Do you hang up your running shoes until April? Do you store your bicycle until May? Is renting a video on your winter activities list? Is it, perhaps, your whole list? When you think snow — do you think shoveling instead of skiing? When was the last time you went sledding or ice skating?
I grew up in South Carolina. It wasn’t warm enough to swim all year. It wasn’t cold enough to freeze a pond. It didn’t snow enough to ski or sled, except in a leap year, and there were no snowplows. School and snow were mutually exclusive. A sled was something you saw in old movies. Making a snowball was like finding a four-leaf clover. I saw nordic skiing in the Winter Olympics, once.
Admittedly, I didn’t move here 15 years ago just to experience winter, but it is part of life in Chicago. Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
A change of seasons is good.
Why be envious of our friends in those sunny one-season climes, where the temperatures range from warm to way-too-hot ? Doing the same activities 12 months a year is boring. Here in the Midwest we have winter. We have winter sports. We have variety.
If Chicago got a lot more snow we wouldn’t be having this discussion. We would all go to work on snowmobiles or skis. Unfortunately, we get just enough snow to throw us off balance, to bog down rush hours, to make a Bears game a bit more interesting, and maybe miss a day of school or work.
But we can go alpine skiing or ice skating or toboganning. We can explore the North Woods on snowshoes or skinny skis. We can even ride a mountain bike in the snow. Our Florida cousins should not pity us for sitting on the couch all winter, they should be envious of our winter activities, our diversity, our willingness to brave the elements in the name of fun. Go forth and play!
There’s always snow somewhere, usually to the north.
I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that we’re not far from snow country. Sadly, many Chicagoans only think of snow sports when it’s coming down outside their windows, forgetting how much has been piling up just to the north or west.
Even places as close as Wheaton average 10 inches more annual snowfall than Chicago (UIC), while Antioch, just south of the Wisconsin border, gets 22 inches more than in the city! And for real winter wonderlands, northern Wisconsin towns like Minoqua are blessed with 99 inches of glorious whiteness. And thanks to Lake Superior, ski areas in Michigan’s UP get even more.
There are no bugs in the winter, or crowds.
The woods in winter are peaceful and quiet. No bugs to bite, creep, or screech. No leaves rattling in the wind. Fresh snow makes it that much quieter. Winter is a great time on the trails whether nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or even winter camping. And all are great therapy.
"Getting in shape" every spring is ridiculous.
Many of you work hard 8 months a year to get in shape and then sit indoors all winter only to end up exactly where you were last spring. Why start over each year?
How did Walter Payton stay competitive for so many years? He stayed in shape year‘round. As you get older, just maintaining your fitness becomes more difficult, and letting yourselves go just because it’s cold outside is a shame. You can continue most of your favorite aerobic activities throughout the winter or you can mix it up with some new winter sports.
Cross training is the spice of life.
Cross training doesn’t only mean running on Monday, swimming on Tuesday. It can also mean biking in summer, skiing in winter. Many professional athletes, like Greg LeMond, get away from their sport in the winter to recover, both physically and mentally. But they don’t hibernate. When LeMond put on 10 pounds each winter back in Minnesota, it wasn’t around the middle — it was in the upper body. Cross-country skiing was building muscles that even elite cycling did not. It’s fine to do something different in the winter — as long as you still do something.
It’s only too cold if you’re not dressed properly.
If you run, bike or skate, there’s no need to hang it all up before Christmas. The only thing keeping you indoors is lack of proper clothing. Fortunately, most winter active wear works for almost any aerobic sport.
I’ve been out running at -28 below (actual, not wind chill) and lived to write about it. I’ve gone running on a golf course in 8 inches of snow with a blizzard blowing. Believe me, it’s no more ridiculous than 45 minutes on a StairMaster — and a lot more fun.
While layering is the rule for winter dress, it’s easy to have too many layers when it comes to aerobic activities. Keep in mind the heat you’ll be generating and dress accordingly. If it’s bitter cold warm up before stepping outside. Do squats and pushups until you want to hit the cold air.
If you’re heading out on for a longer trek, bring some food, water, and an extra layer, just in case you find yourself walking home.
Surfing can be a winter activity.
You can sit in front of your computer all winter surfing for pictures of Tahiti or Cindy Crawford or sailing the Carribean. Or you can find listings of skating rinks and nordic ski trails, snow conditions, calendars of events, and articles on how to winterize your bicycle. I suggest a little of both.
Hiking
For example, on February 13, the American Hiking Society and SnowSports Industries America are sponsoring the 3rd annual Winter Trails Day. Much like AHS’s National Trails Day, these events offer snowshoe demos and other activities, promoting this growing sport as a way for hikers and walkers to enjoy trails year-round.
As of this writing the only midwest events scheduled are at the Michigan Snowshoe Center in Roscommon, Michigan and the Wehr Nature Center in Franklin, Wisconsin. Hopefully, additional events closer to home will be added to the list. Contact American Hiking Society at 888-SNO-HIKE for more info.
Cycling
Ask people in Alaska about cycling in the winter and some will tell you it’s their favorite time of year. The mud is covered with snow, providing great traction, and best of all: NO BUGS! It’s just a matter of dressing appropriately. They even have a mountain bike equivalent to the Iditarod, call Iditasport (formerly known as Iditabike but, now open to skiers and snowshoers). Taking your mountain bike out in the snow is great but even road biking is possible as long as the roads are free of icy patches.
