What do you do in the winter???

I.N.F.K

I.N.F.K

Joined
Jul 7, 2012
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1,896
I went up to the woods this past weekend to see if I could find something to entertain me. My main objective was to find some bones or maybe an antler to use on a project of mine. I ended up finding neither and just sort've mosied around twittling my thumbs. I did find some old cans from the 70's, picked up some trash, and tore down my old lean-to so I can move it in the next month or two. But really that only took me an hour or so, during the majority of the time I found myself just walking about in almost a search pattern. Found a lot of deer droppings, and signs of turkey, even a few spots with dead mushrooms that I'll have to return to in the spring (hopefully chicken of the woods). I enjoy watching the change in the woods. One spot goes from large trees, to dense sapling, then to low brush (rabbits!!!), and finally to moss covered hill that looked like something out of "The Hobbit". Usually I have quite a bit to see and do in the woods, because I never know what will be over the next hill or around a bend. I wish I brough my a camera or my phone at least.

What do you do during your winter outings???
 
You pretty much described my son and I out in our woods. We rarely have an agenda when we are just out strolling. I just enjoy bing out there and we always see something cool.
 
Anything on the ground around here is buried under several feet of snow, so I tend to strap big things to my feet and go explore:

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Practice with my bow in the backyard:

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Searching for snowshoe hares with my longbow:

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This past weekend I drove over to the western side of the state, where there is less snow, and hunted for chukar:

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It can be one of the best times of the year to be outdoors, imo. :thumbup:
 
There are some really nice trout streams within a couple hours drive of Roanoke, both stocked and native that receive little attention when it gets cold out. The stocked streams get fished hard the day or two after stocking but then you can fish in reasonable quiet. I like to look at online maps at places I hunt and hike for alternate routes in and out. I love snowshoeing but consider it a good winter if I get the opportunity to go more than once. We enjoy the public campgrounds that are closed to vehicles this time of year. We walk in build a campfire then enjoy a bottle of wine and a very quiet meal.
 
fishiker said:
There are some really nice trout streams within a couple hours drive of Roanoke, both stocked and native that receive little attention when it gets cold out. The stocked streams get fished hard the day or two after stocking but then you can fish in reasonable quiet. I like to look at online maps at places I hunt and hike for alternate routes in and out. I love snowshoeing but consider it a good winter if I get the opportunity to go more than once. We enjoy the public campgrounds that are closed to vehicles this time of year. We walk in build a campfire then enjoy a bottle of wine and a very quiet meal.
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You know I have never been a fisherman, you would think that I would be quite good considering the time spent IN and around streams. Have you ever been to Cave Mountain Lake???
 
sweat just a little less. Its really tough living here in paradise, by the time I've realized its winter, summer is sneaking back up on me! As far as what I do at this time of year? try desperately to keep my lawn mowed enough to make the house look inhabited. its a loosing battle.
 
I shovel a lot of snow... :barf::D

Fun winter outdoor activities are cross country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, skating, ice fishing, doing the sauna & snow or sauna & hole in the ice thing.

And of course there is nothing wrong with curling up in front of a fire with a good book and a warm cup of something. The more modern version being curling up in front of a warm screen to watch cat videos on youtube. :p
 
sideways said:
I shovel a lot of snow... :barf::D

Fun winter outdoor activities are cross country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, skating, ice fishing, doing the sauna & snow or sauna & hole in the ice thing.

And of course there is nothing wrong with curling up in front of a fire with a good book and a warm cup of something. The more modern version being curling up in front of a warm screen to watch cat videos on youtube. :p
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You seem to be quite active during the witner months
 
I use far less Deet, and my bites get a chance to stop itching during the break. Not having to slap the unrelenting biting flies allows me to get out on the cross country skis almost every afternoon when we are in the deep freeze. Around the house I carry in firewood for the wood furnace, its been weeks since the oil furnace has had a chance to come on. During warmer winter periods I go out to the remote cabin and enjoy life deep in the boreal forest, do some speck fishing and enjoy the long evenings around the woodstove. Winter is my favorite season.
 
I wish I lived closed to the mountains to be able to go snowshoeing, skii-mountaineering and ice climbing more often. However, moving closer to the mountains would take me further from the shore, where I enjoy spearfishing during the whole year (you just need to use a thicker wetsuit!). I guess there are always tradeoffs.

Right now it is snowing at sea level. There is about two inches of snow on the cars here at work. Which is a lot, considering it rarely snows here!
 
Hunt, ice fish, walk in the woods, shed hunt and what ever else I can do!! Wrench on the Hot Rod too.. John :thumbup:
 
In Florida we just pass the time watching the girls at the beach.

n2s

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I have lots of ideas about what to do during the winter, but unless I take time off from work, I usually end up playing PC games and watching TV, unfortunately. On weekends, I go to an indoor shooting range with some of my friends, and will shoot outdoors when possible, which is nice since there is very rarely anyone else there. In late fall and early spring, preferably with a little snow on the ground, I try to do some bug-free hiking.
 
My main winter activity is back country skiing, using touring gear. I also like to go explore back roads and visit some of the natural hot springs in our area; I find those places are a lot less busy in winter. I usually try to shoot my bow a bunch too.
 
I.N.F.K said:
You know I have never been a fisherman, you would think that I would be quite good considering the time spent IN and around streams. Have you ever been to Cave Mountain Lake???
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I have family and friends who have camped there but I've never been. Are you familiar with Roaring Run in Botetourt County? It's a nice place to hike, fish, hunt, or grill out and only a 30-40 minutes out of Roanoke.
 
Living in Arkansas mild winter days were the best time to be out bagging some hiking trails. No humidity, no bugs, and no poison ivy. It was also the best time for off-trail exploring because the woods are more open in the winter and the visibility's better.
Here in New Mexico it's a good time for exploring and photographing historic ruins and "ghost towns" because the vegetation is died down. The snakes are hibernating too, so cool days are a good time to be scrambling over basalt outcrops looking at petroglyphs. Just have to avoid steep shaded canyons and higher elevations until the snow melts.

Winter is also a good time for the dinosaur tracks because the lower sun creates shadows, making the tracks easier to see and photograph. Photography in general is better in the winter because the sun isn't straight up.
 
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