Just a couple more weeks until the winter solstice! On December 21st, the sun will be at its lowest in the sky and we’ll experience the longest night of the year and shortest amount of daylight. That also means that the days will start getting longer! Instead of hunkering down and hiding inside, this is a good time to get out of our comfort zone. Let’s get outside (take a headlamp if setting out in late afternoon!) and take advantage of one of the prettiest times of year. Below are six advantages to what can be the harshest season of the year and tips to not just survive a challenging winter, but to THRIVE.
1. Get out to places you couldn’t before
Domonick and I recently snowshoed the little-known Songbird Trail near our home in Au Train, MI. The trail meanders by Buck Bay Creek and passes a lovely-looking bog that can never clearly be seen in the summer. While snowshoeing past this bog, we were pleasantly surprised to see it had frozen over, making travel possible to its softwood-surrounded clearing! Winter also enables ice fishing enthusiasts to walk on water and snowmobilers to reach islands (e.g. Grand Island on Lake Superior’s South Shore) to view spectacular ice caves!
2. See the same places from a new perspective
Rivers, lakes, and waterfalls take on an entirely new look when covered in snow and partially/fully frozen. You may have visited a waterfall many times before, but get an entirely different view in a different season! This change always reminds me of the impermanence of our physical surroundings and I grow to appreciate the current state more and more.
Buck Bay Creek
3. It’s hard to get lost (and easier to find furry friends!)
As long as it’s not actively snowing or severely windy, you should always be able to find your way back to your starting point via your footprints. Something to keep in mind when travelling on a more remote trail is that you may lose the trail in the snow. Sometimes even blazes on trails can become covered with blown snow. While there are lots of mapping apps (we like OsmAnd) for smart devices, we always recommend taking a map and compass (and knowing how to use them) just in case.
It is also easier to see the comings and goings of mammals traversing the snow. I found footprints of either a wolf or a very large dog, with no human companion, on the Bay de Noc/Grand Island Trail last winter. We may not see rabbits, raccoons, and mice during the day, but they make their presence known when we come across their tracks in winter.
4. A lack of 6-legged creatures (i.e. no bugs)
July and August in the Upper Peninsula can get pretty buggy (that is why all of our guided overnight backpacking trips are scheduled for the beginning and end of summer – outside of the mosquito window!). Mosquitoes and black flies can put a damper on outdoor activities, especially if you’re not equipped with a head net and bug spray. This is not a problem once the snow hits the ground.
5. Explore winter recreation opportunities
While we’re partial to self-propelled recreation such as downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, ice skating, ice climbing, and sledding, you can explore your surroundings by motorized means too. Snowmobiling is very popular in the Upper Peninsula, and for good reason! With over 200 inches of snow per year, on average, there’s no shortage of white-covered trails.
Groomed cross country ski track at Valley Spur in Munising
6. Escape the noise
For me, being outside in the winter is always more quiet and peaceful. The birds have migrated and there’s no buzzing in the air (see #4 above). There is a sacred quality that comes with the stillness of a winter hike on a calm day. If you pause for a moment, you may hear the wind in the trees without any distractions of woodpeckers, red squirrels, or moving water. While all those sounds are music to my ears, there is something special about the silence that comes in winter. It is pure and calming.
In Conclusion
While below-freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and wind may make us want to hunker down on the couch, I truly believe you will never regret time spent outside. The days may seem shorter as we head into the solstice, but there are still 24 hours in a day that can be spent however you choose. Prepare yourself with the right clothing, outerwear, and footwear, add a little movement, and you’d be surprised at how comfortable you can become. Even if you don’t have access to nearby hiking trails, a walk around the block inhaling crisp and clean winter air may be all you need! Be safe out there and have fun!
Happy trails, ski paths, and sled hills,
Carolyn
