by Tim Jones
Let's see show of hands: how many of you think winter is the absolute coolest
(as in "best") time of the year for active outdoor sports here in the Northeast?
Hmmmm . . . Fewer of you than I thought. . . .
Okay, all the confirmed winter addicts can go outdoors and play, the rest of
you need a little enlightenment. If you aren't interested, feel free to head for
Florida anytime. I just don't want to hear any whining and complaining once it
gets cold and starts snowing (Soon, I hope . . .). That's when the fun starts.
First thing you need to know: Winter is wonderful! Cold weather makes life
better. Snow is an invitation to play!
If you like to hike in the summer, you'll love to snowshoe in
the winter. There's no learning curve, you just strap them on and go!
One more way to enjoy winter! Why skate around in circles when
you can go for miles? Nordic skating is like a combination of cross-country
skiing and ice skating.
There's so much to do in winter it just boggles the mind. Sure, it may take
you a little longer to get dressed and you may have to drive slower to get where
you're going. The daylight hours are definitely shorter, too, but those are the
only real drawbacks to winter.
Let's get a couple of other things straight:
- As much fun as they are, and as much joy as they can bring to winter,
lift-serviced skiing and snowboarding don't really count as Active Outdoor
sports. That's because the lifts do most of the work in getting you to the top
of the mountain. Lift-serviced skiing and riding is an adrenaline sport. It's
entertaining, but, unless you ski bumps or off piste, you don't get much of a
workout.
- Ditto for lift-serviced snow tubing, where the main muscles you exercise
are the ones you smile with.
- Snowmobiling is even worse: it's about as active as sitting on a couch
watching TV -- the only part of your body that gets any exercise is your right
thumb.
Instead, choose a non-motorized winter sport that will get your heart rate up
a little or a lot depending on how you approach it. For example, instead of
riding a lift, you can climb the hill yourself with skis or your sled in tow.
What once was a marginally active pastime suddenly becomes healthy exercise
That doesn't mean you have to be a super-fit superhero to get out and enjoy
winter. You can make it as easy as a stroll on a city sidewalk. Or, you can turn
any of them into extreme fitness sports if that's what you want to do. You start
at whatever level you are now and gradually improve from there.
What do you do in the spring, summer and fall for fun? Except for some water
sports such as swimming, canoeing and kayaking, most summer sports have a direct
winter equivalent. Actually, last winter, the whitewater kayakers and rafters
took advantage of the rainstorms and played throughout the winter.
If you like to hike, for example, snowshoeing is a natural transition to
loving winter. Snowshoeing has no real learning curve - just strap 'em on and
start walking. The only thing you have to remember is that it's hard to back up
with snowshoes on . . .
Last winter you didn't even need the snowshoes. A good pair of boots with
traction creepers were more than adequate for hiking most of the time. And let
us fervently hope that we never see another winter like it!
The point is to find something - or, better yet, several somethings - that
you like to do, that make you look forward to winter. Anything that gets you
dressed and out the door where you'll get some fresh air, sunlight and a little
exercise will fill the bill nicely.
Life isn't a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!
An Active Outdoors Winter To-Do List
Just pick and choose from the following ideas and you can almost guarantee
you'll learn to love winter
Snowshoeing: If you don't already own snowshoes, or can't borrow them from
someone who does, rent them at any ski area or from most outdoors shops. Mark
your calendar for Winter Trails Day ( www.wintertrails.org ) on January 6, 2007.
The website will soon list dozens of events where you can try snowshoes for free
Nordic Skiing. Most people start cross-country skiing by just jumping on a
pair of. But you are far better off to take a lesson your first time out. And
this is just as true if you've always skied on "classic" skis and want to try
the new skating technique. Go to www.xcski.org/ccsaa-directory
to find lists.
Skijoring is cross-country skiing as an adrenaline sport. It may be the best
winter sport of all for dog lovers. Jim Blair at Eden Mountain (802-635-9070;
www.edenmountainlodge.com ) in Eden Vermont gives lessons with his champion
dogs.
Backcountry skiing. If you want to leave the lifts behind, you have to learn
to ski first, so start with lessons at any resort. If you want to learn to
Telemark, an elegant blend of Alpine and Nordic that's ideal backcountry
exploring, check out these resources: New England Telemark,
www.netelemark.com,
(their motto is "Raising Heel"), and North American Telemark
Organization ( www.telemarknato.com ,
www.Telemarkeast.com and
www.telemarkdown.com ).
Nordic Skating Think of it as cross country skiing on ice. Instead of skating
in circles, you skate around and across large lakes. Great fun, great workout.
For ideas, gear and lessons, visit www.nordicskater.com.
Sledding it's not just little red plastic sleds any more. Clearwater Sports
(802-496-2708; www.clearwatersports.com ) in Waitsfield, Vermont, Vermont offers
a super introduction sledding on the cutting edge
Then there's ice climbing, winter mountaineering winter camping, winter
surfing, ice fishing . . . and all the combinations thereof.
So much to do in winter and all of it fun!
Tim Jones is founder and executive editor of EasternSlopes.com. He writes about outdoor sports and travel.
You can reach him at timjones@easternslopes.com
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