Have you ever skipped a small stone across a newly frozen pond? It makes a funky pinging noise, doesn’t it? And that little stone goes on forever in its journey across the slippery surface.

It’s too early to take steps on that half-inch of ice, but it won’t be long until kids will be skating there. Your favorite inland water park will soon have a new face.

That the season is changing hasn’t escaped most of us, but when it comes to die-hard paddlers, the metamorphosis comes all too quickly. Maybe it’s just a refusal to let go of the idyllic days of summer and fall, and denial that that favorite paddling spot is no longer in service until next year.

Last Sunday wasn’t a bad day, was it? Temperatures had moderated a bit, say into the 40s, and the sun had made an appearance. Why not go for a paddle? It seemed like a good idea at the time Robert Causey called wondering if I felt up for a paddle.

He didn’t have to do much begging. We’d meet in half an hour at Pushaw Lake, Gould Landing. We’d use his canoe, which has been a fixture atop his little Honda for weeks now.

I scurried about to locate a pair of gasketed dry pants, a base layer, light fleece and paddling top, neoprene gloves, waterproof socks, a knit hat, neo booties and my life jacket. I was going to stay as dry as possible, even if I took an unexpected dunking.

Shortly after the appointed hour I pulled up to the landing to find Causey and Karen Francoeur already there, but not geared up, boats still on top of their cars. The cove looked a bit flat despite a light breeze. On second glance it was obvious the flatness was due to a new coating of ice, say a half-inch thick. We wouldn’t be doing any ice breaking to get out of the cove so another venue was in order. (After the mandatory stone skipping, of course.)

Why not the Stillwater River, Francoeur offered. It’s moving, not frozen, and it’s not all that far from where we were. So our little caravan headed east to the Steam Plant parking lot at the University of Maine, and while thousands watched the Black Bear hockey team wrestle with Vermont Sunday afternoon, our little armada headed upstream.

While the river moves through there, it isn’t treacherous. It’s rather lazy, actually, until you get upstream above the islands. Then it moves some. You can play the eddies and sneak up the shoreline until you get to the more rapid water. Then it’s a fun little run down the main current for a few hundred yards.

As we sneaked above one of the islands, we rousted a beautiful adult eagle. It flew a short way across the stream to the western shore, lit in a tree and stared back at us for a few minutes as we marveled at its beauty. Bored with us after a while, the majestic bird lazily launched itself downstream and disappeared. We followed at a much slower and way less graceful pace.

It won’t be long now before access to the freshwater shorelines will be off limits. Then any desire to paddle will have to be done on salt water. I’ll be the first to admit that that desire has not been a burning one. While I have a drysuit that is appropriate attire for cold-water excursions, I tend to think of more land-based activities for entertainment and exercise during the snowy season – like snowshoeing or cross country skiing, for example?

I imagine, though, that I’ll hit the water once or twice again before that time comes. There’s something magical about paddling in a snowstorm. If you haven’t done it, you should – at least once – as long as you’re dressed appropriately.

MOAC meeting set

The Maine Outdoor Adventure Club, Eastern Maine Chapter’s next monthly meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 18, at Epic Sports, 6 Central St., Bangor. On tap is a special presentation by Paul Markson, who will provide a hands-on ski waxing demonstration and tips for taking care of ski bases such as Nordic skis, Alpine skis or snowboards. Also there is a regular business meeting and update on local hikes and other upcoming trips. New members are welcome. For more information visit www.moac.org

MOAC activities take place statewide and members communicate via e-mail lists to announce volunteer-organized trips and also spontaneous outdoor adventures. MOAC activities include hiking, water sports, biking, skiing, snowshoeing and everything from extreme sports such as ice climbing to more gentle sports such as walking or birding.

Are you a Backcountry Gourmet?

Jetboil is hungry for new recipes. Get your creative juices flowing and share your best eats with the Jetboil community. They are looking for tasty ideas in five categories: breakfast, lunch/snack, dinner, dessert and beverage. A winner in each category will receive the Backcountry Gourmet Cooking Set!

Jetboil’s Backcountry Gourmet Cooking Set offers the tools you need to whip up a feast at your next campsite. The kit includes the Personal Cooking System, the FluxRing fry pan, pot support and stabilizer, and Jetset Utensils. Make risotto in the PCS, then pan fry trout, or wake up to coffee and pancakes.

Send your recipe idea to recipecontest@jetboil.com by Jan. 15, 2008.

Check out Jetboil’s Web site for full contest details at www.jetboil.com/OutThere/Recipe-Contest or Jetboil Inc., 540 North Commercial St., Manchester, NH 03101

Jeff Strout’s column on outdoor recreation is published each Saturday. He can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.