The BLT Guidebook

How do you feel about winter? Cold days, atmospheric rivers, layers, lack of sunlight? I used to feel a sense that the world was shutting down, I couldn’t do as much, and I hated being cold.

Somewhere along the way, my mindset shifted. Sweater weather? Yes. Candles at 5 PM? Yes. Tracking the sunset to get every ounce of daylight in? Yes.

I recognize that winter is not an easy time of year for everyone, and it isn’t always for me either. Those days when the grey seems like it’s endless and you haven’t seen a speck of sunlight in a week? Yep, that affects me too.

But there are some things that keep me afloat until the snow melts and the sky is lighter for longer. Below are some tips to get the most out of winter. As always, take what you need and leave the rest.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Winter

Travel

Travel? Yes, travel! Planning a trip is a great idea for many reasons.

• Trips in winter break up the season/year
• The place you are going might be a cool winter destination or warmer than your current location
• If you don’t want to go solo, you can visit a friend or a family member you haven’t seen in quite sometime
• Prices decline after Christmas! Mid-winter is the perfect time
• Destinations are less crowded- including popular areas like the coast
• Can’t go anywhere right now? Winter is a great time to plan your summer vacation or something else to look forward to

Due to my job and my partner’s job, winter is usually the primetime to travel for us. During the first part of this winter season, we traveled to Pennsylvania to visit family and the Oregon coast for a weekend getaway. We lucked out on both accounts! The coast had blue skies and less crowds.

Upgrade Your Gear

Winter is the perfect time to layer up and “gear up.” If you’ve been eyeing those new boots or that perfect jacket, it’s time. Upgrading your gear is essential to combat the elements and enjoy time outside comfortably. If you invest now, it will be worth it later.

Last winter, I invested in a packable down jacket (similar to this one) and some stylish waterproof boots (like these). I wore these on specific travel trips, on everyday walks, and even to work. They were well-worth the investment. A game-changer for me this season has been Eddie Baurer fleece leggings. You can definitely feel the difference between these and regular leggings. With these pieces of gear, I don’t worry about being cold, which equals more outside time!

Don’t know where to start?

• Do you have the essentials? Hat, gloves, good socks, a rain jacket, etc.? If not, start there.
• Check the materials. Are they made of wool, fleece, or down? If not, pick an item to replace.
• Think about your areas of discomfort when you go out. Is your clothing good for a long period of time or a short period of time? Pick one item and look into replacing it.
• How do I know if it’ll be warm? Honestly, spend more money and buy name brand from reputable companies that you see when you go into a place like REI. You can also go to sites like Backcountry.com that have name brands at a discount. Most of the time, there will be a cold weather rating on the tag. Also check reviews!

Elevate Your Hobbies

Are you using winter as an excuse? I know I did. I spent the last few winters thinking I needed the “right” conditions to exercise or do my outdoor activities. One example of this is running- I tried to get home before dark and if it was too cold or I didn’t have enough time, I just didn’t run. This year I have chosen to run regardless of the temps (with the right gear) and even if it’s nightfall! Nothing is more peaceful than running in the dark with a headlamp. You cannot beat the view of the stars.

Don’t wait for the “right time.” Embrace the challenge, learn something new, or replace your gear. Here are some examples:

• Embrace the new challenge- My focus this year is on photography, so I signed up for a photo challenge called 52Frames. I normally don’t photograph much on the day-to-day, so I’m challenging myself to think about my hobby more often.
• Replace your gear! My husband likes to fly fish and certain times of year can be tough for him with weather patterns. When he’s not outside, he’s inside researching gear replacements to prepare him for the next time he goes out.
• Research/learn something new- While I wait for the roads to clear and the lakes to unfreeze, I would like to learn more about taking better photos of waterfalls. Where do I start? I probably need to watch videos or read up on techniques.

Find New Hobbies

One of my favorite summer activities is paddling, but it is not as easy to do in the winter due to my location. I love paddling because it gets me outside and gets me exercising at the same time. I thought about how I needed a new hobby this year to embrace winter. There are so many choices out there, but where do you start?

• Make a list of hobbies that have always been interesting to you- do you have the means to start one of them? Or did you already buy the materials and haven’t started yet waiting for the perfect time?
• Choose hobbies that coincide with your summer hobbies. If you like to hike, why not try cross-country skiing?
• Tag along with a friend that is doing something you are interested in
• Craft an indoor hobby or routine that you can only do in winter (or year-round) or helps you prepare for your summer hobby
• Pick up your cozy and low-key winter hobbies again- like reading or writing.

Friends of ours have been taking us snow showing the last two winters. Instead of renting snowshoes this year, we bought an inexpensive pair at Costco. Our usual paddling spots have snowshoe trails on or around the frozen lakes, so I thought this might be a great choice for a new hobby. And it gets me outside!

Do the things you can only do in winter (inside or outside)

Some things are just better in the winter (and wouldn’t make sense in the summer.) My favorite thing to do when the weather changes is curl up in my favorite blanket with a book and a huge mug of hot chocolate. There are also only events and activities that coincide with the wintertime. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Do you have a favorite beverage that only comes out in the winter? Find it!
• Make a delicious meal! Bonus points if it’s in a crock pot. This is also the perfect time to bake or learn to bake.
• Check your local events. This is a time of year when special events happen like light shows, beer weeks, winter art or music festivals (even in February!)
• Same with outdoor activities- whale watching, sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, etc.
• Do low key hobbies to reflect the winter season- journaling, reading, etc. You can do these year-round but winter is a nice time to reflect.
• Clean. They call it spring cleaning, but part of the winter solstice ritual is to cleanse and declutter your space. I think this makes much more sense in the winter when you are inside for longer periods of time compared to the spring when you want to get out and enjoy the flowers.

Winter is rapidly becoming one of my favorite seasons with its cooler temperatures and its natural reset button for all things in nature.

~*~*~*~*~

What do you look forward to in the wintertime?

~C