Cover photo courtesy of Shallan Knowles
I’m just going to say it: winter sucks if you’re not into snowsports. I can only wax poetical for a short time on the watercolor-like afternoons that follow fresh snow before I’m pining for spring trails and garden boxes. I’ve spent whole winters trying to be patient; this winter I’m trying skiing.
Finding a hack for joy during winter is essential in our region. Last winter, for me, it was bread. And I know I’m late to that party. To get through last January, I asked two of my friends to put me through sourdough bootcamp. We spent a foggy morning discussing water and flour ratios, the magic of proofing, and how to shape a loaf of bread. It sent me down a rabbit hole (what else was a trail runner to do who didn’t ski?) and I studied the fundamentals of bread, baking two loaves a week just to nail the basics. My brain was on fire. It felt so good to learn something new in the dead of winter that it seemed like cheating the hardest season I knew.
So. The skiing. My winter hack with bread felt so good that I threw myself into ski lessons this past December. This felt equivalent to what I’ve seen of my toddler learning to walk. But, with great instruction from 49 Degrees North, I made progress. After each lesson, I buzzed from the input, trying to memorize the way my legs and feet moved in skis to make a parallel turn as I drove away from the mountain. I don’t know if the love of the sport has taken hold yet, but it’s brought that same thrill of learning that helped me survive last winter.
Learning new things goes hand in hand with capacity. And there will be an ebb and flow to that capacity. Some winter days, I still hibernate indoors, trying to ignore that it’s dark before dinner. It seems so much easier to pursue new things in summer, with its long light and abundant vitamins and vegetables. Though it may require headlamps, puffy layers, and grit, going after something new in winter can bring the same feel-good hit.
January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and, with a fresh year ahead of us, it’s a great time to get out there and do something different to pass your winter days. (See our Out There Snow section for inspiration). If you’re a skier, try a snowboarding or telemark ski lesson. A snowboarder, try skis. I know that may border on blasphemy for some, but putting your feet in new bindings might just turn your mind in a refreshing way, the most invigorating thing I can think of during the dark, wet days of the season.
There are many ideas for new pursuits in this issue: find a sauna, take an aerial class, or glide behind a team of sled dogs around Priest Lake. Set camp at a winter campground and enjoy the sights and sounds of the less-common camping season. Make a twist on s’mores at your next outdoor bonfire, read up on lost apple cultivars, or trick out your bike for winter riding and go quest for local coffee. Or give yourself time and space to learn about the trickiest of subjects, yourself, and consider your relationship to the wilderness around you.
This list isn’t to promote busyness (our culture does a great job of that on its own), but rather the many small ways that learning and newness can be worked into your current life and hobbies. No matter how late to the party you may be, it’s better than not showing up. Happy year of new.
