Wildindiana Feb-Mar 2015

1February-March 2015 WildIndiana Magazine

Ice Fishing 101

INDIANAEverything in the Hoosier Outdoors

Hunting - Fishing - Camping - Hiking -Boating - Nature - Shooting - Food - Travel - Adventure

Feb-Mar 2015

FREE!FIRST ISSUE

VOL 1 NUM 1

Behind the Scenes: The Ford Boat, Sport and Travel Show

Get the kids off the couch with our Guide to Central Indiana Sledding Hills!

Four Great Winter HikesIt’s Maple Syrup TimeArtist: Ben West

Columns from Schoonveld - Cranfell - Benko

2 WildIndiana Magazine February-March 2015

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More Stories

>>In this issue5 Renfro Family Tradition

A tradition for many Indiana outdoor families, the Boat, Sport & Travel Show is even more for the Renfro family.

By Don Cranfell

6 Ice Fishing 101Interested in ice fishing but not sure where to start? Check out our quick start guide to hardwa-ter angling.

By Brent T. Wheat

7 Ben West: ArtistHe’s a fishing guide in Alaska, he’s a painter in Bloomington, he loves trout: that describes fishing artist Ben West.

By Don Cranfell

11 Stay AliveFishing, snowmobiling or skating can occassionally be a dangerous business. Learn survival tips for when the unthinkable happens.

By Brent T. Wheat

12 Four Great HikesLooking for a fun way to spend a late winter after-noon without planning a major expedition? Check out our choices for four quick and easy hikes.

By Brent T. Wheat

17 Let It Flow: Maple Syrup TimeStarting on Valentine’s Day, it’s time to tap trees all across the state. Find out where you can celebrate this toothsome treat.

By Brent T. Wheat

22 Where to Sled in Central Ind.If you’re young or young at heart, check out our comprehensive guide to public sledding areas in Central Indiana.

By Rod Rose

Columns9 Pine Hills

Indiana’s first nature preserve is a great win-ter destination.

14 Gear GuideA must-have book and two new predator hunt-ing items.

16 News and NotesImportant information you may have missed elsewhere.

24 And Finally...The heartache of Boat Envy.

4 Editors ColumnWelcome to my, um, nightmare.By Brent T. Wheat

Trailer BoatingBeware of E15, a hidden problem at the pump.By Mike Schoonveld

Food: WatercressA gourmet treat grow-ing wild in winter.By Chef Karl

Small Water AnglerHarrison County’s Blue River.By Don Cranfell

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WildIndiana Photo Wall


Brent T. WheatWildIndiana Editor

>>Editor Column

WildIndiana Magazine is pubished six times per year by Signal 10 Media LLC and is available at retail locations throughout Central Indiana.

Signal 10 Media LLCPost Office Box 794Lebanon, Indiana [email protected]

Editor and Publisher Brent T. Wheat

[email protected]

WildIndiana Magazine

We accept unique photog-raphy and writing submissions on Indiana-focused outdoor topics. For submission guide-lines, please visit http://www.wildindiana.com/submissions

Contact

Copyright ©2015 Signal 10 Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Nothing in this publication or associated media properties may be reprinted, rebroad-cast or reproduced without permission from Signal 10 Media LLC. Views expressed by content contributors do not necesessarily express the views of Signal 10 Media LLC, WildIndiana Magazine, Wild-Indiana radio or WildIndiana.com.

PROUDLY PRINTED IN LAFAYETTE INDIANA, USA

Submissions

Welcome To My Nightmare, er, DreamYou hold in your hands the

first edition of WildIndiana magazine; let me welcome you to my nightmare. Sorry, I meant dream.

I’ll answer the first question that many people have right from the start: why are you starting a print magazine when the entire publishing industry is a zombie, dead to everyone except crusty unreconstructed writers, a rotting corpse sham-bling forward toward the pit of bankruptcy?

Yes, it is undeniable that the media business is undergoing some challenging times. How-ever, I have an unshakable belief that specialized publications such as this magazine can not only develop an audience but ultimately thrive, at least in a modest way.

As a long-time outdoor writer, I know there are count-less stories to tell about all the great recreation opportunities in Indiana. Ironically, while there is a great demand for such sto-ries, there are fewer and fewer publications where you can actually read such things. Thus, we hope to ride in on a white horse (a clapped-out old van, actually) and fill that need for readers and advertisers.

