My two cents - Lots of fun despite Arctic conditions

Just because we are enveloped in Arctic conditions does not mean all Whitman County residents must spend the winter twiddling their thumbs indoors. No. You can get out.

Here is proof. Take last Wednesday’s whiteout driving conditions. Chaos for driving, but great for sledding the day after.

We have 73 days of winter as of this publication date (spring starts March 20), so get out there for some sledding before it is too late. Despite several spine-cracking sled accidents I had as a kid, sledding is still a fantastic way for me to kill an afternoon. Note: watch out for trees and rocks.

One of the most loved sledding spots in Whitman County is Endicott’s “Killer Hill.”

Like a world-class ski resort, the deer paths that run down the famed hill at the north end of Fourth Street offer sledders varying degrees of difficulty.

One path deposits sledders safely onto the gravel street. A second path sends them toward a jump that puts the sled and its rider up into the great blue yonder. The third path leads directly into a concrete drainage ditch, part of the reason the hill got its Killer moniker.

The hills behind St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Colfax are also great for hitting with your sled, and a statue of the Virgin Mary provides a divine protection against fractured limbs (no guarantees, though).

For maximum speed and danger, sledders could always hit the old grain chutes on the Snake River Breaks, though the Snake River convection zone leads to a painful ending in clumps of frozen grass.

If any of those options are too remote for you, just walk outside of any city limits. This is the Palouse, world-famous for its hilly terrain.

Ice fishing is also an option. While very cold, ice fishing can be a wild time if you bring the right companion. For example, do not bring your whiny, cold four-year-old. Four-year-olds shouldn’t be out ice-fishing.

The hole created for ice fishing is delightful on several accounts. You get to bring a hatchet and whack away until the lake water beneath comes gushing out (don’t make the hole too big because after you leave, it could snow, hiding the hole and creating a hazard for other users). You can put things down the hole, such as your fishing line or a six-pack of soda. When you do (theoretically) hook a big lunker, have a few minutes of excitement reeling it in through the icy water. Feel free to make many happy exclamations.

Rock Lake is open for fishing year round. Both Bonnie and Chapman lakes are closed for the winter, according to Madonna Luers, spokesman for the Spokane Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Snake River is open to fishing year-round too. Luers cautioned avid anglers to watch out for shelf-ice, the lip of ice that forms at the edge of water in winter.

A day fishing license for an adult costs $10.18 and a season-long license is $24. Ages 15 and under are free.

Dress very, very warmly. And, according to Luers, keep your ice fishing hole small and make sure the ice is at least four inches thick.

If all else fails, don’t forget about igloos! An igloo isn’t too difficult to make. I have two styles to recommend.

The first is more traditional and will last for weeks. Throw water on a clean bank of snow until it freezes, cut out blocks and build up the igloo in a circle. Punch a hole in the roof for air and build a tiny chimney around the hole.

The second method, my personal favorite, is to roll a snowball, like you are making a snowman. But instead of stopping when the ball becomes a manageable size, keep going. Roll the ball until it is so heavy you can’t roll it anymore. If you get several people on this, you can roll a ball about four or five feet high. Once you have a mondo ball, jump on it or throw someone on top to jump on it. Stomp on it until the ball forms a hard mound. This will pack the snow so you can next carve out the inside for your igloo.

Do not rule out snowball fights for winter fun. Never underestimate the twisted joy you can feel by pelting spouse, brother or a co-worker just outside the office.

Not only will the fight most likely derail into a battle of epic proportions, it may end up getting you thrown into a snow bank, (which has never, ever happened to me. Never.)

Last of all, stock the house with hot chocolate and spiced cider. Change into dry clothes and warm up!