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❄️ Winter: Love It or Hate It? ❄️

Good morning.

It’s late January. That means cold, short days. Ice storms and Arctic blasts. Snow drifts and sliding cars. Slipping on ice and snow shovelling.

To flip that frozen coin, though, winter can also mean: snowshoeing in the backcountry, nights by the fireplace, hitting the slopes, snowball fights, hot drinks in a Thermos, and seeing your favorite trails in a whole new way.

Indeed, there are many, many things to love about winter, and we’ll list a few in today’s edition of the newsletter.

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Storm Transforms Lake Michigan’s Lighthouses Into Ice Sculpture Masterpieces

Lake Michigan is accustomed to dealing with wintery conditions, but this week’s snow storm unveiled something unusual. As the latest chill swept over the Midwest, beautiful ice sculptures began to form on lighthouses along the eastern shores of the Great Lake. 

The footage was taken by the drone company, Timeless Aerial Photography. 

Drone pilot, Brandon Clair, has studied these lighthouses as a subject of his photography for some time. “I have been filming the lighthouses and shoreline for years after I started my business. Every year is a little different. The lighthouse is iced over for about two weeks. Now we are getting warmer temperatures, everything’s melting,” he shared with Outdoors.com.  

How to Go Backpacking in the Snow

Winter provides a beautiful excuse to don your backpacking gear and trek into the wilderness. It can extend your camping season, allow you an intimate adventure in a normally overcrowded area, or help you to experience your favorite trails in a new way. Plus, when you’re backpacking in the snow, you likely won’t have to compete for a permit. 

For Scott Benerofe and Justin Lichter, winter provided them an excuse to revisit the Appalachian Trail (AT) and Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), respectively. Benerofe completed a solo hike of the AT in 2022 and ​​Lichter was half of the legendary two-man team that completed the first-ever winter thru-hike of the PCT in 2015. 

“I found winter backpacking to be the most challenging and humbling thing I’ve ever taken on,” Benerofe says. “I’ve run a few ultramarathons since then, and I’ve done a bunch of other stuff, and putting a big, heavy backpack on in the winter and walking around has been the most amazing, humbling, challenging thing I’ve ever done.” 

This guide, with expert advice from both Benerofe and Lichter, aims to unlock the world of winter backpacking so that you may feel empowered to take on the challenge and beauty of winter. 

How Do You Feel About The Winter?

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Looking for Winter Fun? Here Are 15 Incredible Ice Caves to Explore in the U.S.

Naturally formed in limestone caves or lava tubes, ice caves are a wondrous marvel. Throughout the U.S., you can find many ice caves, some in splendor year-round while others only appear during the winter months. Here are 15 beautiful ice caves to explore in the United States.

‘What Planet is This?’: Skiers Rejoice as Arctic Blast Brings Fresh Powder to the ‘Ice Coast’

Last week’s cold snap caused problems for millions of people across the U.S. Bitterly freezing temperatures and chilly air from Canada swept over most of the country. Many states continue to deal with sub-zero temperatures this week. For some, however, it’s not all bad news. 

Ben Michaels, from New York, enjoyed some excellent backcountry skiing conditions thanks to the latest weather. He shared a video of some amazing powder he found on the East Coast, making his followers very jealous and curious about its whereabouts.

⛺️ The Packing List

The northern lights are expected to grace our skies with an extraordinary display courtesy of the sun's upcoming "solar maximum" phase peaking between January and October this year. If you're looking to check this rare cosmic spectacle off your bucket list, Airbnb has gathered a selection of listings in prime viewing spots. Be sure to check them out!*

Osprey has developed best-in-class backcountry packs alongside professional guides, athletes and devoted backcountry recreationalists. These packs put safety first in a lightweight package that’s a must for your snowsports quiver!*

Featured Guide: The Best Women’s Ski Jackets for 2024

Winter is the season for taking on epic runs and different snowy terrains. But it can be very hard to enjoy your time at the ski resort when you don’t have a solid outer shell jacket that will keep you warm and dry when you’re out in the frozen terrain.

As we enter peak ski season, it’s important to make sure your ski gear is in good condition before you get out on those frigid chairlift rides to the top of the slopes. If not, you might be in need of an update.

The best women’s ski jacket is the Columbia Whirlibird IV Interchange 3-in-1 Jacket. Made for fast-changing conditions out on your favorite slopes, this jacket is versatile enough to have you covered in just about any situation.

But that’s not all: we’ve got picks for dry snow conditions, snowboarding, or even just hanging out in town. Read on to see our picks for the eight best women’s ski jackets for 2024.

Need Some New Outdoors Gear?

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There are hundreds of top outdoor brands now in stock, and more are being added all the time. Adventurers can now find everything needed for their next quest on Outdoors.com – from great content to how to’s, guides, expert opinions, and gear.

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