The first key to success of any publication is to focus on providing the audience with information that is important to them in some way. We will never forget that focus and every story is evaluated by a series of questions: Is it local? Is it well-written and illustrat-ed? Does it impart knowledge that readers want and/or need? Does it entertain?

If we can answer those ques-tions affirmatively, I believe this somewhat unorthodox experi-ment will succeed.

My vision is to build a com-munity of writers, photogra-phers, readers and advertisers who are excited to be part of this physical touchstone that is made from the common thread that we all share, a love of get-ting outdoors In Indiana.

And that is one of the most important points of what we are trying to do. I discovered years ago during my halcyon newspaper columnist days that virtually everyone enjoys outdoor recreation even if they don’t consider themselves (I hate this term) “outdoorsy.” Therefore, our goal is to serve up great hunting and fishing stories while also sharing all the other fun and interesting things there are to do in the unpaved hinterlands of Indiana. No mat-ter if you like to watch birds or eat them – probably both – we hope that WildIndiana Magazine is a “big tent” where everyone can find something useful to their own outdoor interests.

It has been an interesting,

frustrating, rewarding, exasper-ating, terrifying and ultimately exciting journey over the last year trying to essentially build an aircraft carrier from a handful of iron ore. I hope that this first issue will prove “merely adequate” as we strive to grow better, larger and even more relevant as the months and years progress. To do that, we need your support and input.

Let us know how we are doing, even if you don’t like it. Tell us what stories you would like to see covered and the places where the magazine should be distributed. If you own a business, help us support our community because (as you well know) it isn’t cheap to buy paper and gasoline. As I have often said, this needs to be a community of like-minded souls in order to succeed.

That’s my dream and, putting sarcasm aside, I really don’t think it will become a night-mare. There are simply too many good Hoosier outdoor stories to tell and too many people that would like to hear them for our experiment in modern outdoor journalism to fail.

So, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I hope to see you somewhere out there, in WildIndiana.


A Family Tradition: The Boat, Sport and Travel Show

The Renfro family keeps a father’s dream alive - for all Hoosier outdoor families

By Don CranfellPhotos provided byRenfro Productions

The late winter months are gray and dreary in central Indiana, making

it difficult to get excited about anything in the out-of-doors. Fortunately, since 1963, Renfro Productions has been bringing the outdoors inside during the drab later winter in Indianapolis.

Taking over a fledgling show whose original owner grew disheartened after a gas leak and subsequent explosion killed 74 and injured another 400 in the State Fair Coliseum, Harry Renfro took the reins from his former boss and pursued his

own vision of the Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show. Har-ry’s goal was to transform the male dominated sporting show into a family-centered event where Hoosiers could escape the blustery days of winter while walking the Exposition Hall to make reservations at the best lodges, getting hands-on demonstrations of the newest gear, take in entertaining shows, and boats; lots and lots of boats.

Harry Renfro passed away in 1986 but not before realizing his dream. When the Renfro

family took over day to day operations of the Boat, Sport and Travel Show, they not only continued his dream of having the nation’s leading outdoor show but continued to foster his ideals. Today, brothers Mark and Kevin run the largest show of its kind in the nation and strive to bring in featured en-tertainment that spans a wide variety of outdoor recreational interests.

Several years ago the format was altered to include stand-alone events that would book-end the opening and closing

weekends of the Boat, Sport and Travel Show. The first, The Hoosier Motorcycle Exposition is now in its 24th year. After a week of teardown and re-building the 18th annual Indiana Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Expo takes its place on the following weekend.

The latest major addition, now several years young, is the Quiet Sports and Outdoor Living Pavilion. “Personally, I love the experience of being outdoors, sailing, snow shoeing,

Continued on page 18-


>>Cover Story

Indiana Ice Fishing 101The middle of the state isn’t thought of as an ice angling paradise, but the fish are still there. Make plans to go out today and catch them!

Photo: Indiana Department Of Natural Resources/JF Maxwell

By Brent T. Wheat

In February, most Hoo-sier anglers are more concerned with outdoor

television shows than actu-ally catching fish.

However, for a select group of hardy fisherman, the frigid cold days of mid-winter signal the beginning of an entirely different season. Once local waterways are locked solid under a sheet of white, ice fish-ermen grab their gear and head out into the deep freeze.

