BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Winter is here, and it's a season that some people savor and others endure like a bad cold.
For most outdoors folks, we look forward to what winter offers. Skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers get a few months of snow sliding, gliding and powering themselves into a giddy white bliss.
Cold? What cold? They ask with a smile spreading from cheek to rosy cheek. They don't need an explanation why winter is fun.
If you don't do those sports, winter is still a fun time, it just takes a little more effort to enjoy it.
I grew up west of the Cascades where I had to drive to the snow, so it was an occasional novelty.
The first truly snowy winter I ever experienced was when I moved to McCall, Idaho. I remember it started snowing on Halloween, and we didn't see bare ground until spring.
I loved it, and still do.
Winter is different in Boise, Idaho, but since moving here 15 years ago, I've come to enjoy winter in ways I never expected.
Now one of my biggest challenges isn't finding something to do during winter, it's deciding what to do.
You can fish, both in streams and ice fishing on lakes and reservoirs when they freeze thick enough.
You can hunt ducks and upland birds, and even big game in some cases.
You can ride your bike.
You can take a hike on bare dirt in the valley, or hike with snowshoes in the mountains.
You can explore the desert on a dirt bike or ATV.
In fact, nearly anything you can do during other seasons you can do during winter.
Don't believe me? On New Year's Day there's a good chance you would have seen swimmers and water skiers at Lucky Peak.
That may be an extreme example, but it's true.
DRESSING UP
This may sound boring, but it all starts with your closet or dresser.
People who enjoy winter aren't necessarily tougher or more weather-tolerant than you are. At least, I know I'm not. I get cold like anyone else, and if I'm cold, I'm not having a good time.
But when I am wearing the right clothes, I'm not only having fun, I don't have the anxiety of being cold and miserable.
I will spare you the details about dressing properly, but there is a good story about it in our Winter Recreation Guide online at Idahostatesman.com/outdoors.
Here's the gist of it: You have to treat clothes like outdoor gear. You can't buy Nordic skis and think they're going to work on the slopes at Bogus, and it's the same with clothes.
Consider the weather and the activity when you're selecting clothes.
For example, Nordic skiers and snowmobilers do their sports in the same conditions, but you don't see Nordic skiers wearing bibs and parkas, and you don't see snowmobilers wearing Spiderman suits (and thank God for that).
You also have to pay close attention to current conditions because winter weather varies wildly.
A sunny, bright, windless day in the 20s can feel warmer than a wet, windy day in the 40s.
Heck, things can feel dramatically different between shady and sunny spots.
There I go over-explaining things. Here's what's important: If you're not into snow sports, you can still enjoy your favorites.
Here are some tips:
BIKING
For best results, get on trails early and roads later. Cold is your friend on the trails. It keeps them frozen, which not only protects them but makes traction more consistent.
Your effort is going to regulate your body temperature as much or more than the weather. Climb a steep hill and you're going to heat up no matter how cold it is.
Hills are your friends. You're riding at a slower pace, so there's less wind chill, and you're putting out lots of body heat. Don't get too sweaty or you're going to be cold when you head downhill and cool off.
Pay close attention to your head, hands and feet. They're most likely to get cold.
On the road (or Greenbelt) late morning to mid-afternoon is typically when it's warmest and least likely to be icy. Watch those shady spots where the low winter sun never reaches. They can remain slick.
Like trail riding, hills are your friends.
If you're riding on flat terrain, dress warm and pace yourself so you find the sweet spot where you're riding hard enough to stay warm while fending off the wind-chill.
FISHING
Pack on the layers when you're ice fishing and be prepared to peel them when you're hiking to your fishing spot or when the sun comes out. It's amazing how warm it can feel on the ice when it's sunny with no wind.
Since it's safest to bring your ice fishing gear on a sled (or ATV or snowmobile when ice is thick enough), bring a heater with you, even if it's just a small backpacking stove. You can warm your hands, and make yourself a hot drink to help you stay warm.
Bring lots of stuff to eat. It takes your mind off the cold and gives you extra energy to burn.
If I am fly fishing, I'm wading in frigid water, so a thin liner beneath a thicker pair of socks seems to work best.
Don't over-tighten your wading boots because it restricts circulation to your feet.
I wear lots of wool when I am fishing because I am bound to get damp. Carrying a spare pair of gloves is a lifesaver because one pair inevitably gets wet.
Don't plan on a long outing. An hour or two is about right. That's one reason I love the Boise River during winter. I can quit if I get cold and not feel like I just wasted half a tank of gas.
But don't overlook the South Fork of the Boise, Owyhee or Big Wood rivers, or Hagerman. All have good winter fishing.
HIKING
I enjoy snowshoeing, but I like hiking just as much during winter. If you're using Foothills trails, get on and off them when they're frozen, and avoid wet weather. It's bad for the trails and it makes you a muddy mess.
I enjoy taking off cross country during winter, such as out in the desert or other places where there aren't trails.
The tricky part is avoiding the areas where deer and elk are wintering, which encompasses a lot of the Foothills. Leave those animals alone.
But there are lots of places where my dog and I can roam in solitude, and a dusting of snow makes almost every place in Southwest Idaho look scenic and interesting.
It's a good time to get out and explore.
DRIVING
This is one of the easiest ways to get outdoors during winter. You can see some amazing scenery and wildlife from the comfort of your vehicle.
When planning a trip in tripcheck.com has a map showing updated road conditions.
Dress for the weather, even if you don't plan on going out in it, including boots. You don't have to wear them, but you should have them just in case.
Don't trust your GPS. It seems like every winter something tragic happens because a driver gets stuck on an unmaintained winter road because they were following a GPS route.
Stick with state highways and well-maintained back roads, and bring the basics you need for getting unstuck, such as a shovel, tow rope and cat litter (sprinkle it under your tires for extra traction.)
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