As winter winds down giving way to the eventual change of seasons, recreational opportunities begin to change as well.  The ski hills and snowmobile trails close, cautious fisherman wait for ice out on their favorite bodies of water, and cross country skiers and snowshoers pack up there gear.  For a lot of people, this time of year is a holding pattern until the snow has melted and the temperatures stabilize, but there are
a number of activities that peak during this transition period.  The warming temperatures, longer days, increased sunshine, and April showers bring back our migratory birds, help the snow melt and the water levels rise, and of course bring us the May flowers.  The rising water levels and snow melt leads to prime whitewater kayaking and rafting conditions, as well as, great views of Wisconsin’s Waterfalls.  Most people don't even realize we have waterfalls in Wisconsin, and some aren't much more than a trickle in late summer and fall, but in spring they deserve more than a passing glance.

The previous are words I wrote last year to describe the season's change, and this year it is no different.  We truly are in a seasonal transition.  If you want to experience all four season's in Wisconsin, live here for a few days in March.  In 2012, it was 78 degrees on St. Patrick's Day, but it could very well have been below zero.  It could rain, snow, sleet, or hail in March like is predicted for the next couple days, or it may be sunny and calm.  Get out and enjoy the transition.  This time of year is a unique time where you can ice fish and kayak, downhill ski and mountain bike, or shovel snow and wear shorts all within a couple days of each other.

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." - George Santayana

Spring has officially sprung for watersport enthusiasts.  This past weekend’s Canoecopia brought out thousands of canoe, kayak, and SUP paddlers as they enjoyed 3 days of product demos, speaker presentations, and trip ideas.  As usual, our favorite speaker and Happy Camper, Kevin Callan did not
disappoint. Kevin is one of the most anticipated speakers every year at Canoecopia and this year was no different, as hundreds of people packed the conference room to a standing room only capacity.  Kevin’s recap of last year’s “Meanest Link” trip around Algonquin Park was predictably humorous and informative.  His unique ability to make any misadventure a funny and memorable experience can only be attributed to his infectious personality and love of sharing his experiences with others.  Or, it could be the ample amounts of single malt that is consumed on his excursions.  Either way, if you ever get a chance to see him in person, I would highly recommend making the time.  I would also like to thank Kevin and Outdoor Research for the free hat that was tossed in our direction prior to the presentation, it will definitely get some use this paddling season.  
 
Another inspiring presentation was given by the husband and wife duo of Dave and Amy Freeman.  Named National Geographic Adventurers of the Year for 2013, Dave and Amy summarized their nearly 3 year and 11,700 mile trip across North America by kayak, canoe, and dog sled.  They began their journey on Earth Day of 2010 near Seattle, Washington in route to Key West, Florida by way of the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada. The experiences they had on this trip ranged from close calls with humpback whales and grizzly bears to hunkering down as Superstorm Sandy crashed the east coast.  The most remarkable part of the trip in my opinion, was that they were able to share
their experiences with thousands of school children via their program called Wilderness Classroom.  Dave and Amy record and upload as much of the journey as they can to share with the children and the children even had a few chances to determine which route the Freeman’s would take.  
 
And finally, I was interested to know if canoe manufacturers had found a Royalex replacement.  Based on information provided, it doesn’t seen that any of the manufacturers are looking for an exact replacement for Royalex. Many feel that the R&D costs associated with finding a new material is too large of a gamble at this point, and that current material offerings create enough options for consumers.  So it looks like Royalex is an endangered species that will likely be extinct in the next 6 to 10 months.  If you were looking to purchase a Royalex boat, I would suggest doing it early this year, as prices will predictably increase as we near the end of Royalex production.  
  
http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/
http://www.kevincallan.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7nPMROkWp8 - Once Around Algonquin


"Refuse to accept the belief that your professional relevance, career success or financial security turns on the next update on the latest technology.  Sometimes it's good to put the paddle down and just let the canoe glide." - Simon Mainwaring

Well the weather in the Western Great Lakes region continues to be the big story.  Here in Wausau, WI the average high and low temperatures for March 3rd should be 34 and 15.  However, this morning the recorded low temperature was -18 with an anticipated high of 9.  Numerous friends on social media even posted pictures of thermometers showing -27 to -32 in some rural areas.  We now have had below zero temperatures for the past 9 days and 46 of the 72 days this winter.  Not to mention, the overall average temperature for this winter has been 6.5 degrees, and on top of it all, we beat the total snowfall record last week.  So, where does this winter stack up in weather history.  I took a look back at some of the epic winter events in Wisconsin History to bring some comparisons. 

