‘Tis the Season… To Go Outside

The Apple Cup is history. (Sorry Cougar fans.) The Civil War is in the books. (Ditto, Beavers.) The Seahawks crushed the Saints in a Monday Night Football game that brought an end to a long and highlight-ridden weekend. (For a good example, go to YouTube and check out the last play of Saturday's Alabama-Auburn game.)

Your stomach is probably still full of turkey and gravy and your fridge is likely stuffed to the roof with more turkey and gravy. And your couch cushions are no doubt strewn with chips and pretzels, and possibly some bottle caps.

Black Friday came and went, and Dayton's Christmas Kickoff was once again a big success.

But now's not the time to stop what you're doing and hibernate. Rather, it's the perfect time to fill your senses with something new: Go outside!

The Touchet Valley offers great outdoor activities in the summer, but winter ain't so bad either. Here are some ideas to get your blood flowing and clean some of that Thanksgiving sludge out of your system: Cut your own Christmas tree. Arm yourself with an axe and a five-dollar permit and head out to the Umatilla National Forest. A Google search will get you to the Umatilla NF's tree-cutting page, with rules and lots of helpful tips.

Chop some wood. With a maul and two or three big rounds of wood you can get your morning exercise and a day's worth of heat. You can cut your own firewood too - go back to the UNF website and find the firewood cutting page. Another five-dollar permit will get you a cord of wood. (Okay, go ahead and use that log-splitter and chain saw. It's still better than watching TV.)

Go fishing or hunting. The Snake and Tucannon Rivers provide outstanding fishing opportunities throughout the year. Check the Washington State Fish and Wildlife website for seasons. Upland game bird hunting in Eastern Washing- ton runs through January 12.

Go snowmobiling. The Touchet River Corrals, at the foot of Bluewood Ski Area, has a launching spot and a large snow park for snowmobiling from December 1 through April 1.

Last but not leasthellip;Go Skiing! As the Times went to press this week, it was snowing in Waitsburg and Dayton. Ski Bluewood was still waiting for a little more of the white stuff before it opened, but it won't be long.

On Page 7 we bring you a preview of Ski Bluewood's 35th anniversary year. Bluewood's new owners, along with new managers Jody and Brandy Ream, are working hard, investing in new equipment and improving the runs and the snowboard park.

A trip to Bluewood is a great way to chase away the winter "blues."