How to Cope With Cabin Fever

Winter is not quite over yet, but spring is definitely not here either.  I am 100% sure that I'm not the only person who struggles with cabin fever this time of year.  This in between time is usually one of the hardest times for me because I am limited on what I can do.  Most of the ice-fishing spots are getting a little iffy with the weather getting above freezing every day, yet there is still snow on the ground which prevents me from getting out as much as I do in the summer.  I've put together a short list of activities that have helped me cope with this dilemma and deal with cabin fever.  They might come in handy if you live in an area similar to mine. 

My Jeep on a backroad

1. Go get your truck stuck!
I know that sounds like something stupid, but let me explain.  Try to get to some of the random places you like to go in the spring/summer time.  Push the envelope on taking a partly plowed road into some fishing hole or hunting/hiking spot.  Inevitably you'll get stuck and spend the next chunk of time getting your truck out, but at least you will know how close you are to getting to that secret spot!  This gets you outside and helps give you an idea of how close/far spring really is.

Me snowshoeing

2. Pick up snowshoeing!
Once you get your truck unstuck try out the sport of snowshoeing.  Late winter and early spring are some of the best times to get out and snowshoe.  The snow usually melts and then freezes at night which creates a slight crust on top which allows you to walk right on top of everything with snowshoes.  This gets you out, getting exercise, and gets you ready for your summer hiking/scouting trips.  There are lots of random sporting good stores who rent out snowshoes for those who want to try out the sport.  If you've already tried it and want to get started, you can always find great deals on Ebay or other online sites.

A few sheds

3. Shed hunt!
If you are anything like me, the spots you want to get to this time of year, but can't due to the weather, are more than likely some of your hunting spots you are anxious to get back to.  So now that you've driven you're truck, gotten it unstuck, strapped on your snowshoes, and am now walking around, take you're time to get familiar with the area leading into one of your hunting spots.  I know that there have been plenty of times I have seen deer or elk on the drive into our hunting spot then get completely skunked in our "secret spot".  Take this time to look for deer sign such as trails, scrapes, or any other normal deer sign.  Remember that there may not be much fresh sign if the animals have moved into a wintering area, but you might be surprised with what you might find!

Fishing

4. Go fishing!
The previous suggestions all have to do with hunting and/or hiking.  This suggestion is one that embraces the time of year we are in and makes the best of it.  Dress warm and hit the river.  Grab your fishing pole, a friend, and your tackle box and take a walk down stream.  You may only be lucky enough to get to one or two river accesses, but throw your line in the water and enjoy the sunshine.  Fishing is always a good pass time especially if you are tired of being cooped up inside all winter.  It may not be warm enough for swimming or wiping out the boat, but getting outdoors with a fishing pole is therapeutic and relaxing.

In all reality, the secret to dealing with cabin fever is to get out and find something to do.  It really doesn't matter what it is, but be creative and get outside.  Don't be one of those people who randomly has an excuse for everything and always complains about the weather.  If you like the outdoors then get out there, if you would rather be inside reading a book go right ahead.  The bottom like is make sure you never have an excuse of why you aren't doing something you want.  Life is to short to spend on making up excuses.  Get out and live your life however you enjoy (law permitting). 

My Snowshoe, Wolf Hunt, Fishing Trip

Winter view of the river

As my family can attest, I have never been one who likes to be tied down and set in a routine for very long.  It is not that I am ADD or ADHD, but rather that I seem to have an obsession for the outdoors.  My wife (bless her heart) has at times made a comment or two which sounds something like, "You need to go fishing or something so you're not so grouchy".  She knows me and loves me (who knows why) and I am glad to be married to a woman who is patient enough to deal with my obsession.

Sooo... The other day I was a little stir crazy at work and a bit overwhelmed with the demands of my job, schooling, and other responsibilities.  My employer actually told me that I needed to take time off because they were concerned with the amount of overtime I was working.  Hearing this from my employer on a Wednesday was probably the best/worst thing for me to hear that early into the week.  I decided to focus on my schooling and family responsibilities on Thursday and then attempt to take a day for myself on Friday. 

When Friday rolled around, my day was wide open and the options were limitless.  I knew that whatever I decided to do, I needed to get outside and away from civilization.  I contemplated hiking around with snowshoes seeing how lost I could get with the given time I had.  I then thought about how I wanted to get out and go fishing.  I then thought about how the wolf hunting season in Idaho was only open for a few more days and that I would probably regret it if I didn't give it one last shot.  Sooo... my decision was.... All of the above!

Eberlestock X2 Pack all loaded up!

 I decided that I would drive up to the mountains, snowshoe along the frozen river looking for a wolf or other predators, and when I got to open water I would pull out my fishing pole just because I could.  Good thing I got the Eberlestock X2 Pack for Christmas, or this trip couldn't have happened.  I packed all of my normal hunting gear, winter survival gear, extra clothes, my rifle, fishing pole, and tackle box all on my pack for this trip.

I parked next to the "Y" in the road (bottom left) on the picture above and walked through the trees along the river until I reached the power-line crossing a few miles up river.  I followed a few tracks of a fox, but ever got a glimps of him.  I walked until I found open water, but even then the ice was to far out from the bank to allow me to fish so I had to walk a lot further than I had planned if I was going to accomplish all of my tasks I had set out to accomplish.

Snowshoe tracks long the river

Once I finally got to a spot I could fish, I sat down, threw out my fishing pole, and cooked me a nice warm Mountain House meal to fill me up.  It wasn't long before I started catching fish.  I ended up catching 4 fish in less than half an hour, two of which I decided to bring home for dinner.  I packed everything back up, including the two fish, and hiked back out!

In the end, I accomplished the most important task I sought out to do which was relax and get away from all the busyness of the world.  I hiked over 4 miles through 3+ feet of snow, saw views that some people will never see in their lifetime, tried out my new hunting pack, and caught my wife and I a healthy dinner.  The feelings I get while doing any one of these activities is one that I could explain in words, but it would not do it justice unless you yourself had experienced it.  The only thing I wish I would have done differently would be to follow the moto of the Eberlestock pack and, "go in light come out heavy"... I must have gotten it backwards and decided to pack everything I could to test out the load capacity of my new pack!