The majority of large storm systems have passed by to the South this year, dumping 6-12" of snow in the Omaha to New York path on multiple occasions.  But history shows that we weren't always that lucky.  On this date in 1881, much of Central and Southern Wisconsin received 2 to 4 feet of snow in a 3 day period.  This storm was accompanied by high winds, creating recorded drifts to 20 feet.  A storm like this validates your parents claims of being able to touch the power lines on their walks to school.  And, speaking of the power lines, this week in 1976 produced one of the worst natural disasters in Wisconsin history.  A devastating ice storm hit Southern and Eastern Wisconsin for a two day stretch.  Ice built up on tree limbs, and power/telephone lines to a diameter of 5".  The 60 mph winds that accompanied the ice downed trees and utility poles, knocking out power to more than 100,000 homes.  Some rural areas were without power for 10 days.  And, as history shows, we have had 7 major winter storms in March in the past 20 years.  That information coupled with the Farmer's Almanac's prediction of 30+ inches for this March, may indicate the worst is yet to come. 

For those that are more concerned with the cold temperatures instead of the snow, here are few years you may not have wanted to participate in either.  Of the major weather station cities, Wausau tops the list of consecutive subzero days, with 14 days.  From January 2 through January 15 of 1912, Wausau never saw a temperature above 0 deg F.  That same timeframe also set records for every other major weather station in Wisconsin.  Mid to late January in 1994 and 1996 also had major cold snaps where we saw 6 consecutive days below 0 deg F.  2013-2014 has only produced a streak of 2 consecutive days.  While I'm sure this data does nothing to ease the pain of a long, cold, snowy winter, what I hope it does is to help put things into perspective.  It could always be worse, the only thing you can do is make the most of what you have.

"Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come." - Robert H. Schuller

As the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, we think more of the melting snow and the spring thaw, but there are a lot of people raising concerns over this year's snow melt.  The Wausau area has received over 60" of snow this winter, which is approaching a record, and much of the surrounding region has similar numbers.  We have been somewhat lucky that our snow has been very dry for the most part.  The snow to water equivalent of this dry snow is only 15:1, which means that the liquid equivalent is about 4".  Had it been wet snow for much of the winter, its conceivable that the liquid equivalent would be closer to 8-10", making for a much higher level of concern.  But, nevertheless, the 4" is still causing anxiety.  There are a number of factors that go into snow melt conditions; like thermal radiation, humidity, liquid precipitation, as well as the temperature, but I will just cover some basic ideas and numbers to give you an idea of the impact this abnormal winter may have on our spring.

The easiest way for me to understand the impact of melting snow, is to watch the data provided by the Wisconsin River gages at Merrill and Rothschild. (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/WI/nwis/current/?)  Merrill is considered the southern end of the Upper Wisconsin River Watershed.  The Upper Wisconsin River Watershed covers roughly 2760 square miles, and contains 34% of Wisconsin's 15,057 lakes in addition to 17 tributary river watersheds like the Prairie, Spirit, and Tomahawk Rivers.  The Merrill gage helps me better understand what's headed in our direction.  The Rothschild location watershed area increases to 4020 square miles with the addition of the Rib, Eau Claire, and Trappe Rivers to name a few, and helps me better understand what may happen to areas South of Wausau.  The USGS uses square miles to describe the watershed area, making it a little difficult to understand.  The acreage and square foot equivalents are hard to comprehend as well, but in order to get the point across I'll give you the numbers.  4020 square miles is equivalent to 2.6 million acres, or twice the size of Delaware.  The square foot comparison is even more mind boggling at 112 billion square feet.  This means with a liquid equivalent of 4" on average across the watershed area, we are looking at more than 37 billion cubic feet of liquid (5 billion gallons), which is roughly 18-20% higher than normal.

