Many years ago, I had a rule for outdoor activity: I would
not leave my home when the temperature was lower than my age. This served me
well for a while, but as middle age encroached, it became untenable. However, I
still stubbornly refused to set foot on a trail – or even a sidewalk – that was
covered in snow or ice. I could fall, hurt myself, be out of commission during
the months that were actually enjoyable. No, thank you. I’ll stay home by the
fire.
Then one day we were out for a drive and decided to stop for
a geocache. Though the temperature did not suit my criteria, I reluctantly got
out of the car and started down the trail until we came upon a patch of ice. As
usual, I stopped abruptly. But I wasn’t happy about it. I wanted what was on
the other side, dammit! That was when my husband (Mr. Alphadog) remembered the
ice cleats he’d bought years ago to use when shoveling snow. He suggested I
might want to try them, and I tentatively agreed that this might be a good
idea. Especially after he ended up getting the cache while I slunk back to wait
in the car.
That first pair of ice cleats was pretty clunky and
uncomfortable, but Mr. A began perusing the catalogs and soon discovered that
Eddie Bauer sold something called “Yaktrax” and he ordered us some. The rest,
as they say, is history. Today we are the proud owners of several pairs of
Yaktrax as well as Stabilicers (L.L. Bean’s entry into the category) and a
nasty pair of Kahtoola Micro Spikes that resemble tire chains and can double as
a lethal weapon should we encounter something sinister in the woods.
Strapping those little babies on my feet, I suddenly felt
like I could walk on anything without breaking my fool neck! Having this
mobility led me to my next quest: clothing that kept me from freezing my butt off.
And then suddenly I discovered a whole new world of winter-worthy brands and
fabrics: Polartec. Underarmour. Gore-Tex. It really was true that there was no
such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes! We added foot and hand
warmers to our arsenal, as well as Thermacare Heat Wraps for those especially
chilling days. And we discovered that turning our water bottles upside down
prevented them from freezing solid when the temperature dipped into the single
digits.
Even deep snow no longer stopped us. We bought snowshoes and
shovels, sought out rail trails and learned the many advantages of following in
someone else’s footsteps … literally … when caching after a snowstorm. Plus, there
weren’t any bugs. Sweat didn’t pour into our eyes. And even bushwhacking – that
most despised summertime pursuit – was easy and enjoyable.
But most of all, I learned to love the peace and serenity of
a winter hike. Being the first one on the trail after a snowfall. Feeling the
crisp cold air, hearing the crunch of snow underfoot and seeing evidence of the
wildlife trying to survive another New England winter. Not to mention gaining a
new appreciation for the “winter-friendly” attribute and accurate coordinates
whenever shovels were involved!
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| Photo by Joe Aveni |
So do I love winter now? Well, let’s just say we have
reached a state of détente. It will likely never be my favorite time of year. I
still mourn the early loss of light. I still count the days till the grass
turns green and the crocuses pop their heads out of the soil. And I inevitably
whine and complain when the first (and second and third) snowflake falls. But
once out the door and on the trail, my perspective changes, and I can honestly
say that I enjoy all four seasons again.
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| Photo by Joe Aveni |
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