I love a good snow. The more we get, the merrier I am. Especially if I get to go outside and play in it. There’s a ton of stuff you can do in the snow. Ski, snowshoe, hitch up a sleigh, whatever. When it snows during hunting season, it makes it easier to track game, and sometimes makes better scent conditions for dogs. You might have to bundle up a little more and make sure your gaiters are tight around your ankles, but it’s more than worth it.
You don’t have to go hunting to enjoy it, though. You can rev up your snowmobile, if you have one. Blasting through the drifts for a couple of hours is a great way to spend a snowy day. If you want to move a little slower and possibly see some wildlife, strap on the cross-country skis or the snowshoes and make your way through the woods a little more quietly.
I have friends who snowmobile, and other friends who ski. I don’t have many friends who do both. It seems the cross-country skiers and snowshoers are a little more laid back, in general, while the snowmobilers and downhill skiers tend to be adrenaline junkies.
Unfortunately, the more extreme winter sports seem to require more money. Snowmobiles and lift tickets aren’t cheap, and neither is the fuel required to get to where you want to go. As long as you have all your equipment, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are fairly inexpensive, but if you do it right, there isn’t much blood-curdling, death-defying excitement.
That’s why I like sledding. You can do it on the cheap, the kids can come along, and you can still find yourself screaming like a little girl at any moment.
All you need is a sled, some warm clothes, a piece of slanted ground, and some snow. For added thrills, make sure the slope has some bumps, and that it’s liberally sprinkled with trees.
One way or another, get out and enjoy the snow this winter. It’s only here for a short time. You might as well use it.
