Let’s Talk Outside:

Quietly and seemingly inconspicuously, the fresh snow builds its white blanket in layers a few flakes at a time. It fills in the bare spots sometimes accumulating on evergreen branches until its soft weight is coaxed gently from the boughs to the ground. The whiteness disguises the prints of wildlife leaving flexible interpretations up to the reader. Like a new year, new snow is a blank page provided by Mother Nature for us to write upon as we choose.

We are fortunate in northwest Montana to live in a winter wonderland of recreational opportunities. Turner Mountain is a challenging natural snow-fed ski area that is reasonably priced  and run by a competent team of good hearted locals with a great sense of humor. Turner offers all options of a modern ski hill including snow boarding, snack bar and fantastic views from the lift chairs. 

There are also more than 162 miles of groomed snowmobile trails on the Kootenai National Forest and two local snowmobile clubs. The Libby Sno-Kats and the Troy Snowmobile Club can be great folks to ride with and there is safety in numbers especially in winter avalanche season.  

We have an awesome search and rescue team here and they are very well trained. One of our local experts, Jon Jeresek is an experienced avalanche awareness instructor and knows his subject thoroughly.

We have over 36 miles of groomed cross country ski trails on the Kootenai, including Timberlane, Bear Creek and Flower Creek. Another favorite for the more adventurous is Flatiron Mountain. Greg and Susie Rice are really knowledgeable on this topic.

For a minimal investment by licensed fishers, ice fishing is a great way to spend a winter’s day. For about 20 bucks, one can pickup a mini-spinning combo. Add a couple of jigs, bait and a plastic bucket from home and you’re set. Please be careful on unstable ice and 50 feet or more of nylon rope is a good item to carry in your bucket. It could save someone’s life, maybe your own.  

An increasingly popular winter sport is snowshoeing. It’s great excercise and nowadays there are designs for every use of lightweight materials.  

Animal tracking is fun, and is an art and science which makes for a great adventure under good snow conditions. There are free outdoor educational programs available for this fun and challenging winter activity. On Jan. 16, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is offering an animal tracking class in Heron. Contact [email protected] to register.  

Montana Wilderness Association is offering a Winter Snow Trek on Jan. 23, a Veterans’ Valentines Venture on Feb. 13 and a winter black and white photography class with Randy Beacham on Feb. 27 in the Yaak. To register and for more information contact [email protected] or call Brian at: 406-291-2154.

As we traverse the fresh pages of new snows and a new year, we leave our imprints. At times, we have to adapt our dreams, as my friend Amy says. This can actually improve our lives in many ways. Along the way maybe we can perform random acts of kindness like taking a senior citizen ice fishing or taking a young person out to snowshoe and learn a little about animal tracking. Although the new snow may eventually cover these imprints, the path that we choose by including these random acts of kindness may leave a trail that can be traced long after we pass this route.

Brian Baxter is an outdoor educator who lives and works in Libby. Let’s Talk Outside is sponsored in part by Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.