Do winter as you haven't imagined: Adaptive skiing, extreme snow film and dog mushing
Each winter, I meet up with a group of skiers for whom ski passes and gear aren’t their biggest needs. They need a pal.
They’ve spent hours dreaming of snow and of playing on it. By the time we’ve suited up and clicked on our skis, a few will zip off as advanced skiers — and, I’ll admit, smoother and faster on the downhills than me.
Many of our skiers take each slide, each hill as it comes, gingerly testing their skills. If they fall, other volunteers and I may plop down beside them, brush off the snow, take a deep breath and then collectively get our legs to stand us up again — with assist or without. We try to laugh and give a high-five. Then we try to slide again.
The word “disability” slips away. This may be a challenge, whether it’s in the cooperation between the student’s mind and body or the volunteer’s creaky old joints. But look, we’ve come this far. We’re on the snow. It’s no longer just a vision in our dreams.
This is the all-volunteer adaptive ski program Special Outdoor Leisure Opportunities, or SOLO, which now seeks both skiing volunteers and kids and adults with special needs who want to learn how to ski, either downhill or cross country. As you might guess, I’m a long-time volunteer and serve on the board of this local nonprofit that changes both students and volunteers alike.
SOLO invites anyone interested in the program to learn more on a hike with volunteers, students and families at 9 a.m. Nov. 11 on the wooded, dirt trails at Rum Village Park’s nature center, 2626 S. Gertrude St., South Bend.
When SOLO’s season begins in early January, the group uses Rum Village's snow-covered lawns on Saturday mornings for nordic ski lessons or snowshoeing (the nature center makes a great warm-up chalet for hot cocoa). Downhill lessons on Monday nights are at Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones. SOLO provides bus transportation from Granger, if needed.
All of this, including ski rentals at Swiss, cost volunteers nothing. Ski students pay just $10 for the cross-country program (skis and boots are provided) and $50 for downhill, including ski rentals. “Skier-ships” are available if you can’t afford it.
Orientation will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Logan Center, 2505 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend. That will be followed by an exercise session at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Hannah & Friends gym at 51136 Hollyhock Road, South Bend.
To apply as a student or volunteer and find more details, visit skisolomichiana.org.
Winter wondering
Just like the Spanish Inquisition — as fans of Monty Python shenanigans can relate — nobody expected the snow on Halloween. But fair warning: Like SOLO, early tastes of the ski and winter sports season are coming here in November. No snow required. And it’ll be way more fun than schlepping about in a wet, poorly insulated witch costume. Read on to do winter as you haven’t imagined it.
Warren Miller’s extreme snow film
It’s time now for a pre-ski season ritual that will tune and wax your interest in skiing and snowboarding. It’s time to watch this year’s edition of the Warren Miller ski film, a documentary that each year blows our minds as cameras follow skiers and boarders down some of the world’s steepest, fluffiest and craziest slopes.
“ALL TIME,” as the 74th annual film is called this season, will be shown Nov. 16 at the Riviera Theatre, 48 N. Main St., in downtown Three Rivers, Mich.
This year, the documentary looks back at a lot of classic footage from the decades that the late Warren Miller and his team had crafted. So, it’s looking at the evolution of mountain culture and the birth of ski towns. But it also brings in new footage shot at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort in California and at Park City, Utah, according to the film’s present-day producers at Outside Interactive, based in Boulder, Colo. Both this edition and next year’s will celebrate the film’s upcoming 75th anniversary.
“‘ALL TIME’ isn’t a greatest hits collection," a press release states. “It’s a film experience reimagining the moments that got us to where we are today, the compelling people, and the outlandish locations in the history of skiing and snowboarding. It’s a nod to the legacy of Warren Miller and a glimpse into where the sport will go next.”
Narrated once again by Jonny Moseley, it will feature iconic athletes of the decades, plus more recent Warren Miller stars and also the “next generation of skiers and riders.”
Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. for schmoozing with representatives of ski resorts and outfitters, including the SOLO adaptive ski program. The film will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15, which typically includes swag like resort discounts and a raffle. Order them at warrenmiller.blogspot.com.
Mushing 101
You don’t have to live in Alaska to get your mutt to mush. Really. Nor do you need snow. Hmm? You’ll find out if you sign up for the annual Mushing 101 course that the Heartland Mushers Association will lead once again on Nov. 18 at River Preserve County Park in New Paris.
Bring your pooch, which must be at least 15 pounds. You’ll both go through a series of dry-land training techniques that use mountain bikes and specially designed wheeled carts. The folks at Heartland typically bring some of their experienced dogs. The idea is that, with both of you tethered in a harness, your canine could pull you on a sled, skis or those wheeled devices. Yes, there are races beyond the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska — even here in the Midwest.
The workshop will be at the park’s Benton Shelter, which is on County Road 31 south of U.S. 33. Cost is $10 per person or family. Register by Nov. 17 at elkhartcountyparks.org.
I wrote a dandy column after attending the 2020 workshop with lots of tips and insight, including gear and mushing organizations in Indiana and Michigan, linked here in the text of this column online.
In the season
∎ Sunset at Spicer Lake: Take a naturalist-led walk along the boardwalk at Spicer Lake Nature Preserve in New Carlisle from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 8. Hosted by the Friends of Bendix Woods and Spicer Lake, it will close with refreshments and a brief meeting to hear updates about volunteer opportunities and other ways that the Friends group supports the parks.
∎ Free for Veterans: All Indiana State Parks, forests and recreation areas will offer free admission Nov. 11 to veterans and active-duty members of the military, along with everyone in their vehicle. Just let the park’s gate attendant know that you’re military or a veteran.
All National Park Service sites, including Indiana Dunes National Park, offer free access any time of year to active-duty military, veterans and Gold Star Families (next of kin to a military member who died in war or qualifying military action); for that, you’ll need a form of military or veteran identification — find details linked here in this column online.
∎ State parks close for deer hunts: A total of 18 Indiana state parks will close Nov. 13-14 and 27-28 for deer hunts to control the deer populations. Close to home, they include Indiana Dunes, Chain O’Lakes and Tippecanoe River state parks. The others are Cave River Valley Natural Area, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Lincoln, O’Bannon Woods, Ouabache, Prophetstown, Raccoon State Recreation Area, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial state parks. Learn more in a link here in the text of this column online.
∎ Turkey Trot: Join this 56th annual chip-timed 5K and 10K run and 1K kids fun run Nov. 19 on the wooded dirt trails at Southwestern Michigan College at 58900 Cherry Grove Road, Dowagiac. The 5K and 10K will start at 1 p.m. and the 1K at 2 p.m. Cost is $25 by Nov. 11 to include a T-shirt and $30 afterwards. The 1K is free (no T-shirt). For registration, visit cairnstoneadventuretours.com/run-walk-events.
Find columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures or 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Try SOLO adaptive skiing Warren Miller film and dog mushing this winter
