The winter grey days of the Okanagan are upon us.
Coupled with the freezing cold temperatures we’ve had of late, it makes it a little hard to get bundled up and go outside.
My dog and kids are good motivation. They (usually) want to go outside.
They’re content with sledding down the same little hill in our yard over and over again.
Us boring grown- ups need a little more motivation. When is the last time you saw a group of adults sledding or building a snow fort together?
Cross-country skiing is a great way to get outside.
Most Saturdays we head up to Nickel Plate to get above the clouds to the blue sky and sun that often is waiting for us.
I love skiing. I love gliding through the forest and seeing the snow blanket every tree, rock and surface. I love it when it’s sunny and the snow glitters like diamonds.
Or in the moonlight when the snow is lit up brilliant and bright and you don’t even need a flashlight.
I love looking for animal tracks in the snow. It’s amazing how many tracks you can find.
Even if you don’t like skiing, there is so much to do up at Apex and Nickel Plate.
The skating through the forest is magical especially in the evening when the moon is out.
There are endless snowshoeing trails at Nordic centre or at the provincial park. You can snowshoe or ski to the lake.
You can ice fish and catch dinner.
Of course, we have a book for many of these activities at the library.
There are some great how-to books like “Basic Illustrated cross-country skiing” by J. Scott McGee or “Cross-country Skiing: Building skills for Fun and Fitness” by Steve Hindman. “Animal Tracks of Western Canada” is a great book to help you identify any tracks you find in the snow. You don’t have to make a long drive to enjoy the snow.
We like going up to the KVR rail trail just past the train station. There are lots of great places to sled just a short walk from your car.
The trail is also great for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when we have enough snow.
Another great book is “Snow Play” by Birgitta Ralston. There are tons of great ideas to get your family outside playing in the snow.
What do you like to do and where do you go to play in the snow? Come in to the library and tell us! I’d love to know.
Crystal Fletcher is an Assistant Community Librarian at the Summerland Branch of the Okanagan Regional Library.