There's no place like dome
Building snow forts or igloos is a fun way to release one's inner child with an activity requiring little or no equipment and experience.
A good fort takes the right kind of snow, however, and that's a gamble depending on the weather.
""The best snow is the slightly wet and sticky kind,"" atmospheric associate professor Jonathan Martin said. ""The sticky kind of snow falls when the temperature is right around the freezing mark.""
However, if you get stuck with the dry, powdery snow tending to fall in Madison's cold weather, there is only one thing to do, according to Martin, ""Make a single large pile of snow and carve an igloo out of it.""
As far as construction tips, Martin recommends building snow forts in the shade of a building or tree so that melting is minimized. He added, ""Igloos are strongest and longest lasting, but they take the longest to build.""
It's good to take a few safety precautions with snow forts, especially the igloo or cave variety, since potential danger isn't just a parental scare tactic.
""Make sure there are a couple of ways out of the fort,"" Martin said. ""Also, of course, building the fort away from road traffic is a good idea.""
The reel deal on Madison ice fishing
t winter for you, but in case of a cold snap, Lake Mendota is the perfect location for fishing.
""Mendota is a fishing and fisherman's lake,"" Kurt Welke, Dane County fisheries manager at the Department of Natural Resources said. ""From a fisheries management standpoint, it is a wonderful lake that supports robust populations of valuable fish for both consumptive and non-consumptive purposes.""
For those who may fear eating lake fish, there is good news.
""Lake Mendota has a healthy fishery,"" according to professor Steve Carpenter of UW-Madison's zoology sustainability and global environment department. ""There is no problem with consuming fish [from the lake].""
Welke agreed, saying there are no health advisories regarding mercury or PCBs in Lake Mendota. ""My personal feeling is that there's a lot more risk associated with driving the Beltline than from eating Lake Mendota fish,"" he said.
D&S Bait, Tackle & Archery, 1411 Northport Drive, is a useful place for those seeking equipment and advice. In addition to their website, dsbait.com, D&S also offers a fishing hotline, (608) BIG-FISH, with up-to-date fishing reports on local waters.
For those new to the sport, ice fishing provides a break in the dullness of winter.
""I [ice fish] because it gets me outside and breaks up the winter doldrums,"" Welke said. ""The fish are a bonus of the trip.""
The most important aspect of ice fishing safety is the ice itself, especially with this season's warmer weather.
""Watch for poor or degrading ice conditions,"" Welke said. ""I suggest taking a compass; it can get foggy and there have been times you cannot see shore.""
Welke also recommends equipment such as a pair of pliers or a hook remover to quickly remove hooks from undersized fish, adding, ""Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back, especially if you night fish.""
Starry, starry winter night
For those looking for a new activity during the long winter nights, visit the Washburn Observatory and do some stargazing.
Washburn Observatory, 1401 Observatory Drive, is open to the public on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Volunteer astronomers host these sessions from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. during January through March. Since Washburn's dome must be open for telescope use, temperatures inside the observatory can get quite cold, so dress appropriately.
The Observatory telescope is 125 years old and has a magnification of approximately 500 times. The telescope is pointed at several targets over the course of the evening, including the moon, various planets, star clusters and nebulae.
""The winter constellations will be at their early evening best during January and February,"" astronomy professor James Lattis said. He added that Orion, Taurus, Gemini and Canis Major are all very prominent on clear winter nights.
Venus and Saturn will also be noteworthy sights shortly after sunset. Venus rises in the western sky, while Saturn is visible in the east just in front of the constellation Leo. The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, may be seen occasionally on the northern horizon as well.
Upcoming astronomical events are also being held at the UW Space Place, 2300 S. Park St., the outreach center of the astronomy department. Public observation using the Space Place telescopes is available on Jan. 26, as well as Feb. 9 and 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. Student volunteers will be available for assistance.
UW astronomer Dr. Bob Benjamin will also speak on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. on how astronomers are exploring the structure of the Milky Way galaxy using an orbiting infrared observatory. All events at the Space Place are free and open to the public. More information can be found at spaceplace.wisc.edu.
Flying the friendly flurries
If typical winter sports like skiing and snowboarding seem tiresome, consider giving snow kiting a try.
""Snow kiting is where a person moves along the snow or ice powered by a large foil kite that can be controlled from a handlebar,"" said Brian Borkovec, head of instruction for the Hoofer Sailing Club, which is entering its second season of snow kiting.
Although the Hoofers use skis or snowboards, ice skates or sleds can be used as well. It is recommended to have some basic proficiency at skiing or snowboarding before learning kiting.
To kite on a lake, thick ice—at least three to five inches—is necessary and a helmet and other safety gear is a must.
""It is highly recommended that someone take lessons in flying the kite when they start out,"" Borkovec said. ""This is potentially an extremely dangerous sport if the proper precautions are not taken.""
Kiting can take place on water during warmer months, although it is easier to learn to kite in the winter because there is more space on a lake and it is easier to stay upwind on snow or ice.
Unfortunately, this season has been less than excellent for snow kiting and other winter sports because of the warm weather. ""[We] wish we had some frozen lakes to play on this winter,"" Borkovec said.
Hoofers offers beginning lessons, typically at Warner Park. Those interested may sign up at hooferlessons.org. Additional snow kiting information and equipment may also be found at kiteridersllc.com.
