Winter: It snows a lot, and also people watch football

You might be surprised to hear this, but I'm not much up on all of the various sportballs that are in season throughout the year.  I used to get invited to people's shabby apartments to watch the Superbowl when I was in grad school, but eventually people gave up on me.  I do know that drinking and eating fatty snacks are a part of that tradition, and for that reason, I almost regret never joining the festivities.  But really, you can drink and eat garbage without having to watch people ruin their lives with massive concussions any ol' time, right?

Which brings me to the other thing I am tired of hearing about on Facebook: snow.  It has snowed here in the Rockies, it snowed somewhat in the Southeast last week, it snows a terrible amount every week in the Great Lakes.  It is winter.  You don't need to complain about it, though you can post beautiful photos of your magically transformed backyard (sans whining) and/or fun outdoor adventures all you want, and I will "like" every single one of them.  I don't spend all summer whining about having to sweat, because for some reason no one can relate to this complaint. You should not spend all winter whining about getting to snowshoe and wear awesome sweaters, because I think that is stupid.

That was all a slightly offensive prelude to winter things I want to celebrate this weekend, and hopefully with the help of these links to clever peoples' sites, this list will enrich your weekend, too. New year's resolution: be more sassy. Check.

Drinking: Thank you, Bustle, for encouraging day drinking with the delicious-sounding spiked hot chocolate recipes. #4 (picture above) is definitely my favorite.

If you're feeling sad that tequila is getting left out here, try adding it to your mulled hot cider in place of rum (better try both): dump a gallon of apple cider into a Dutch oven or similarly large vessel, and add 1 large orange studded generously with cloves (great project for someone stationary who's not helping enough), 2 cinnamon sticks, and 1 dried star anise (optional). Simmer over medium-low heat until it's good and hot, and let it cook for as long as you like--the flavors get stronger with time. Add the rum or tequila directly to your cup to avoid cooking off the precious alcohol.




Eating Garbage: Or not.  Oh My Veggies has some great ideas for indulgent snacks that seem pretty junky, but aren't that bad for you. These Oven baked pickle chips are THE BEST:






Going Outside: I've posted pretty recently on showshoeing and ice skating in the Rockies, and if you're not coming out here anytime soon, you can easily search for opportunities to do the same in your neck of the woods.  Add to your list of stuff to look up: sledding.  Don't you miss it?  And if you don't miss it because you never did it as a kid, then you really owe it to yourself to get out and sled now.  Because there are few activities that make it OK for a grown adult to roll around on the ground and scream bloody murder while narrowly missing head-on collisions with large trees.  It's a real rush, I tell ya.

Winter destinations for people who love winter

When you search for "winter vacations" and its variations online, you tend to end up with listings for Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the like.  But what about those of us who don't want to escape the beautiful twinkling snow, crisp, refreshing air, and breathtaking silence you find in nature during the winter? Don't we sweat and look at scantily clad people enough in the summer months? If you are looking for a getaway meant to celebrate winter, but perhaps without so many of the crowds and dollar signs you'll see in the usual spots (Jackson, Aspen...), consider....

Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky is located in Gallatin County, just one hour from Bozeman, Montana to the north, and one hour from Yellowstone National Park to the south. It's small, but is nevertheless home to award-winning restaurants and is a veritable sportsman's paradise.

Durango, Colorado

I could have picked a lot of places (I was veering towards Ouray, honestly), but Durango is a nice compromise between remote and plentiful. As one of the four corners, you can easily pop into New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona to round out your Facebook states map, or whatever you call that stupid thing.  It's an actual town with a college, so you can find good places to eat and get a decent coffee. And you're surrounded by trails with beautiful views.

Hood River County, Oregon

Hood River is a small town hear a great city. Located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area between Mt. Hood and the Columbia River, it is only an hour east of Portland. It is beloved for its recreation opportunities (particularly windsurfing, kiteboarding, cycling and mountain biking, hiking and skiing), but it's also home to four breweries, a growing wine industry and a thriving food scene.

