I overheard someone at lunch today saying that there are probably only four more weeks of winter left. I’m pretty sure I don’t believe them. They are right in a way however. I always get caught at the end of winter wishing I had gone skiing a few more times, or gone ice fishing again, or taken the dog out with snowshoes more often.
I hear people talking about winter being so long, but for me, it often isn’t quite long enough. A bit of rain and some slushy heavy snow around Christmas resulted in some poor skiing conditions for a while, but enough snow has fallen since that the trails are really great right now.
One of our forest law enforcement officers reports that, in his words, “The snowmobile trails are phenomenal! Fishing is maybe a little less perfect – there is still a layer of slush under the snow, and you’ll want waterproof boots when you drill your hole.”
Whether skiing, snowmobiling, or ice fishing, be sure to check ice thickness before you head out onto a lake. The snow has done a great job of insulation, and there may be less ice than you think there should be for the middle of January.
Always bring ice safety gear with you – ice picks to get back out if you go through, spare clothing to change into, rope with a weight of some sort to throw, and, most importantly, another person.
If you end up being that other person when your friend goes through the ice, be sensible. Don’t go near the hole to pull them out. They just proved the ice isn’t safe to stand on for one person, let alone for two people if you were to get them out. Throw them a rope, use a long branch, a stretched out coat, or whatever comes to hand. Make sure you have secure footing; you don’t want them to pull you in.
A chilled person may not have the strength to pull himself or herself out, you’ll have to supply the power. The person who went through should try to float horizontally and somewhat ‘swim’ onto the ice, not climb out and stand up. Staying horizontal will spread their weight out and hopefully keep the ice from breaking further.
Finally, dry clothes and an external source of heat are vital for rewarming the person. Remember though, the best way to avoid trouble is to check ice depth and avoid going through the ice in the first place!
As I’ve already said, skiing is great right now. Part of the reason it is great is the work our trail partners put into grooming. And, they can’t do that without funding. The funds that support trail-grooming come directly from the sales of the Great Minnesota Ski Pass, so be sure that you have one before you head out.
Just like snowmobile licenses support snowmobile trails, hunting and fishing licenses support fish and game, ski passes support cross country skiing. Make sure you’re supporting the trails you use.
One group that will be using ski trails this weekend are high school students. The Pincushion Mountain Ski Trails are the site of a large high school competition on Saturday. While the trails remain open to the public, the parking area may be congested and the trails will have a lot of young people on them. If you are looking for a nice quiet ski, you may want to consider a different spot. On the other hand, if you want to root for your school, come and cheer them on!
Regardless of what you do outside in the winter, you’ll probably have to drive to get there. Forest roads are in good shape, but they are slippery in places. The nice hard smooth surface may fool you until you put on the brakes, so take it easy out there.
Be watchful for logging trucks. On the Gunflint District, log hauling is taking place on the Hall Road, Cook County 14, Cook County 60, Firebox Road, Greenwood Road, and the Sunfish Lake Road. On the Tofte District, trucks are using Hoist Lake Road, Lake County 7, Trappers Lake/Sawbill Landing Road, Perent Lake Road, The Grade, Cook County 27 and Cook County 8.
Although a lot of this column has talked about things like going through the ice, watching for trucks, being cautious on icy roads, and paying for passes, don’t forget the reason for all of that is to get outside and have fun in the winter. A recent article said that winter blues happen less often to cross country skiers, and my bet is that is true for snowmobilers, people fishing, snowshoers, and birders as well. We are in the heart of the winter – get out and enjoy it!
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