Give a gift of skin protection during winter weather
Welcome to winter 2009, folks! Although the first “official” day of winter isn’t until December 21st, I think that recent activity can speak for itself: last week, snow was seen as far south as Texas! Plus, the stores have been playing Christmas music for several weeks. To me, all these signs spell out one thing -- W-I-N-T-E-R!.
Despite my distaste for being cold, winter offers some absolutely amazing opportunities to spread your wings and lighten your footprint. Engaging in winter sports is, arguably, the most fun you can have during these snowy months. However, they can also be some of the most damaging to the environment: massive areas of trees are cleared for ski slopes, massive amounts of energy are used to run ski lifts and gondolas, massive amounts of climate changing emissions from snow machines and snow mobiles, and the list goes on. There are, however, some winter sports that are as fun as they are environmentally friendly!
Exhibit A: Sledding. And it is not just for the kids! When you’re sledding, you are not only providing energy to get yourself and your sled up the hill (and burning off some of those eggnog calories!), there is no maintenance needed for the upkeep of the hill, etc. You can also make a sled out of just about anything! I remember flying down hills on old cardboard boxes. Or you can think about investing in a sled made from recycled materials.
Exhibit B: Cross-country skiing. Unlike downhill skiing, cross-country skiing does not have any lifts or gondolas running through energy. Instead of relying on gravity, you are the force behind your movement! It also allows you to explore a lot of areas you can't get to on snowmobiles and is not as disruptive for the wildlife (like wise, for snow shoe-ing!).
Exhibit C: Snow sculpting. Make a snowman or woman, or family, or dog! The equipment necessary is very limited and you can get as creative as you like: a carrot, a few shiny rocks, maybe a scarf or a couple of sticks. Necessity, is after all, the mother of invention! Even better, create a whole menagerie of snow creatures - snow farm or zoo! You can get children and other family or friends involved and everyone has a good time! You don't necessarily need to travel for this one either - you can hang in your backyard or just saunter down to a nearby park!
Exhibit D: Caroling. Although this one does not directly involve snow, this is the perfect time of the year to gather a bunch of friends and go singing through the streets. Just bundle up and make sure to bring some hot chocolate as well as someone who can hold a tune! There's something special about hearing the wafting of singing voices coming through a neighborhood on a cold winter's night!
If you find that you simply cannot go through the season without downhill skiing or snowboarding, consider going to a resort that has made a commitment to being environmentally friendly. For instance, some snowboard companies are run entirely on renewable wind power! The Ski Area Citizens Coalition recently compiled a list of resorts, grading them for their eco-friendliness. Try out the slopes that have made going white a green activity. While resorts become [more conscious and conscientious])http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/travel/2009/11/22/1122greenski.html) of their impact, we can take responsibility for our activities and give back through purchasing carbon offset packages.
Whatever recreational activities you choose to do over the next few snowy months, you can find plenty of eco-friendly alternatives!
Happy wintering!
Thanks to Steff, voxphoto and higgot for the great photos!
Laura