Fishing in midwinter is not for the faint of heart. Ice fishing of-fers some discomfort and even potential danger but for those who are prepared, it can be an enjoyable and productive way to spend a winter afternoon.

The central part of the state has a relatively short ice-fishing season that varies widely from year to year but on average, ice fishermen consider four weeks of safe ice to be a good season. Anglers nearer the Michigan border often have much longer. This year, 2015, has proven about average.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources rec-ommends a minimum of four

Coninued on page 10-


Photo: Indiana Department Of Natural Resources/JF Maxwell

Many people fish. A select few are able to commit their

lives to the art of fishing. Even fewer are fortunate, and skilled enough, to commit their lives to the art of fishing art.

Bloomington’s Ben West is one such talented indi-vidual.

Growing up in Crozet, Vir-ginia, West had the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop for his childhood fishing outings with his dad. His mother was also a talented painter in her own right.

While a teen, West discov-ered his passion for fishing with the inspiration of a school shop teacher. “Mr. Scott always had all these fishing magazines scattered around his classroom. He’d let us read them when our work was done,” he remembers fondly of his former teacher.

As Ben’s skill with a fishing rod grew, so did his talent with a paintbrush. While earning a degree in Fine Arts from Warren Wilson College, he discovered fly fishing and never

looked back. After moving to Bloomington, Indiana, he discov-ered the intricate beauty of the brown trout and everything fell into place.

“It’s a really personal thing for me. I prefer to catch, hold and photograph each fish I paint”, West says. “It really connects me to the painting… and I par-ticularly enjoy painting browns.”

These days Ben splits his time between fishing near his Bloomington home and guiding in Alaska.

His work can be seen on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/oex9atx

Photos: Dave Hosler and Ben West

Ben West:

Artist By Don Cranfell

Bloomington Artist Ben West at a recent art show

Above left: Wyoming’s Glory

Above right: Wyo’ Bow Left: Caught Ya’ Caddis

Paintings by Ben West


Mike SchoonveldTrailer Boating

>>Trailer Boating

Beware of E15- Coming To A Pump Near YouEthanol/gasoline

blends have been available since the

1970s. Back then, it was an oil com-

pany attempt at outside the box marketing, like putting cherry juice in Coca Cola or adding chocolate to milk. Some people liked the idea and didn’t mind paying a few cents extra for the “gasohol” as it was then called. The government had nothing to do with it.

Then government got in-volved. Legislators from states with lots of cornfields and few constituents found an issue which would redistribute tax dollars to the prairies instead of the cities. Environmentalists found an issue which would appease their hatred of petro-leum. Regulators found a new product to control. Lobbyists found an industry willing to pay them to tout its cause.

The result became a solid voting block in Washington, bought and paid for by ethanol producers. A block which has legislated tax breaks, incentives, subsidies and grants to fuel-eth-anol distilleries. Ethanol plant construction produced the biggest building boom on the Great Plains since the railroad era in the late 1800s.

To make sure of a market for the ethanol being produced, laws were passed mandating specific and ever-increasing levels of ethanol be used for fuel. The US production of fuel ethanol in 2006 was 4.3 billion gallons. The law says it’s sup-posed to be 15 billion in 2012 and 36 billion by year 2022.

When writing this law (called

the Renewable Fuel Standards) the assumption was made America’s thirst for gasoline would continue to rise on an annual basis. More gallons of gasoline would require more gallons of ethanol so the stan-dards should have been easily met.

The price of a barrel of oil was around $30 in 2006. It sky-rocketed to $147 in 2008 and has never and will likely never go back to those prices of a decade ago.

Gasoline prices doubled and more. When gas prices went up, instead of using more gasoline each subsequent year as predicted, American drivers used less. They drove less and many elected to drive more fuel efficient vehicles.

However, the mandate to produce ever increasing amounts of ethanol is still in place. How will this work? If you are the EPA, there’s always a way to pound a square peg into a round hole.

So in typical big government fashion, instead of walking away from the boondoggle they created and letting the market and demand set price and pro-

duction levels, the bureaucrats doubled down. If there aren’t enough vehicles burning enough 10 percent ethanol fuel (E10) to use the government mandated production, the government solution was simple - boost the base ethanol level in gasoline to 15 percent.

No matter the new E15 blend would ruin cars built in 2001 or earlier. No matter the computers and sensors in pre-2007 autos are not compatible with E15. No matter using E15 in current year mowers, ATVs, leaf-blowers and other small engines voids all warrantees.

