Since the weather has been so warm here lately, I can’t help but predict a very snowy winter. The weather will change fast—it always does up here in Maine. One minute it will be a sunny, sixty-degree fall day and the next it’ll be thirty degrees and snowing. One of the things my out-of-state friends always talk about is how cold Maine winters are. Having lived in Maine my entire life, I’ve gotten pretty used to the cold, but that does not mean it doesn’t affect me at all. When I head to class in the middle of January, I look like the Abominable Snowman, all bundled up in my winter gear. Knowing what you need to be prepared for the Maine winters will definitely help you deal with the snow and cold.
1) The first thing you need is a pair of Bean Boots. These boots are waterproof, so a lot of people wear them as rainboots too—they are versatile. Whether you buy the fur-lined boots or wear the unlined boots with a pair of wool socks, a good pair of winter boots will be your savior this winter. Who wants to sit through class with wet socks anyways?
2) You need a warm coat. Personally, I’d advice you to forgo fashion and get a puffy, super-warm coat. It’s not that Maine winters are like being in the Arctic, but it’s always more comfortable to be warm rather than shiver while you walk to class. I also recommend getting a coat with a hood… the hood lets you cover your head when it’s snowing (or worse, rain-snowing) without giving you hat hair.
3) Get a scarf. When it’s snowing, scarves keep the pesky snow from sneaking into your jacket, which is really annoying. It also keeps your neck warm, a part of your body that a jacket doesn’t really protect.
4) Fleece-lined mittens or gloves are essential. You might not need mittens or gloves to go to class, but for a lot of winter activities, like sledding or skiing, keeping your hands warm is essential. Hand and feet warmers that go in your gloves or boots are also really helpful for keeping your hands and feet warm. Warm hands, warm heart.
5) Lastly, I recommend getting some sort of recreational winter equipment, like skis, ice-skates, or a sled. What’s the point of going to school in Maine, a state known for its snowy winters, without making an effort to enjoy the snow? There are so many fun things to do in the winter in Maine! Sugarloaf and Sunday River—two big ski mountains in Maine—are only a little more than an hour away from Colby, and tons students trek to the mountains every weekend (and some weekdays!) during the winter. Johnson Pond teems with ice-skaters when the water freezes, and there’s usually a game of pick-up ice hockey going on. If you don’t ski or skate, sledding on Chapel Hill is a fun activity that doesn’t require coordination!
The most important message I want to leave you with is do not let the snow scare you! Enjoy it—there’s nothing prettier in winter than freshly fallen snow. Get your friends, get outside, and enjoy the snow.
Until next time,
Morgan
