Zipping Through Winter
by Rowan Beck,
January 13, 2011, pp. 10-11.....

Winters tend to be long and cold.  Currently, we are in the early stages.  A few nice storms have enticed people back to the ski slopes, and the chill in the air has brought back the unmistakable scent of wood-burning fires. But what do people do if they don’t ski, and even if they do, what can be done to break up the monotony that winter can often bring?   Charlotters are not lacking in ideas to keep away the winter blues.  People love to sled, snowmobile, climb, ice fish, snowshoe, play laser tag, skate and much more.
One of the most popular activities in Charlotte is hiking Mount Philo and sledding down.  One sees a variety of sleds – Hammerheads, Mad River Rockets, toboggans, tubes and jack jumpers.  Children tear down the mountain in a cloud of snow, giggling and smiling as their dogs reel after them, yipping and trying desperately to keep up. Their parents only attempt to follow.
Snowmobiling is another local favorite. “The number is larger than you think,” says Linda Colgan.  “It’s truly amazing; it’s like a whole ‘nother world out there.  You’re just screaming along and BOOM there’s a restaurant right in the middle of the field.” She believes it to be popular because of Charlotte’s close proximity to the VAST trails.  “People can go all the way to Canada. Sometimes you can get stuck if the lake’s not frozen, but it is so cool!” She spoke of how peaceful and beautiful the landscape is.  The tranquil and mesmerizing feeling of riding through the wilderness and open fields sounds enticing.
Another exhilerating activity is the new zip line at Arbor Trek Canopy Tours, located just before Smuggler’s Notch on Edwards Road in Jeffersonville. Guides teach participants how to zip and give an educational tour while zipping through the treetops. You feel like a flying monkey, only you’re dressed like the Michelin man. There are seven lines varying in length, two rappels and one bridge. It is an experience not to be missed. The natural beauty astounds you as you step off into the air. Participants fly gracefully over brooks and streams blanketed with snow and thin layers of ice. When you land on the platform, the guides tell you about the trees and history of Vermont. You may learn that the forest you are sailing through is only 100 to 150 years old, based on the size of a birch tree. Or that a logging community used to exist here and now is no more. “It promotes team building, confidence and education; it’s not just a thrill ride,” says Mike Smith, founder of Arbor Trek. Smith has been involved in the outdoor world since college and over the next five years plans on building a dozen canopy tours in various states. 
If people want to get out of the cold, they can head to Pizza Putt in South Burlington for an invigorating game of laser tag. There’s nothing more entertaining than chasing your child through a dark maze or skulking around trying to be the last one standing. Hearing the shrieks and laughter of children is good for the soul. This is not just a game for children; adults have a great time playing it as well.
Rock climbing on the walls at Petra Cliffs in Burlington is also popular. Among its numerous camp offerings throughout the winter is a parent/child camp, which they consider a bonding experience. The interior of the building is a series of colorful angles, like shards of glass thrown back together, creating an alternate environment. Walls are adorned with a multitude of footholds. People are climbing upside down, disappearing around corners and floating down by lines that previously aided their climb up. The lines are used for safety purposes only.  A funky rock beat drums in the background as a man in his mid-thirties hangs upside down with one red line attached.  “You got it, you got it!” his spotter chants. “Breathe.” People look on as a climber spreads himself out like a spider and continue to hear the word “breathe.”
Skating entertains hoards as well. They skate on ponds, the CCS rink or homemade rinks. Many fathers spend hours shoveling the snow off their rinks and ponds, trying to keep the ice perfect. Dave Marshall goes out on the rink by his home on Church Hill Road with a shovel to clear it and then waters the holes to keep it smooth. According to his wife, Monica, the whole process takes about three hours. Dave has gone so far as to put a light by the rink so he and his family can skate at night -- an upgrade from when we were children and used the headlights of cars. 
These are just a few of the many winter activities that help chase away those winter blues. And after an invigorating day of play, one can curl up in front of the fire with a good book or relax with the family, playing scrabble or other favorite games.