OUTDOOR Adventures

By Brian G. Schommer

There is a common saying that states “a creative mind is rarely tidy.” As a writer and musician, my opinion of what goes on in my head truly fits the definition of creative. Sitting at the keyboard pumping out “Outdoor Adventures” just ahead of deadline, I am also feeling a true lack of tidiness. There seems to be an insurmountable number of paths to take with a myriad of topics too which I could take and unfortunately, decisiveness seems to be eluding my fingers. The phrase “it is what it is” may never be more accurate regarding this column than it is today. Buckle up because I am under the gun, and this will be a mish-mash ride going forward.

One prevalent thought that has bounded from side to side in my melon is “dang, we have a lot of snow.” The Hastings Parks and Recreation Department is offering two guided snowshoe hikes on Saturday, January 28th or Sunday, February 26th from 9am until 10:30am at Jaycee Park in Hastings. These events are FREE, and snowshoes are provided. You can register online at www.hastingsmn.gov/recregistration and if you have any questions, give Paige a call at the Parks and Recreation office at 651.480.6182 or email her at [email protected] hastingsmn.gov. Another great opportunity being offered by the Hastings Parks and Recreation department in partnership with the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center on Saturday, February 4th is a FREE Ice Fishing Program at Lake Rebecca Park. Registration is required and can be done online at www.hastingsmn. gov/recregistration. You will be asked to sign up for one of five different start times beginning at 9am. Bait, tackle, poles and instruction will be provided for this all ages event. There will be chances to win prizes from Vexilar, Rapala, and the Hastings VFW. No fishing license is needed as the event has a DNR permit. All fishing is catch and release and participants should bring an outdoor chair or bucket for sitting on the ice. Again, if you have any questions, just give Paige a call or send her an email.

I have noticed more than a time or two on social media that a few folks really are not impressed by the amount of snowfall we have received so far this year. There has been an uptick in sales of salt, snowblowers, and even shovels. The sounds of shovels scraping along sidewalks and driveways and the sights of that fluffy white stuff being blasted into the air to a new landing spot in the yard out of a snowblower has become quite common place. You know who is not complaining one bit about the abundance of snow. Storeowners that sell salt, snowblowers, and shovels. It has also been most welcomed by people who plow snow during the winter. The people that are members of area snowmobile clubs… yeah, they are loving it too. While I am at it, hats off to the members of these clubs who volunteer their time to maintain the miles and miles of snowmobiling trails we have around here. Like anything I guess, you are going to have folks that find the need to complain about things, and people with a different perspective that are far from sad.

Speaking of a sad/happy type topic, and not directly about the outdoors but certainly leads to future outdoor adventures, in case you missed it, the Minnesota Vikings season came to an end. As a big fan of the Vikings, it was a bummer. It is just entertainment to me and well, this season certainly was that. The connection to the outdoors is this. Pitchers and Catchers can begin reporting on Monday, February 13th and considering Monday is what I write my column, I already have direction for my column in just less than a month. For some, this is a reminder that Spring is nearing and the ones who are complaining about the snow will hopefully find reason to become happier. For folks like me who love baseball, it is a happy time and with the bonus that I already have direction for the column the week of February 13th… added bonus for sure! So even though the Vikings lost, I have truly found the silver lining and while sad for a bit, happy times are ahead.

That really is how life goes. If you are bummed out, take some time, and look for the happiness that you need. It is out there; you just must put in a little work to find it. You feel like there is nothing to do and/or that everything has a huge cost attached to it? You may have missed it earlier but there are two FREE events for all ages being offered in Hastings. You don’t like the winter weather… there is nothing that anyone will be able to say or do that will change this. Only you can change that mindset and if you do, there are plenty of “Outdoor Adventures” for you to explore. If you are happy staying indoors at this time of the year, then why change? You are happy. If you are not… Get Out and Enjoy the Great Outdoors.