What about boat motors? Significant problems sprang up in many marine engines E10 became commonplace. By and large, that problem has been outgrown, but what will happen to boat fueled up with a few tanks of E15?

Studies were conducted on new inboard, outboard and sterndrive engines, matching performance, reliability and emissions from identical en-gines burning E10 and E15. The E15 flunked all the tests. In fact, testing was stopped on 2 of the 3 outboards testing the E15 to avoid ruining the motors.

Recently, Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) intro-duced “The Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act of 2015.” This bill, which is enjoying bipartisan support, will repeal mandates for blends of ethanol fuels above 10%.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting, owning or using fuel containing high levels of ethanol. Far better, however, is allowing that to be a personal choice,

not one mandated by the EPA. I’ve contacted my congressmen encouraging their support.

E15 is not yet widespread in Indiana but it is now widely dis-tributed in 16 states including three of our neighbors, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. No doubt, it will eventually be sold here in Indiana so watch out when you pull “Ol Wavewhacker” up to the fuel pumps this season.

Mike Schoonveld grew up hunting and fishing in rural Northwest Indiana. In 1986 he piggy-backed a career as an outdoor writer onto his already long tenure as a wild-life biologist with the Indiana DNR. Now retired from his DNR position, Schoonveld is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed boat captain, operates Brother Na-ture Charters on Lake Michigan and spends much of his time trailering his boat to fishing hotspots around Indiana and the Midwest.

He can be reached via his website:www.brother-nature.com

About Mike


Less crowd, more view...

If searching for a beau-tiful, historic and un-crowded place for

hiking on those occasional good-weather days in late winter, consider Pine Hills Nature Preserve.

Located in Montgomery County on state road 234, this DNR property is next door to its bigger and more famous sister, Shades State Park.

This 470 acre tract was the first dedicated state nature preserve and is steeped in local history and spectacular scen-ery. If you enjoy the rush that comes from standing on the edge of a tall cliff, Pine Hills will not disappoint.

Being a nature preserve, this property does not have the amenities of a state park. There are no special facilities aside from a gravel parking lot

located inside Shades and the only trail is a 1.3 loop starting at the entrance. The trail winds leisurely through upland forest for several hundred yards until an impressive vista suddenly opens for the hiker. The ground continues to fall away until you are standing on Turkey Backbone, a very narrow ridge characteristic of this area.

Carved by looping creeks, the area’s razor-thin ridges offer un-matched views of the surround-ing forest and the Sugar Creek valley. Hiking the trail is almost like a trip to the mountains in miniature among the flat agrari-an Hoosier landscape.

The trail crosses Turkey backbone and then descends through a quiet hemlock grove until reaching level ground in a natural amphitheater surround-ed on all sides by cliffs. This flat spot was once the home to several woolen and grist mills from 1832 until 1870. All that remains of these enterprises

Destination: Pine Hills

is the huge notch cut through the side of a backbone to supply wa-ter from a pond behind the ridge.

Leaving the valley floor, the trail scrambles upward to the most no-table feature of the area, Devils backbone. A six-foot wide, 100-foot tall ridge, it initially appears to be a smooth, man-made stone walkway on the ridge top. The backbone divides the Clifty and Indian creek valleys and the treadway features stone carvings from the 19th century. Careful observation will find names, old dates, passenger pigeons and a life-size relief carving of the Devil. Walking down the ridge, the trail winds up the creek and then rejoins the trail to retrace steps to the parking area.

Safety is an issue to consider when hiking Pine Hills, espe-cially in winter. As the trail ma-neuvers over the ridges, there

are no safety ropes or guide rails. Hiking across the tops of the narrow ridges is vertigo inducing and young children should be held firmly or left home. Visiting this area during icy or even rainy conditions is not really advisable. There is no rock climbing and rappelling allowed in the preserve.

Photos: Brent T. Wheat


Ice Fishing 101 - continued

inches of clear, solid ice before venturing out. This usually requires at least a week of below-freezing temperatures to occur depending on weather and water conditions. Rivers and creeks in our state do not freeze solid enough to create safe ice fishing conditions.

A listing of favorite ice fishing lakes is point-less because most anglers in Indiana do not travel long distances to fish due to the ephemeral nature of the ice. Basically, anyplace you can legally visit, has safe ice and good fish populations is a prime ice fishing spot.