Park City, Utah

This might be the most populist choice on the list, but I love Park City.  I also adore nearby Salt Lake City, and you can easily enjoy both in one trip. Like the rest of these towns, there are good restaurants and lots of options for outdoor recreation, and as a bonus, there's a little film festival in January that sort of takes over the town, while still managing to have a down-home feel.

Royal Gorge Resort, Soda Springs, California

This place is like heaven for cross country skiers. Located right off of I-80 in Tahoe National Forest, it is a self-contained haven with great trails, accommodations, and food. If you want to keep it simple and just park yourself in one spot for a weekend without all the tourists from the tri-state area in front of you, this is the place.

Favorite snowshoeing spots in the Rockies!

Snowshoeing doesn't get its due--it's a great form of exercise, allows you to go off trail in deep snow when you would otherwise miss out on all kinds of views, and there is virtually no risk of breaking bones or tearing ligaments, unlike skiing.  It's not sexy like those downhill chases in James Bond movies, but I'm not sexy, anyway. Are you sold yet?  Here are some perfect spots to try out your new favorite non-sport:

Colorado

Durango: Colorado Trail

Estes Park: Rocky Mountain National Park (try Bear Lake & Hidden Valley)

Evergreen: Echo Lake at Mt. Evans

Glenwood Springs: Hanging Lake Trail

Golden/Black Hawk: Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Steamboat Springs: Rabbit Ears Pass

Montana

Bozeman: Bohart Ranch

Helena: MacDonald Pass

Missoula: Lookout Pass, Pattee Cannyon, Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, Seeley Creek

Red Lodge: Lake Fork trails, West Fork Road

West Yellowstone: Yellowstone Pass

Whitefish: Whitefish Trail, Round Meadows, Glacier National Park

South Dakota

Black Hills: Iron Creek in Spearfish Canyon, Roughlock Trail at Savoy Lodge, Eagle Cliff Trails, Big Hill Trails, Mickelson Trail, and Old Baldy

Wyoming

Casper: Casper Mountain Nordic Center

Jackson: Teton Pass, Grand Teton National Park

Laramie: Happy Jack / Vedauwoo trails

Saratoga: Brush Creek Visitor's Center and trailhead

Sheridan: Sibley Lake and Cutler Hill

Snow shoeing in Northern Colorado

Winter looks like it will continue to be generous to outdoor lovers this year, and I prefer snow shoeing.  I know, it sounds incredibly sad to all you adrenaline-seeking ski bums and snowboarders, but it's terrific exercise and a great way to see things on the trails you can't enjoy during the crowded summer months.  Trekking straight up a steep hill covered in snow is comparatively easy, and you can see vistas (not to mention plants and animals) you never knew were there.  Plus, I will not break any bones, destroy cartilage in my knees, or fight through tangles of traffic to or from my destination.  You can take the girl out of the Midwest, but...

In northern Colorado, there are many great places to enjoy this under-appreciated pastime.  Some of my favorites:

Eldorado Springs: Eldorado Canyon Trail

Estes Park / Rocky Mountain National Park: Cub Lake (6 miles), Flattop Mountain (8 miles), Odessa Lake (9 miles),

Fort Collins / Poudre Canyon: Blue Lake Trail (6.9 miles), Montgomery Pass (1.9 miles), Zimmerman Pass (1 mile)

Idaho Springs: St. Mary's Glacier (1.5 miles)

Longmont: Rabbit Mountain (3 miles)

Lyons: Hall Ranch Trails

Nederland: Stop and say hello to the frozen man, and then go just about anywhere in town after the snow has fallen.  Lost Lake (3 miles) is pretty easy for all, Arapahoe Glacier Trail (1.8 miles) is a good challenge for the old ticker.

Steamboat Springs: Elk Run Trail-Stagecoach State Park (10 miles), Emerald Mountain Quarry (4 miles), Gilpin Lake (9 miles), Rabbit Ears Pass (6 miles)