These gages typically record gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second.  Right now, the gage in Merrill is frozen and not displaying information, however, the gage height in Rothschild is recording 13.72 feet with a discharge of 2580 cubic feet per second.  If you look at the historical data for the past 100 years, you begin to see an increase in flow rates starting around March 10th, with highest average flow in the middle of April, and they finally return to average numbers near the end of June.  So what is average?  At its highest point in the middle of April, the Rothschild location averages 8700 cubic feet per second, which typically equates to a gage height of approximately 17.8 feet.  That sounds like a big difference from the 13.72 feet we have currently, but the National Weather Service defines Action or Bank-Full stage at 18 feet, and lowland flooding begins to occur when you get to 20.5 feet.  If this spring season is similar to historic average, even with the 20% increase in moisture, the maximum discharge in April would be around 10,000 cubic feet per second.  This equates to about 18.5 feet at the gage.  Still below flood stages.  Where the real concern lies, is in the rate of snow melt.  The approximate 100 day melt cycle would be ideal, but if it were to shorten due to prolonged increases in temperature or increased rainfall in March and April we may have some validated concerns.  The National Weather Service is currently predicting a 50% chance of flooding this spring in our area.  So, it's essentially a coin toss at this point.  Either way it is something to watch, especially if you are a paddler or fisherman waiting to get on the water this spring.

"We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear." Martin Luther King Jr. 

After yesterday's 6-8" of snow and the forecast for 8-12" more on Thursday, it doesn't seem like Spring is coming anytime soon.  But, when it does get here, you want to be ready for the start of backpacking / paddling / biking season.
 
Much like any other sport or athletic activity, there are a number of physical fitness components that go into these outdoor activities.  The major components like Cardiovascular Endurance, Muscle Strength and Endurance, and Flexibility are what most people think of when training, but it's the subcomponents of fitness that often make the biggest difference.  Consider these subcomponents in your preparation for the Spring thaw. 

1. Balance - being able to maintain a precise position
2. Coordination - the ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently
3. Agility - staying under control when changing directions
4. Reaction - the speed at which you react to stimuli
5. Speed - the time required to do certain activities
6. Power - the speed at which you can exert a particular amount of strength

Balance and Coordination are essential for efficient paddling and biking, and navigating unusual terrains.  Agility and Reaction often come into play when external forces are applied; think of a strong wind, increased current, deteriorating terrain, or rogue wave.  And finally, Speed and Power, help you cover more ground in a shorter amount of time.  Incorporate these 6 subcomponents into your training and enjoy your time outdoors.  Check out this zero-equipment routine from Fitness Blender that addresses a number of these areas as well as core and lower body strength essential for any activity. 

http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/article-detail/Balance-Workout-at-Home-Balance-Training-Exercises/7k/

On this 51st day of Winter, Central Wisconsin is again experiencing sub-zero temperatures.  For those keeping track, this is day 34 of 51 that we have been in the negatives.  This is in stark contrast to the 4 days in which we saw temperatures above freezing.  If you were to look at this winter as a whole, the average day starts at -4 and only reaches a high of +15.  These temperatures have even the most die hard Winter enthusiast wanting Spring, and who can blame them.  I like to think of myself as a hardy soul that can handle most any weather conditions, but I have to admit that my mind, as of late, has wandered towards sunnier, warmer days in a canoe or kayak.  And, as I think about tossing the canoe on my car and heading to my favorite body of water, I also have to think about how canoeing may change in the near future. 

This year will be the end of an era of sorts for the canoe industry.  PolyOne Corporation, the sole manufacturer of Royalex, has announced that it will stop production of the material in April 2014.   Royalex has been in use since the early 1970's and has always maintained a strong presence in the  canoe market, offering a durable and relatively inexpensive option to materials like Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, and Cedar Strips.  So what's next for the canoe industry? 

Many canoe manufacturers are working hard to procure enough Royalex sheet stock to complete their 2014 product offering, but most assume there will be none available for 2015 boats.  Since the July 2013 announcement from PolyOne Corp, a number of manufacturers have been researching alternative materials that will fill the void in the entry level and whitewater segments of their business.  Some small manufacturers will likely face some hard business decisions in the coming year, and the industry in general will need to give this a lot of thought, but much like the birth of Royalex as an alternative to Aluminum in the 70's, a product will come along to take its place.  We only need to look back as early as 2005 to observe a similar instance in the watersport industry, when Clark Form, the single supplier of surfboard blanks closed.  This crisis ended with the development of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) surfboards.  So, don't put a fork in the canoe industry just yet, because as we know "Necessity if the Mother of all Invention".

