey on the frozen lake... or jump in your car and do some donuts :) Similar story for hunting, we have a proud tradition of hunting here in Wisconsin, hunting weekend is sacred not only to our manly men but to the ladies as well. Every year during deer season one Packer football game is always taking place and tradition prevails by all the wives, daughters, and girlfriends heading to Lambeau Field for the ladies game wearing pink all the way! If you do hunt make sure to check your firearms, play it safe, and let it be known where you are at all times. I ALWAYS suggest anyone enjoying the land during the season wear bright orange and make themselves known every so often. Be safe, who know, Chenney may still be on the loose... If you're not the killer-at-heart bring a camera and identification book for your region and see just how many different species of plant/animal you can spot. Everyone thinks the land and animals disappear in winter, but this is far from true, there's plenty out and about to see!

Snowball Fights/Snow Angels/Forts
Ok so I know this seems childish but seriously it's one of the greatest memories I have of being a child... spending the day with a group of friends and siblings building forts and preparing ammunition for an epic snowball fight... Even with adults I find that if you can get one to get into it you'll get others, it's somehow a strange need to pelt each other with frozen water and claim victory (no matter how small it is). Now be fair and make sure you aren't throwing ice-balls... I can tell you the fun stops the moment someone gets a black eye or cut, lets keep it fair yall. When you're all finished and tired as a dog, plop down in a bank and make a snow angel, or if you have the energy a snowman is awesome! Maybe accessorize it with twigs/leaves/pinecones or whatever else you may find. Have a competition to see who can make the best snow angel/man, winner gets a toast and first sip of that cider of cocoa...mmmmmmmmmmm....

Polar Bear/Winter Festivals/Odds n' Ends
In Port Washington Wisconsin on new years there is a gathering of the crazies on the shoreline all in speedos and suits ready to take an icy plunge into the frozen Lake Michigan. I've been to this event a lot in the last ten years and I can say it's one of the (coldest) best swims I've ever had... even though it lasts about 10 seconds :) It's great taking the dip and then running back on shore for your drinks, towel, and fire you have going to warm up and say you did it! Don't forget that there are plenty of festivals and local activities going on during winter, search online or your local paper for times, places, and events. My personal midwest favorite is the Michigan Ice Festival where you can scale 40 foot tall frozen waterfalls, learn about climbing, and meet some local and international legends. Keep an eye out for party buses or groups going to these events, sometimes you can hop a ride with them and have even more people to enjoy your winter with! Other odds n' ends include things like building snowmen, burying your best buddies car under 6 feet of snow, hiding in a snowbank until someone comes by just to jump out and scare them like a crazy yeti, using your porch as a refrigerator (very eco-friendly), tasting icicles, BBQing (I pretend it's summer sometimes), and good deeds like shoveling your neighbors walk or spreading salt where it's slippery. Remember the golden rule and be kind to others.

So you might ask what's on my plate for this winter... well... all the above! I revel in this season, people forget that there are 4 seasons of outdoor fun, not 3. So take advantage of it and have some fun while the fluffy white stuff is still around, you might even surprise yourself and have a most memorable time! Keep your eyes peeled on my facebook page (EcoHiker Adventures) for winter activities and outings, we'll get out even if we have to fight mother nature for the opportunity! Stay warm, GTFO (Get the FUN Outdoors), and happy holidays!

~EcoHiker

*pictures are not to represent a political message, the crazy (awesome) UP'ers did the deer one!*

Door County Camping 2011

Halloween weekend I got together a group of people to head up to Peninsula State Park to camp out for a fall weekend. This is an annual event I hold with up to 60 guests everyone has someone to play with and something to do. This year the trip was just as grand as last years.

Friday I arrived in Fish Creek at about 5:00 pm, stopping at the ranger station to find out who was already there I got a warm welcome and was told they had already gone down to camp and were setting up. Pleasant surprise I thought, but the next day I had the ranger come around to tell me that 5 people had no park sticker or pass on their cars, weaksauce yall. Anyway Friday night was a nice warm fall night, good people sat around a huge fire ($50.00 of wood) sharing foods, spirits, and libations of all sorts. Though I have to say it was the coffee rum that did me in that night. We all turned in after a good buzz had settled in and the air started cooling, best to get some rest for the morrow!

Saturday started cloudy but gave way to sun and partly cloudy skies in the morning hours. I awoke to see half my camp awake and alive around the still smoldering fire huddling for warmth. So I started up the fire and got crackin' on breakfast, but much to my surprise one camper showed up with tons of bagels and cream cheese for the whole camp! So after that business was done many set off to hike, bike, and kayak while still others decided to hang at camp. I had to run into town to grab supplies (forgot my dog's food at home... oops), but when I got back (with another $50.00 in wood) most everyone had already started getting ready for family dinner night while others had gone zip-lining outside of town! It's like a potluck, everyone brings something to share, and boy did we have a great variety of chili's, curry's, hotdogs, chips, and the like! Again the specialty rum broke out and the mood started flowing into the glowing phase of campfire time. I had found that there was a lack of room around the large fire (and was craving some alone time) so I set off to make another... but where there's fire, there's man. Like a swarm of moths the campers came over to my new campfire and sat, drinking more and breaking into "guess that song" singing games! Crazy crazy evening, everyone was going strong!

Sunday morning was pack down and get out day, so I spent the morning getting everything and everyone set. A good portion of the group left while another portion decided to keep going on some day activities they had planned, so I did the campsite policing and called the ranger down to check it out. On the way out the lady at the desk of the ranger station stopped and told me all about how she had meet all my campers and all of the talked about what  blast they had! She asked if we would come back next year and do this, to which I obliged, and said she was super thrilled to see a group like mine coming and enjoying the park to it's fullest! How awesome, warm fuzzies for me!


That was 2011, better than 2010, could 2012 be even better?! You should come along and find out, get your stuff ready now cause next year will be amazing! Hope you can make it and I hope this gives you an idea of what a great time a group camp-out can be anytime of the year. Peace, love, and trailspace!

~M