In praise of winter hiking

Jennifer Randolph-Bollinger is a big fan of hiking in winter.

Randolph-Bollinger is the natural resources coordinator at Giant City State Park and is responsible for and involved in everything from environmental education and interpretive programing at the park to trail maintenance and firefighting. When I talked to her recently, she ticked-off a list of things she loves about hiking in winter.

"What's not to like?" Randolph-Bollinger said. "The woods can be so quiet in winter. And if you go out right after a snowfall, there's just the crunch of the snow under your feet and maybe a crow calling or a woodpecker drumming. Of course, you can see a mile into the woods in winter, too, so you can really appreciate the rock formations and the ebb and flow of the landscape."

Personally, I have a terrible sense of direction, so I love the openness of the forest in winter. It gives me the confidence to wander through the woods and do some exploring that I might not do in the summer for fear of getting lost.

One thing that my wife loves about hiking in the winter is the lack of pests and general annoyances. There are no spiderwebs across the trails, for example, and no insects to fan away or no snakes to be thinking about.

While the forest can look bare in winter, in the absence of the summer foliage, I find myself drawn to and appreciating the greens and blue-greens of the delicate mosses and lichens in the forest.

And, of course, there are few scenes in nature more beautiful than the collection of icicle art that can be found around any water source in winter.

Staying warm is key to enjoying the outdoors in winter, for sure. But dressing properly is simply about layering. Layers will trap valuable body heat but will also allow you to make adjustments so you don't start to sweat if you get too warm while hiking.

If you're chomping at the bit now to get out into the woods, Giant City has several outings scheduled for the rest of the winter, and the Friends of Giant City State Park Facebook page is a great way to stay up-to-date with the offerings. You can also visit the IDNR website for information on park activities.

My wife and I will be leading a hike in the Park on Saturday, Feb. 20. Perhaps you'll be able to join us.

But if you can't, there's a full moon hike scheduled for Feb. 27 and birding hikes scheduled for March 20 and 31.

Due to COVID restrictions, participation in hikes is currently limited to 10 people and masks must be worn. Registration is required for all programs.

Call the Giant City Visitor Center at 618-457-4836 for more information or to register.

Mike Baltz has a PhD in biology from the University of Missouri and writes about changing the world from his home in Carbondale.