Get Out!
By Rachel Hanel
‘Comfort is key’
Don’t let the cold ruin your outdoor fun
C
ongratulations! You have survived a summer of relentless heat and humidity. You survived 31 days with temperatures above 90 degrees, the most 90-degree days here since 1988. The only thing that got you through it is the fact that we live in Minnesota, and eventually winter will grace our presence once again. That time is here. Animals are busy making preparations for the winter ahead. Squirrels dart across my lawn with walnuts in their mouths. We, too, should be making preparations in order to enjoy the outdoors in winter. The cold and snow offer convenient excuses for staying inside and eating comfort foods, but it doesn’t have to be that way. In winter, proper gear can make all the difference between a pleasant and unpleasant outdoor experience. Now is the perfect time to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy the upcoming season. I learned the hard way. When I first started running regularly in the mid-1990s, I didn’t know much about technical winter gear. I’m also not sure it was regularly available like it is today, outside of specialized outdoors stores. So I ran outside in a pair of fleece-lined nylon pants and a big, baggy Georgetown University sweatshirt with a hood. I tied an old scarf around my neck and became frustrated every time it slid away from my mouth. I wore an oversized pair of what looked like hunting gloves. I kept using them even though the lining started to tear away. By the end of a run, the sweatshirt and pants weighed heavy with my perspiration and snow. Ice crystals coated my cotton scarf, and my fingers were frozen. I looked like the Michelin man in all my bulky layers. Over the years I’ve collected many pieces of winter clothing suitable for the outdoors. I have never once been cold during outdoor winter activities, even on the bitterest below-zero days. What follows are some things I cannot live without in the winter. Wool I’ve been the warmest on the coldest days while wearing wool clothing. I have two wool sweaters that I found through bicycling-gear catalogs. They make the perfect top layer while cycling on cool fall and spring days, but they also keep in the warmth while I’m running or skiing in the winter. Wool is not cheap, but it’s worth the investment. Many wool blends today eliminate the “scratchiness” feature common years ago. I also favor wool accessories, such as stocking caps, socks, and gloves. 28 • november 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Clothing with wind and rain/snow protection This is a necessity in winter. Both my favorite pair of pants and favorite jacket feature a solid wind- and moisture-resistant outer layer. Rain and snow simply bead up rather than being absorbed. Even bitter winter winds don’t cut through the powerful, yet light, fabric. Gone are the Michelin man days! Hand and foot warmers These are a godsend. For just a buck (or a little more) you can have hand and foot warmth for hours. At this time of the year these should be fairly easy to find (i.e. by the cash registers at sporting goods stores) but if you don’t see them right away, check in the hunting department. Mukluks I was turned on to this traditional Inuit footwear on my first trip to Wintergreen Dogsledding Lodge in Ely. The dogsled guides, who are outdoors for 8-10 hours a day, wore nothing but thick socks and mukluks on their feet. If it was good enough for them, I decided it was good enough for me. My feet stay toasty and dry in this footwear made of canvas and moose hide. I generally wear my mukluks as regular winter footwear, but I have snowshoed in them and my feet stayed warm. Sunglasses Of course we wear sunglasses on bright winter days to cut down on the glare from snow. But I find eye protection more important on cloudy days in order to shield my eyes from cold winds. If you can, get sunglasses with interchangeable lenses so on overcast days the glasses will protect your eyes from the wind. Lotion and lip balm If you’re going to be outside for any length of time in the winter, find a place to tuck a small tube of lotion and lip balm. The desert-like dryness in the air does no favors to our skin. I fight a constant battle against chapped lips and cracked skin. An outdoor adventure in the winter can quickly turn frustrating when your lips become painfully dry. Comfort is key. Even the most beautiful, sunny day can turn sour once you get chilled or wet or have frozen toes and fingers. Winter offers plenty of beauty and fresh air. It would be shame to stay inside and forego what nature has to offer. Deep down, on those miserable, hot, humid days of summer, I know that you had at least a fleeting, nostalgic thought for the crisp, cold days of winter. Here it is — enjoy it! M Follow Rachael Hanel on Twitter at @rachael18. She also blogs at www.rachaelhanel.me.