Out-Doors
by Elizabeth Bassett,
December 16, 2010, page 10.....

Gifts of Fun, Health
and Fitness

Bake or sew all of your holiday presents? Don’t like that idea? How about a gift of the outdoors!

Downhill skiing
The price of downhill ski passes is rising. Buy a day ticket or, better yet, a Sugar Card (Sugarbush), Bash Badge (Smugglers), or Stowe card that delivers discount tickets throughout the season. A weekday ticket at the Middlebury Snow Bowl is an old-fashioned $30, and the senior rate of $26 begins at age 62.

Ice skating
We dream of skating on icy ponds and lakes, but if that fails, motor on over to Cairns Arena in South Burlington. Two ice rinks at Dorset Park keep the lights burning long hours for hockey, competitions, public skating and private rentals. Public skating is offered nearly every day for at least one and a half hours. Adults skate for $4; a ten-punch pass is $30; children, $3 and $20, respectively. Skate rental for all ages is $3. For schedules and more information visit cairnsarena.com/public.html.

Cross-country skiing
A day of cross-country skiing is a gift of fun, fitness and health. The pleasure of being in quiet places of great beauty (no chair lifts or crowds) is a balm to your mental health as well. Most local Nordic areas offer punch cards. Both Bolton and Sleepy Hollow sell ten-punch passes. Camel’s Hump Nordic Ski Area is alive and well in Huntington. The area closed many years ago, and a group of enthusiasts, led by Dave Brautigam, revived it as a nonprofit on the magnificent flanks of Camel’s Hump. The area has great terrain and views and miles of groomed trails. Day passes cost $10 and a season’s pass is $75. Consider a $10, gift certificate at Camel’s Hump Nordic, P.O. Box 43, Huntington 05462.
In an interesting twist, Craftsbury Outdoor Center is now a nonprofit with the goal of encouraging everyone to enjoy the outdoors. While the center is a long drive from Charlotte, approaching two hours, a day pass costs $10; an annual membership is $50 for adults, $25 for students and seniors (65+). Worth the drive at least once a year!

Helping the needy
No gift wrap required. This year many are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and heat in the radiators. The Charlotte Food Shelf has expanded its support far beyond food to heat, gasoline and other necessities. Your donation will improve the lives of Charlotters: Charlotte Food Shelf c/o Karen Doris, 3319 Mt. Philo Road, Charlotte, VT 05445.
For those who cannot afford books for the holidays, The Flying Pig has snowflakes that describe the desires of children of various ages. If you want an excuse to read through the Flying Pig’s delicious selection of children’s books, here it is! Go to flyingpigbooks.com.

Outdoor nonprofits
Many local non-profits add value and safety to our outdoor experience. If you’ve ever used Local Motion’s Trail Finder, trailfinder.info, you know it’s an invaluable resource. Just for fun I clicked on the ice skate icon. Did you know that the Lake Morey Ice Skating Trail is the longest groomed ice skating trail in the United States at 4.5 miles? Consider a donation to Local Motion, 1 Steele Street, # 103, Burlington 05401. Many worthy nonprofits enhance our outdoors. Some of my favorites include Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, The Nature Conservancy, Green Mountain Club, Charlotte Land Trust, Vermont Land Trust, Lake Champlain Committee and Lake Champlain Land Trust.

No such thing as bad weather…
Many outdoor enthusiasts claim there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing. That may not be completely true – ice storms come to mind – but the right gear can make most outings safe and comfortable. Consider anti-slip footwear. The variety and selection have expanded enormously in the past decade. Inquire at local outdoor and shoe stores.

Outdoor toys
Skis, snowshoes, skates… It’s hard (for this writer) to imagine spending a Vermont winter indoors. It’s easier to stay warm while moving briskly than by huddling over the radiator. Warmth is as close as a snowshoe up Pease Mountain or a cross-country ski around Thompson’s Point. Swaps are the least expensive way to acquire winter equipment. The not-for-profit sales occur in the fall but outdoor shops host them in January. The Ski Rack Swap is Sunday, January 9, 2011.

Shop locally
For every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $69 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend at a national chain, only $43 stays local. Spend it online and nothing comes home!

Stay safe. Happy New Year. Get Out-Doors!