Inline Skating
Winter is the best time to learn inline skating. Yes, that’s right. Anyone who has avoided skating because they know they’re going to crash a few times should take advantage of the cold. Who wants to strap on protective gear when it’s beautiful and sunny? Imagine the tan lines. But in winter, we bundle up anyway, leaving no exposed skin to be smitten by the cold wind -- or the road rash. Since new skaters rarely work up a sweat, wear some old jeans instead of your new Gore-Tex pants, just in case.
Snowshoeing
If you’re a hiker or backpacker snowshoeing may be just what you need to keep active year‘round. Snowshoes are designed to make walking possible in waist-deep snow. Chicagoans, however, will most likely be happy to find enough snow to make snowshoeing possible. As with all winter gear, snowshoes are available for rent in local outdoor stores and ski shops, as well as many bike shops in snow country.
Find a snowy, well-marked trail and explore the white wilderness. With no insects and few birds, the winter woods are a quiet, peaceful place. Fresh snow, especially the sticky stuff, paints the forest with a whiteness that reaches to the sky. Ice from a freezing rain forms a magical artwork on leaves, twigs, or rocks. Try to find a waterfall and watch the slow transformation from liquid to solid.
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
What can we say about skiing that isn’t said every year as we approach ski season? (Note the psychology of the words "ski season" as opposed to winter. Skiers anxiously await "ski season.")
• If you’ve never skied before take some lessons, and not from your buddy "Gonzo" Bob (good skiers and good teachers are not always one and the same).
• You don’t have to go to Colorado to try skiing. Villa Olivia and Four Lakes are both within an hour of Chicago. You can taste downhill skiing on a Friday night.
• Don’t wait until it’s snowing at home to head north. It can be sunny and 40 degrees in Chicago while it’s sunny and 25 with a 100 inch base in Wisconsin or Michigan. I like skiing on days like Superbowl Sunday, when everyone is in front of a television, and not in line in front of me.
• Join the club. If you really want to get into alpine skiing but all your friends are wimps, join one of the 75 Chicago area ski clubs.
Ice Skating
I just feel that unless you’re training for the olympics or the NHL, ice skating should be outdoors, preferably on a frozen pond in the woods. Skating on a pond with a light snow drifting down is a Norman Rockwell scene that anyone can paint.
Ice needs to be 3-4 inches thick for skating and this requires a considerable cold spell. The Cook County Forest Preserve District has 7 suburban lakes designated for ice skating, and the Chicago Park District has 11 refrigerated outdoor rinks maintained from mid-November through March 1. Call your local forest preserve or park district for locations and conditions. For a more "city sidewalks" kind of feeling there’s also "Skate on State."
Sledding
How long has it been since you went sliding down a hill? Probably too long.
The Cook County Forest Preserve District operates 5 toboggan hills with rentals available. Many suburban park districts and surrounding counties have hills as well. Call your local forest preserve or park district for locations and conditions.
Cross Country Skiing
This is a sport that requires nothing more than snow-covered ground, however, snow in Chicago is not a reliable resource. Fortunately, if the weather cooperates we can rent skis locally and rush out to our favorite trail or golf course. Those looking for a more pristine experience can head north for a weekend outing.
Clothing requirements are similar to running, with a fairly high work-to-wind ratio. Beginners may want to dress more for falling in the snow than cranking out BTUs. Lessons are always a good idea with any new sport, but unlike downhill skiing, you could certainly hit the trail untrained without being a menace to society. If you’re planning a nordic weekend, by all means schedule some lessons early on to get the most of your vacation dollar. If a big snow strikes tomorrow, rent or borrow some skis and go out and get a feel for it.
At Arrowhead Golf Club in west suburban Wheaton, each winter they convert their pro shop into a ski shop. They offer ski rentals and access to their 27-hole course, as well as trails in the Herrick Lake and Danada Forest Preserves which surround the golf course. The folks there are optimistic enough to actually schedule races and other ski events each year. Call Wheaton Park District for more information on events.
Villa Olivia Country Club, in addition to their ski hill, also opens their golf course to nordic skiers. For a nearby cushy ski weekend, try a place like Nordic Hills Resort in suburban Itasca, where you can practice your nordic skiing and then relax in your deluxe accomodations.
Kettle Morraine State Forest in southern Wisconsin has wonderful trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Rentals are available at stores in nearby in LaGrange and Whitewater.
Dogsledding
I tried dogsledding for the first time last spring and it’s everything I imagined it could be. It’s fast and slow, you get hot, you get cold, it’s mostly easy, sometimes hard, but always loads of fun. The dogs can be very big or rather small, but in every case they love to run. Try it for a few hours or a few days.
I went on a 3-day Lodge to Lodge tour with The Northwest Passage, adventure travel outfitters based in Wilmette, IL. We headed to The Boundary Waters Canoe Area up in northern Minnesota. I had never been on any extended canoe trip before so I was familiar with the word portage by definition only. Crossing the frozen lakes was of course a blissful sleigh ride. Crossing the portages between the lakes was a wild ride: get off and help push the sled up the hill, jump back on as you roll over some bumps, hang on as you lean into some fast turns, jump back off and run up another hill, then hang on as you slide down on to the next lake. After a few portages you start to really appreciate the tranquility of the lakes. Then after 30 minutes of meditating on the ice you’re ready for another challenging trail. And so it goes.
Get Going!
I wouldn’t have believed it, sweating in South Carolina, but there’s something for everyone during Chicago winters. So don’t just sit inside under your full-specturm bulbs, go out and get some real sun. Take a snowday and enjoy winter!
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