"The crisis of today, is the joke of tomorrow."  - H.G. Wells

Groundhog Day, a day in which far too many people eagerly await the weather predictions of the "Marmota Monax", has resulted in a 37% accuracy over the past 40 years.  Not a great track record if you are making plans for a spring warm up.  You are better off flipping a coin and making the prediction yourself or planning for the opposite of Punxsutawney Phil's prognostications.  But, the idea of an animal predicting the remaining length of winter isn't a new concept.  Imbolc, a Gaelic festival, dates back hundreds of years and includes weather divination.  People would focus on the winter dens of serpents and badgers to see if they would emerge from their winter slumber on February 1st, marking the beginning of the spring season. 

Another source for weather prophecy is the Old Farmer's Almanac.  The first publication of the Farmer's Almanac was released in 1792 and has been in continuous print every year since.  And, instead of relying on a rodent to make assumptions about the weather, the Almanac's weather predictions are based on a formula created by Robert B. Thomas, after an extensive study of weather patterns, solar activity, and astronomy cycles.  This formula is still used today, with a few modifications based on climatology studies, and it uses the 30 year statistical average to predict temperature and precipitation deviations.  Thomas' increased scientific approach resulted in accuracy gains of 10-15% over its animal counterparts.  But, that's still only equivalent to a coin flip.  

The strangest form of weather prediction I have read about involves an onion.  Cromniomancy uses the sprouting tendencies, skin thickness, and moisture content of onions to predict everything from the location of lost loved ones to the amount of rain you will receive in each month of the year.  Regardless of which method you choose to accept or not accept, weather prediction has been a part of human culture for many generations, and it will be an important part of our future.

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay

The local and national meteorologists sound like a broken record during nearly every broadcast, using the term "Polar Vortex", extreme cold, dangerous wind chills, and stay indoors to describe our current and persistent weather pattern.  The current weather may be the coldest we have had in decades, but it might be what our area needs.  The map attached to this blog indicates ice cover on the Great Lakes as of midnight on 1/27/2014.  This too is something we haven't seen in decades, but it is actually very helpful. 

Over the past 40 years, Great Lakes ice cover has decreased by 71 percent, on average.  Summer water temperatures have increased more than 2.5 degrees, and water levels have decreased by 29 inches as of January 2013.  Water levels were helped tremendously by a wet 2013, but it still leaves the Great Lakes more than a foot below its historic averages.  So, how does our arctic cold snap actually help?  

The increased ice cover helps reduce evaporative water loss during the current season which helps with overall water levels and reduces the amount of lake effect snow.   Lake effect snow typically balances its negative effect by returning to the Great Lakes during the spring thaw, so the benefit may just be for the local residents lumbar regions, but a benefit nonetheless.  Even more importantly, the large amounts of ice will help reduce the overall temperature of the lakes, which helps with water loss due to evaporation the following year, helping bring us closer to natural equilibrium.   So, as we complain about the temperatures this winter, remember that there is a method to Old Man Winter's madness, that will benefit the region in the future.  

I will leave you with this interesting bit of information I found in an article from Lisa Borre of National Geographic's Water Current section.  December and January are the worst months for water loss due to evaporation.  This may seem counter-intuitive, but high evaporation needs large temperature differences between air and water, low relative humidity, and high wind speeds.  During ideal evaporation conditions, it can account for a loss of 0.4 to 0.6 inches of water per day.  If that rate of loss occurred over the entire Great Lakes, it would be equivalent to nearly 20 times the flow rate of water at Niagara Falls. 

"Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it." Lao Tzu

Are you planning a backpacking or paddle trip in 2014?  Did you already start your new fitness routine to build the strength and endurance you need? Did you forget about the nutrition component of your trip?  Most people do.  Nutrition is more than just the balanced caloric diet of proteins, carbs, and fats and drinking water.  In fact, that is just 4 of the 6 components to overall nutrition.  For your normal daily functions, the remain 2 micronutrient components; vitamins and minerals, are often taken care of with the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.   But fresh fruits and veggies don't often travel well in the backcountry.  So, how do you get the vitamins and minerals your body needs while in the wilderness, and how do they help your performance.  The following is a list of essential vitamins and minerals, some bodily functions they help with, and a few backcountry friendly sources.  

