Snow gives outdoors fresh feel

Got Snow?

You bet! What a difference a week or so can make, huh? We went from brown to white in just a matter of days, and isn’t it a wonderland out there? What a difference a coat of white can make.

Best of all, it gives you the opportunity to change the way you get out and enjoy your favorite outdoor haunt. Everything has a new look, a freshness, a new feel. It’s like remodeling a room in your house. The place is the same, it just looks and feels different.

And that’s why it’s a good time to be revisiting your favorite outdoor spots – while the snow is new and clean, and the muffled stillness is a retreat from the clamor of everyday life. If you haven’t visited your favorite outdoor retreat in winter, you should make plans to do so, because until you do, you just haven’t lived.

Best of all it doesn’t take a lot of high-tech gear to make your life complete. Snowshoes or cross country skis will do the trick. If the snow isn’t deep, you can even get by with just your hiking boots and gaiters. I recommend taking your trekking poles or a pair of ski poles to help with your balance.

The name of the game is to get out and do it. The fresh air will do you good and the scenery will make you wonder why you didn’t do it earlier.

Having had a little time off from work has provided me several opportunities over the past week or so to revisit a couple of places and explore some new territory. I opted for snowshoes since I recently bought a used pair of Sherpas from a friend who moved to Ohio. He didn’t think he needed them out there.

They aren’t the latest or most high tech, just the basics, but they’re easy to strap on and I think they’re just about the right size (34 by 9 inches) for the current snow conditions and my weight. The next size up might be better for carrying a pack since it would put me well over 200 pounds.

I have another pair of snowshoes, Yubashoes, with a different binding system, one that limits the amount of toe rotation. The Sherpas are fully rotational. Aside from not being able to pick up the tail of the shoe, I think I like them better for soft snow. There is no way to get a snow shower from behind. And the fully rotational toe allows you to kick your boot toe into a snow bank or steep trail section.

The newer Yubas, however, have a much better crampons and are better on crust or ice. If you’re thinking of buying snowshoes, shoe size, shape, bindings and crampons are the most visible and variable features to check out. A good sales person should be able to point out the differences and there should be a manufacturer’s guide on sizing the shoe to your weight and snow conditions..

Not too long after the post-Christmas snowstorm had settled, my paddling mentor, Karen Francoeur, called to tell me she had to get a fix of salt air and was heading to Acadia National Park to do so. Would I like to tag along?

I figured the salt air would do me good as well, and the exercise might put a slight dent in the seasonal overindulgence. We settled on a time and headed out around midday. In the car we decided that the Quiet Side (the Southwest Harbor side) would be the answer, and we opted to try the St. Sauvier Mountain trail. From it we linked up with the Man O’ War service road and then hit Somes Sound via the Flying Mountain Trail that parallels the shore.

This junction is about one mile in from the trailhead. In the end we didn’t go all the way in to Valley Cove, but found a good vantage point to look out over the Sound about a half-mile from the trail junction. On our return we took a side trip down to the Sound at Man O’ War Brook that splashes in a waterfall over ice-encrusted ledges into the seawater below. It was a great spot to have a cup of cocoa, munch on a granola bar and watch a Coast Guard patrol boat make its way up and down the fjord.

At sunset we tromped our way back to the car. The round trip figured out to be a little more than 3 miles.

By the way, if you haven’t been to the park lately, there’s a new all-season restroom at the trailhead for Acadia and St. Sauvier Mountains. It’s not heated, but it’s clean and neat.

Last weekend, Dave and Deb Morrill invited our paddling clatch to their Orrington estate. They own 50 acres of woods and fields just prime for exploring. Dave took the opportunity to show me around on snowshoes, while Deb and Karen toured on skis.

In three hours we covered a good portion of the property’s perimeter, including a bushwhack up Bald Hill to look out over the Penobscot River. Deer and rabbit tracks laced the woods as we did some off-trail bushwhacking. That’s what I like about snowshoeing. You don’t have to have a trail. See someplace you want to explore? Head off and explore, just like you have tank tracks on your feet.

Afterward, we were treated to brunch and some entertainment from the Morrill’s two llamas, Frank and Ollie, who think they ought to be house pets. There’s something a bit intimidating about an animal that fills the doorway. Earlier we were treated to the antics of a few wild turkeys who stopped by for a scratch and snack. All in all, it was a great way to spend a Sunday. Thanks, Dave and Deb!

Here’s a reminder and challenge all at once. Want to help out the Ronald McDonald House and do something really zany at the same time? Washington County Technical College is gearing up for its third annual Polar Bear Dip on Jan. 24 at Gleason’s Cove in Perry, and organizers are looking for dippers and sponsors to raise money. Two years ago the school raised $1,500 when 33 folks braved frigid waters, and last year it was $6,000 when 72 brave souls took the plunge. This year the aim is to raise $10,000, a noble goal, to be sure. For $10,000, I’d even take the plunge. There’s your challenge. You get me 10 grand in pledges for the Ronald McDonald House and I’ll risk my life and take the plunge.

Tess Ftorek of student services at the school is one of the organizers. She assured me earlier this week that there is NO PRESSURE, and there are all sorts of safety precautions, including having the Coast Guard and an ambulance on hand, people in survival suits in the water, heated changing areas, blankets, a bonfire, warm drinks, hot dogs – a veritable beach party. All you need to do is show her the money and take the plunge.

If you’d like to talk with Ftorek and get the straight skinny from someone who’s made this dip twice, give her a call at WCTC. The number is 1-800-210-6932.

Should you need a little incentive, dippers who collect sponsor funds will get a heavy sweatshirt embroidered with the polar dip logo. If you happen to be in the area on the 24th, you could always drop by and have a good laugh.

Jeff Strout can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.