Gary Engberg Outdoors

Local Column River Currents 2-1-2010 Winter Shouldn’t Keep You on the Couch

gengberg February 2nd, 2010

Winter cold shouldn’t keep you on the couch
By Gary EngbergDave and I are professional friends. He usually is my savior when it comes to fixing problems on my computer but I rarely see him when it isn’t work- or business-related.
This past weekend looked like it was going to be a nice one, so I thought I’d ask if he’d like to join me in the outdoors.
I was up for just about anything - ice fishing, snowshoeing, eagle watching, driving the back roads looking for wildlife or checking out a fishing contest or trap shoot.
To my surprise, he declined. During the winter, he said, he rarely does much outside, usually staying home and watching movies or sports.
I was a little disappointed. There are so many different outdoor activities. I know he grew up in a big city and was never introduced to much of anything in the outdoors. To him, the outdoors was taking the dog for a walk in the park or driving to an apple orchard in the fall.
For me, most everything is somehow connected to the outdoors.
Many people complain about Wisconsin winters being so cold. Absolutely. Winter is cold, but if you dress properly, including many new products as well as the old standbys, you can enjoy many outdoor activities and still be comfortable. The key is to dress properly, combining layers of cotton, wool, silk, down, polypropylene and Gore-Tex, based on the specific activity. By dressing in layers, you can shed layers if you get too warm or add layers if you begin feel the cold. If you dress properly, then you’re ready for anything.
Enjoying the outdoors can be as simple as going to the Arboretum and walking a few miles. A visit to one of the many public wildlife areas - Brooklyn, Mud Lake, Lodi, Mazomanie, Waunakee and Deansville are close - surrounding Madison can unearth a series of trails blazed by cross country skiers, snowshoers and hikers.
If the area is public hunting grounds, there will be few, if any, hunters out in February. Wear blaze orange for safety so you are seen in case you should run into anyone chasing rabbits or crows, the only two hunting seasons still open.
You might be surprised at the variety of wildlife you’ll see if you get out in nature for a simple walk. Start out slow and plan to cover a short distance. If you’re a camera-buff, bring your camera along because you never know what you may run into. Birds are abundant and they can really stand out against a snow-white background. I regularly see pros and amateurs alike in Sauk City regularly shooting photos of eagles.
Winter doesn’t have to be a time to retreat to the comfort of the couch in the warmth of your home. The outdoors in the winter can be fun, entertaining and good for you by providing activities to get your blood flowing, in more ways than one.
I’m going to invite Dave into the outdoors again in the near future. I hope it is just a matter of finding the right activity to pique his interest. If nothing else, he might pick up on my excitement and give it a shot.