The above photo, taken at Arches National Park, Utah, brings joy.The sight of a snowy terrain triggers a call to be outside, kicking up powdery snow and catching snowflakes on my tongue. I think about the time I snowshoed in Yellowstone after a heavy snowfall and a few years later in the Colorado mountains. I recall driving past snow-topped 14ers of Colorado and snow-rimmed river canyons. I reminisce about walking through Garden of the Gods with a 15-year-old Kerry and making snow angels together. I love snow. Not everyone agrees. Many people look at the same photo and feel cold. I felt the same years ago–growing up in dreary, gray winters of Ohio created a warm-weather monster in me, and I lived my younger decades in Arizona, California, and Florida.

My conversion came when I moved to Colorado. There, snow became less of a commuting hazard and more of an opportunity to see glorious mountain forests painted white and to enjoy the outdoors in new ways. The snowy world is often quiet and imbued with a gentle spirituality. Animal tracks in the snow give evidence to the wild animals that normally pass unseen. A few hardy birds hop through the snow in search of frozen seeds or jump through the treetops looking for a snack of dormant and delicious conifer buds. Later, in Wyoming, I saw raptors diving through a blue sky onto the snowy sage-covered range where a mouse skittered. Now, in North Dakota I see Snowy Owls newly arrived from their Arctic breeding grounds, sitting once again on the utility poles and surveying their kingdom. I have not yet experienced the infamous North Dakota blizzard but am ready and waiting with a plan to sit in front of the fireplace and eat a special beet/vegetable soup with bits of roast, just like the generations of North Dakotans before me.

Unless you are a skier or other winter sports enthusiast, winter is a drag. Residents here say they hate snow, and I know many desert-dwellers who would never set foot on snowy ground. Here is my advice: get the warmest snow gear you can afford. I have the warmest boots that LL Bean makes (I bought men’s boots because they are warmer and less foo-foo); warm water proof mittens and mitten liners; wool socks and toe warmers; windproof hat and scarves; heavy fleece pants and long underwear; and many upper layers to wear under a down parka. Wearing these layers I can ice-fish and feel toasty warm. I always bring a thermos with equal parts hot coffee and hot chocolate, which adds inner warmth.

My dog is a bit more vulnerable. Even with his fur coat, the little guy turns cold and his small feet freeze up quickly. Therefore, this year I invested in his outdoor comfort. He now owns a dapper, lined dog coat, and fleece sweater for under the coat while we ice-fish. I also bought reusable/disposable dog boots. They look like a stubby, uninflated balloon made of heavy rubber. Their job is to keep the water off Tangos paws, which freezes and causes his discomfort.

Ice-fishing should begin in January, depending on temperatures. So far, this year is warmer than average (45 degrees warmer than this day in 2014), so the season could be delayed. Regardless, Tango and I are ready. Just to make sure we all stay warm, Don the Baptist is purchasing a collapsible ice-fishing house. We prefer to be outside, but some days are windy and nasty, and the ice-house/tent will make for amazing adventures.

Let it snow! The white wonderland of a northern winter is alluring, at least until March when the long dark nights take a toll and when all thoughts turn to spring.