Chuck from Tyrol shared that his favorite winter activities include skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing and running outside if it's above 10 degrees. He advised, "Layer with smartwool next-to-skin, merino wool socks and a 3 in 1 jacket (a jacket with a windproof/waterproof shell and a removable insulated liner). Also, use insulated boots that are multi-functional."
Tanya from Tyrol mentioned that her most beloved winter activities include snowshoeing, hiking, going out with my dogs. As for her best winter advice, she shared, "Having a good base layer is important. I love my smartwool base layers and socks.I just make sure I have plenty of nice layers to throw on depending on the temp. Once you get out and start moving you will warm up."
Kristin Welch is mentioned in the actual column; she had some fantastic responses to my questions. She shared about her favorite winter sports, "I love downhill skiing because it's fun, you're outside, and mostly for its social component. There's nothing like spending the day on the slopes with friends or family. Everyone can ski (or snowboard!) at their own pace and ability on the way down. And then chat and share their experience riding back up together on the chairlift. For the colder days my "go to" items are mittens, smartwool ski socks, warm base layers, helmet, neck gaiter or buff for my face, and goggles. My other favorite winter sport is cross country skiing, for reasons different than downhill skiing. I love that it's a full body exercise, the beauty of the trails and the quietness. It can put you in a "zone", much like other endurance sports such as running. For the extreme cold temps snug fitting base layers are a must, and then a light midlayer if necessary. Also key is a wind resistant jacket and pants that have a breathable fabric in the back. That prevents you from overheating, sweating and then getting chilled. Once again light mittens, merino wool socks, a buff and a pair of shields for the face and eyes."
She added, "You don't have to do anything "extreme" to enjoy winter. With the right clothing, footwear and accessories (to keep hands and toes warm), winter can be enjoyed by just going out for a walk. It has such a unique beauty as compared to the other seasons. And when experienced thru all of your senses it reminds you that you're alive!"
Another awesome nugget of Kristin's wisdom, "My last words of advice to those who want to try a new winter sport like skiing, is to pick a relatively nice day. You may not be generating as much body heat the first few times you go out cross country skiing. As you get better, you're able to maintain a continuous motion, therefore staying warmer. A beginner downhill skier may spend more time getting familiar with the equipment and learning to get on and off the chairlift. If you go out on a little warmer day you'll have a more positive experience and want to go back. But going inside for hot chocolate breaks is good too. It's all a part of the sport!"
The team at Hormel Nature Center gave great advice, too! Naturalist Maria Anderson reflected on her favorite activities, "Cross country skiing has become my favorite winter activity since I’ve been working at the Nature Center. I’d had very little experience with it before that, but I had to get comfortable on skis really quickly in order to teach groups of kids! I learned to love it and bought my own skis after my first winter! I learned the 10 miles of trails here like the back of my hand, since I could cover more ground on skis, and I feel just as comfortable skiing after dark as I do in the daylight. I really enjoy working up speed on skis and then taking it easy and gliding. It’s excellent exercise—when I can ski, I’m in better shape during the winter than the summer! (I have been pushing myself to ride my bike through the winter this year too, especially since we haven’t had the snow to ski. I got studded tires and special gear for safety. But biking on snowy streets isn’t quite as fun as skiing.)
Her advice for how to deal with the cold, " If you live in Minnesota, winter is reality. Hating it doesn’t help us get through it. And I get it—I didn’t like winter until I learned to ski. Having a good (and good-for-you) reason to get out in the brisk fresh air wakes you up and makes you feel alive! You warm up quickly with just a little activity (I get sweaty even in light layers when I ski or ride my bike!), so just a walk in the fresh air will make you feel warmer than turning up the heat indoors, and you’ll come in feeling refreshed! And when you’re getting that fresh air and exercise, it’s easier to eat and sleep better, and you’ll feel healthier and happier overall!"
For ideas specific to the Nature Center in Austin, Anderson added...Here are some other ideas for making the most of the winter season at the Nature Center, even if we don’t have enough snow to ski or snowshoe:
- Gear up right and take a winter walk.
- Warm up by the fireplace.
- Browse our library in the Gordon Lonning Resource Room and learn something new about nature.
- Check out our two fox snakes with a hands-on experience at 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
- Test your knowledge of the exhibits with new building scavenger hunts for various ages.
- Come and meet our birds of prey—Guka, Sha, and Wiyaka.
As for advice about how to embrace winter, Bjorndal said, "In my opinion, the best way to learn to love the cold Minnesotan winter is to enjoy winter-specific activities that get your body moving. Even in single digit weather, one can warm up pretty quickly out on a brisk ski. You don’t have to ski to warm up either, even the walk up a steep sledding hill and lessen the cold. One also mustn’t forget to dress in layers – a lot of them. Perhaps my true favorite part of winter is donning my ‘space suit’ of clothing for subzero weather: wool cap, balaclava, ski goggles, neck gater, sweater, heavy winter coat, long johns, insulated jeans, snow pants, wool socks, and snow boots. Layers can always be shed they end up being too warm. With appropriate winterwear and a set of outdoor activities, you might catch yourself hoping for freezing temps and snowstorms. That’s when you’ll know that you’re a true MinneSNOWtan. Still not convinced of the pluses of frigid weather and heaps of snow? Just remember that hot chocolate and coffee objectively taste five times better if you can’t feel your toes."
Wisdom came in from friends via Facebook, too. I posted last week, "If your favorite season is winter, would you please leave a comment below and/or message me? I am doing a little research and need your assistance!" I was overwhelmed and inspired by all the great thoughts folks shared! A few people sent messages, too, with similarly inspiring sentiments.
Here are some of them...
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