Vitamin A - Essential for growth and development of cells and for healthy immune system. - Dark orange colored fruits and vegetables, (baked sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins)

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) - Helps absorb iron and calcium, contributes to brain function and essential for healthy blood vessels. - Red berries and tomatoes

Vitamin D - Helps strengthen bones and to absorb calcium. - This is a unique vitamin that your body creates when your skin is exposed to sunlight or you can eat fortified foods like milk.

Vitamin E - An antioxidant essential in protecting cells from damage and for healthy red blood cells. - Nuts, whole grains, avocados (guacamole)

Vitamin B12 - Construction of red blood cells and nerve function. - Fish, low moisture cheese, some cereals

Vitamin B6 - Important for brain and nerve function, and breaking down proteins - Beans, seeds, nuts.

Thiamin - Helps convert carbohydrates to energy and necessary for heart, muscle, and nerve function - fortified foods, dried beans, soy products, and whole grains.

Niacin - Helps turn food into energy and important to nerve function - Fish, peanuts, fortified cereals.

Riboflavin - Helps convert carbohydrates into energy and producing red blood cells. - Nuts, legumes, fortified cereals.

Folate - Helps make red blood cells and DNA. - Dried beans and legumes, and some fortified cereals.

Calcium - Helps build and maintain strong bones - low moisture cheese and soy items.

Iron - Essential for the transport of oxygen throughout the body - fish, beans, raisins

Magnesium - Helps muscle and nerve function, and helps steady your heart rhythm - Whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans, chocolate.

Potassium - Helps balance the amount of water in blood and body tissues and with nerve and muscle function - dried fruits and legumes.

Phosphorus - Helps the body make energy and is essential for every cell in your body - Fish and low moisture cheese.

Zinc - Important for immune health and wound healing - Nuts, beans, whole grains, soy products.

If you choose to bring prepared vegetables or fruits, just remember that if they are prepared with high heat, boiled or dehydrated in the preparation process, they often lose some of the water soluble vitamins and minerals.  The best bet would be to either steam or bake the items and keep them as whole as possible. 

"It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold or silver." - Mahatma Gandhi

According to the Outdoor Industry Association, snowshoeing participation has grown by more than 40% in the past 5 years.  More than 4 million people now participate in snowshoeing each year and the number continues to grow.  So, why the increase in popularity?  If you can walk, you can snowshoe which gives it an edge over other balance related winter activities.  A starter pair of recreational snowshoes can cost you only $100 and most locations you use them are either free or have a minimal day/seasonal use fee which has tremendous benefit to the cost and locale limitations of downhill skiing or snowboarding.  Once you have decided to become one of the millions of snowshoers, its just a matter of picking the right ones, and snowshoes have come a long way from the traditional wooden frame.  Here are the three things I consider when choosing the right snowshoe.

The weight of you and whatever gear you plan on hiking with is often the most important.  The overall purpose of a snowshoe is to keep you afloat on the snow, and if you choose the wrong size for your weight, you will be back to breaking through the snow and having to trudge through thigh deep snow with feet three times their normal size.  Most snowshoes will have a weight range listed on the tag, but they are often a huge spread.  You want to choose the smallest size that fits your weight requirements.  This helps minimize the weight of the snowshoe themselves.  Typical sizing from manufacturers are in lengths of 25" (up to 200 lbs.), 30" (up to 250 lbs.), and 36" (up to 300 lbs.). 

Terrain is important when looking at the components of the snowshoe.  If you will be using them on flat ground you can often get by with simpler binding systems and less traction enhancement.  Rolling hills are the next step up and may require a stronger binding system to keep your foot snug and a beefier heel and toe crampon for traction.  And, if you are planning on any steep hills or mountain snowshoeing, look for a snowshoe with aggressive traction enhancers to keep you from sliding off the mountain and a heel lift that helps with calf strain on steep surfaces.

And finally, the snow conditions are also something to address.  Deep powder requires a larger surface area to distribute your weight effectively, while packed trails could be navigated with a smaller lighter frame.  If you will be using your shoes on packed trails most of the time and may occasionally use them in powder, some manufacturers offer a floatation add-on to your snowshoes to give you more surface area in that situation.

I hope to see more people out on the trails this winter trying out their new snowshoes.