Head outside for winter activities
Winter brings an array of activities to be enjoyed. Many choose to remain nestled indoors, yet others venture out in the fresh, cold, brisk air.
While some people’s outdoor activities are limited to shoveling snow and dashing from house to car, there are a few fun and interesting ways to enjoy the winter.
So, put down that remote, game controller or cell phone and try something new.
One of the predominant winter activities is skiing. Hoards of avid skiers enjoy racing down the snowy slopes, darting back and forth on the fresh powder or navigating the moguls. For the novice, the bunny slopes offer the opportunity to learn the sport. For those adverse to the cold but want to join with others on their ski adventure, there is always the roaring fire in the resort lobby with the enormous windows. While you won’t get an ‘A’ for effort, you may score participation points for attending.
David Bradley, 37, of Washington, started skiing at 5 years old. He and his wife, Kristi, started two of their five children, ages eight and seven, skiing at 2 years old. Two 1-year-old twins will start this year.
According to Bradley, skiing provides a “good family time where you can go out and enjoy being with each other.”
Seven Springs is a popular ski resort located only an hour and a half from Washington. It offers an array of slopes to choose from, including those for beginners and a few for experts.
Blue Knob is another popular ski resort located about two and a half hours away from Washington. It offers the highest skiable mountain in Pennsylvania with a vertical drop of 1,072 feet, making it an ideal challenge for experienced skiers.
Oglebay Resort and Conference Center is the closest skiing destination. While it may not offer extensive trails or slopes, it is close to home and very convenient for those who do not want to travel far.
Another activity popular throughout the winter months is ice skating. Fun for the whole family, it is a great opportunity to spend time with those you love, get some exercise and, if you are able to stay vertical, improve your balance.
For someone new to skating with thought of sliding around on frozen water with metal blades attached to the feet sounds intimidating, stepping out of a comfort zone could expose a beloved new pastime, or offer some comedic relief to passersby. It is relatively inexpensive. All that is needed is a pair of skates, which can be rented at the facility. The PPG Place in Pittsburgh offers a festive outdoor skating rink and is a family-friendly environment.
Angela Marasco, 25, of Bellevue, who was born and raised in Washington, enjoys the festive environment of PPG Place.
“Great atmosphere and provides a beautiful view of downtown while you are skating around a beautifully-decorated Christmas tree. It is a nice activity for anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors at Christmas time,” Marasco said.
Locally, while it is not outdoors, the IceoPlex in Canonsburg has a public rink open year-round.
Those who want to fill a freezer and enjoy nature at the same time, hunting may be the answer. For those bold enough to face the elements and many hours of waiting, hunting is a great winter sport. Whitetail deer is the most common game animal during the winter months. State law requires taking the hunter’s safety course to ensure knowledge of the rules and hunting safety. Talking to several experienced people for advice is invaluable to learning safety, as well as many other valuable skills. Have fun and fill the freezer for those blustery winter days, but remember that safety for yourself and others is of utmost importance.
The aforementioned are some popular activities for those sedentary months. For those not interested in skiing, skating or hunting, simply enjoying the “good old-fashioned” fun of sledding, tubing with friends or a snowball battle are great options. It’s all about making memories and enjoying the season.
Winter no-nos and dares not worth taking
1. Don’t stick your tongue on a metal pole.
2. Don’t say, “I wonder if this is slippery?” … then proceed to step onto it.
3. Don’t wipe your hand on the bottom of the ice skate.
4. Don’t ride your sled into a tree.
5. Don’t sit on a frozen toilet seat in an outhouse.
6. Rock salt is not food and calcium chloride is not a supplement.
7. Don’t eat yellow snow.
8. Don’t lock yourself out of the vehicle while waiting for it to warm up.
9. Don’t throw a snowball at the principal.
10. Front-door wreaths are not meant for ultimate frisbee.
11. Santa inflatables don’t double as bounce houses.
12. Riding in the plow truck’s trough isn’t as fun as it sounds.
13. Don’t make snow angels facedown.
14. Don’t use your grandpa’s good fedora on Frosty.
By Matthew Marasco
Sophomore, Washington