OUTDOOR Adventures

Do you have your Christmas shopping done yet? For those who answered “no,” you are not alone. No longer the procrastinator that I once was, waiting until the 23rd or 24th of December to have all gifts purchased and wrapped, I will most likely complete the list I have compiled for my loved ones within the next week… or at least by December 22nd. I have a list of my own that I was hoping that maybe a few of my faithful readers (all nine of you) could help me with. It is not a long list, the gifts are not expensive at all, and to be honest, the true gifts on my list really are not for me, but for the benefit of others. Here is what I got… If you happen to be out finishing up your last gift purchases and you see garbage laying on the parking lot, even though it is not your garbage, pick it up and put it in the trash receptacle that is a normal find near the entrance of any larger store. The biggest ask that I have of this is don’t grumble about the slob that just tossed it there. I know this may be difficult to do because I have a hard time not grumbling myself when I pick up others trash and toss it. The one that gets me the most are face masks… on the ground at the doctor’s office… where there are garbage cans just outside the door. Okay, so the true gift is not necessarily the action of picking up after others, although it is a great thing. The true gift here is to do it without complaining… that brings out the Christmas spirit here.

Another thing on my list is on a similar vein and mainly will come from those who are out on the ice this winter. There is something just disheartening when you pull your sled out onto the ice to find a few places to set up and try to catch a few fish to see an area where someone fished and left a big mess. Tuck your trash back into your bucket or sled and pull it off the ice. Most lakes have garbage cans near the parking areas that you can throw it into and if not, bring it home and put it in your trash can. About the saddest thing I have seen ice fishing is a beer can frozen into a hole. We drilled down and then chipped the can out, only to find it was empty. That was very sad, but at least it was not left to sink into the lake.

Keeping the environment clean and doing it in the spirit of Christmas is only a part of my list, albeit a very big part. Another wish I have is that no matter where your outdoor adventures take you, take the extra time to make sure you are being safe. Too often, we hear about someone going through the ice. This could be while walking, riding an ATV or snowmobile, or driving a car or truck on the lake. Don’t let “Oh there is plenty of ice” be your last words. Also, if you are venturing out onto a lake you have never been on, take the time to look up the map so you know what kind of water depth you are on. My wish is for safety of anyone who embarks onto the ice and for all others, from snow shoeing folks to the snowmobile fanatics, downhill and cross-country skiers alike, and every other lover of the outdoors this time of year.

Finally, my last wish on this list is to consider trying a new outdoor adventure that you have never done before. That could be anything from activities mentioned already to going sledding at one of the local hotspots. Believe it or not, I met someone recently that has NEVER been sledding. They were not raised in an area of the country where there was snow. They only recently moved here and have never done any of what those of us who have lived here for a while consider “normal.” To spread the Christmas spirit, if you know someone who has never tried an outdoor activity that you have a passion for, invite them to give it a try. It is as easy as, “Hey Mike, when you are feeling a bit better, maybe you would be up for coming ice fishing with us?” Sharing your joy and happiness with others is what makes this time of year special. There might not be a better way to share it than by introducing someone to a new outdoor activity. So what are you waiting for… Get Out and Enjoy the Great Outdoors.