Tanner Conley
Staff Writer
As winter weather descends on Wyoming and the surrounding states, more and more students will barricade themselves inside and wait for the sun to melt the cold away.
While this is acceptable for those especially dangerous blizzards and storms that Wyoming is so well known for, it can lead to problems in the long term.
The term “cabin fever” refers to the feeling of increased irritability, restlessness and hysteria that can result from spending too much time indoors. This is especially common over holiday breaks and the early months of the year. The good news is the University of Wyoming’s Outdoor Program has plenty of activities to keep students’ minds and bodies in peak condition when the temperature drops.
“It is so important [to get outside in the winter]. It refreshes the mind, body and spirit,” said Garrett Genereux, Outdoor Program co-coordinator.
The Outdoor Program has an activity for everyone, from snowshoe day hikes to backcountry tours; there is no shortage of options. Do not want to brave the cold snow? Looking for something new over Spring Break? Why not sign up for the scuba course through the Outdoor Program and Western Divers? If students prefer the sun, they can sign up for their backpacking trips. This year, the Outdoor Program is offering a desert backpacking trip and a trip to Moab which includes mountain biking, rock climbing and canyoneering.
“We want to have options for everybody,” Genereux said. “Whether that’s something low-physical like snowshoeing, or if you want to learn a new activity like skate-skiing, we want to have as many options as we can to get people outside.”
If students are worried about safety on their private winter endeavors, then the Outdoor Program also provides courses on technique clinics on nordic skiing, ski and snowboard tuning clinics, avalanche certification and avalanche beacon use.
One of the more popular courses they offer is a Wilderness First Aid course. This course is designed to train students in basic first aid treatment in a wilderness setting. It focuses on injuries that may occur in a wilderness environment during hikes, backcountry trips or skiing excursions, and how to handle them when getting outside help is not an option.
For any students who are interested, but lacking materials, the Outdoor Program has an extensive collection of snowshoes, fat bikes, avalanche probes and split boards available for rent for single days or weekends. They also have pre-made packages that include everything that might be needed for cross country skiing, skate skiing or avalanche safety that are also available for rent. Students can stop by the Outdoor Program’s main office in room 141 of the Half Acre Recreation and Wellness center or go to www.uwyo.edu/op for more information on pricing and availability.
Winter does not always mean curling up by the fire and hibernating until spring. There are plenty of activities that can be found by those willing to seek them out.
“I think [these activities] really can get you excited that it is winter and that you can still have fun outside. Just wear the right layers,” Genereux said.
