5 snow-filled activities that even adults can enjoy

5 snow-filled activities that even adults can enjoy


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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — With snow in the immediate forecast, parents all over the state are likely (if they haven’t already) digging out the winter gear, complete with mismatched gloves and stretched-out beanies, so that their kids can go outside and enjoy the fluffy, white magic stuff that falls from the sky.

While many parents and adults are content letting children have all the snowy fun, there are those who are just as enchanted by the winter weather. Some even take the snow play to a whole new level. Here are five snow-filled activities that even adults can enjoy.

Sledding

Sledding is a favorite pastime for many children, including Kelli Hansen’s six little ones. And while she does take her crew for fun-filled trips down the hillside, she reserves early mornings for her own mom-time adventures.

With toboggan in hand, Hansen goes up Neffs canyon on the north side of Mount Olympus. She said it takes an hour to get up, but the 15-20 minute ride down is pure joy.

“It's really just my therapy,” she said. “I couldn't survive raising these six kids without a little mommy time. It's the perfect mix of exercise, enjoyment of the outdoors and God's creations — and it’s fun! The higher you hike, the longer you get to sled!”

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Building a snowman

Mother of three and grandmother of 13, Holly Brown, was born to love the wintertime. With a December birthday, and a name like Holly, it was inevitable that each year when the snow began to fall, she couldn’t help but play in it.

This was the case during a recent snow storm, when she just had to go out on her balcony to build a snowman.

“We were staying in a condo over the weekend, and I just couldn’t help myself,” Brown said. “I didn’t have much to decorate with, but I did have some pretzels that I used for the hair, broccoli for eyes, Ritz Crackers for ears, cherry tomatoes for buttons, lemonade cans for arms, and of course, a baby carrot for his nose. Sometimes you just gotta.”

Backcountry skiing

When he’s not out tracking mountain lions or mountain goats, professional outdoorsman Matt Galland of Orem said he prefers backcountry skiing.

“Utah truly does have the greatest snow on earth,” he said. “Our dry environment makes for some low water content snow, causing it to be light and fluffy. Utah's Wasatch Front has endless backcountry ski options. In Utah county especially, you can ski 10,000 vertical feet a day without seeing a single person.

"Skiing by far is my favorite winter sport because it lets you go places you could never get to in a pair of shoes, snowshoes or even a snowmobile. It's fast on the way up and even faster down.

Galland advised backcountry skiers to take caution though and to be prepared before heading into the hills. “Be careful though. Avalanche conditions and steep terrain require a beacon, shovel, probe, and always a buddy for safety. Utah avalanche center has a ton of useful information and an app to keep you safer on the mountain. Until you have skied the face of Timp in 3-feet of powder, you haven't truly soaked in the best that Utah can offer in the winter.”

Fishing

For some, fishing is a sport for the warmer months, but for fisherman and KSL.com contributor, Spencer Durrant, there’s nothing quite like tossing lines out when there’s snow on the ground.

"Fishing in the winter is about being alone, about seeing the fresh snow and being the first one to step through it on your way to the river,” Durrant said. “It's about that serene beauty and lack of awareness of the world, of its problems, of life's general scariness, that almost makes you feel like a kid again. All you can do at that point is to continue to go fishing until someone else shows up on the river. ...

"In all reality, though, fly fishing in the winter is more relaxing than any other time of the year, except mid-June when the Pale Morning Duns hatch. Bundled up in layers, casting light line to spooky trout in crystal-clear water, and having the river mostly to yourself is the epitome of serenity. And as angler who fishes to gain a tighter grip on my sanity, that's more than I could ever ask of this sport."

Running

Playing in the snow in its most simplest form requires little more than a pair of running shoes — and an ugly sweater. At least that’s what over 100 adults found to be the case on Dec. 3, when they ran the first annual Ugly Sweater Run hosted by Park City Running Company.

People who dare call themselves adults from all over the Wasatch Front, including mother of five, Sara Malohifo’ou, headed out to run over 6 miles, including 1,300 feet of elevation gain through the winding mountain bike trails in Park City while wearing ugly holiday sweaters.

“It was a fabulous morning with amazing friends,” Malohifo’ou said. “Just a bunch of goofballs running through the mountain trails of Park City in ugly Christmas sweaters.”

The next time you find yourself sending the kids out to play in the snow, you might want to take your cue from these five fine examples of how to do "adulting" correctly, and get outside, too.


![Arianne Brown](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2505/250517/25051768\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Arianne Brown \-------------------------------

Arianne Brown is a mother of seven young children and is a Salomon at City Creek, Nuun and Unshoes sponsored athlete. For more writings by her, search "A Mother's Write" on Facebook or Twitter @A_Mothers_Write

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