The key to catching fish un-der the ice is the same as sum-mer angling: you must find them first. This involves a tradeoff because while it is simpler to move around on the frozen expanse, actually reaching the water is a bit tedious. This re-quires the most expensive but required piece of specialized equipment, a hand-powered

auger or ice drill. Bluegills and other related

sunfish are the most popular ice fishing species with the major-ity of ice fishermen. Abundant in lakes and farm ponds, tasty and eager to bite under ice, the bluegill is the classic Hoosier wintertime quarry along with occasional catches of crappie, bass and even catfish.

Anglers often start prospect-ing for bluegill in shallow water while crappie, yellow perch and bass are often found suspend-ed over deeper water. Above all, the angler must keep moving and drilling holes until fish are found.

The fishing gear used for hard water fishing is much simpler, almost primi-tive, than that used for regular angling. There are two major types of tackle: tip-ups and ice poles. Tip-ups are mechanical devices that automatically set the hook and signal the angler. These are very useful for the lone fisherman, allowing the

Indiana legal maximum of three lines in the water at one time. Ice poles are diminutive one-foot rods with small reels to hold the very light line being used.

Lightweight line and equip-ment is neces-sary because the terminal tackle is exceptionally small to help en-tice the lethar-gic winter fish into biting. The classic terminal tackle used by most ice anglers is some type of tiny jig tipped with a single wax worm, meal worm or other insect larvae.

When fish are caught, they are simply thrown out on the ice for a quick freeze that keeps them in prime condition until the kitchen fillet session. You’ll

find these flash-frozen fish from cold water are exceptionally tasty, the final and perhaps best bonus of a fun day spent out-doors.

-Continued from page 6

Photo credits:Middle-IDNR/JF MaxwellBottom-Brent T. Wheat


Each year on average, several people in Indiana fall through thin ice and drown after becoming uncon-scious in the frigid water. Most recently, two teenag-

ers died while ice fishing on January 18 in an Owen Coun-ty quarry.

Always remember the number one rule that professional rescuers use: “No ice is safe ice”. Even a strongly frozen lake can have thin or weak spots due to springs, water level fluctuations, current, inflow from drainage pipes or other factors. Never com-pletely trust the ice.

Before venturing out, examine the ice. While most ice is white on top, there should be a layer of hard, crystal-clear ice some-where underneath. This is the layer that should be measured when considering the thickness of the ice. Four inches of clear, hard ice is usually considered the minimum for a lone angler.

If you suddenly find yourself in the water, there are a few things you can do to survive. First, while most anglers don’t wear them, PFD’s provide a great deal of warmth while fishing and will help save your life in an ice accident.

While in the water, concentrate on remaining calm and staying at the surface. Bulky clothing will help you float, as will catching air underneath a parka. Panicking will only tire you out quicker and your thrashing will help purge your clothing of air, causing you to sink.

Do your best to stay horizontal at the lip of the ice. Pru-dent fishermen carry “claws” or icepicks that remain in a sheath

around the neck and are used to pull oneself onto the ice during an emergency. A sheath knife, fishing pole or even fingernails can be used, though not as effectively.

Once stable in the water, try to kick and then push yourself onto the ice with your legs, while pulling with hands. As you leave the water, roll away from the hole onto thicker ice. This ‘kick, push, pull, roll’ sequence should be accomplished in one rapid but fluid motion until successful.

Quickly rolling will also save you if the ice starts to break but you haven’t yet submerged. Lying down distributes your weight, preventing further ice breakage while rolling moves you quickly out of the area.

Aside from ice fishermen, many ice rescues involve people who were trying to save their dogs or other animals that were trapped in the ice. Dogs retrieving thrown sticks are a common cause of drowning as panicked owners irrationally try to creep out across the ice to help their pet. Sadly, dogs will often self-rescue while the owners perish; dogs are certainly important but not worth dying over.

Rescue of anyone fallen through the ice is best accomplished with a rope thrown to the victim or some type of long pole. Try-ing to personally reach the victim or making a human chain across the ice will most often result in multiple victims.

Stay AliveWhen Everything Goes Wrong

Photo: Brent T. Wheat

Visit http://www.wildindiana.com


Four Great Winter HikesWinter is one of best but least utilized seasons for hiking in Indiana. Single-digit temperatures, wind-

chill cold enough to make the proverbial brass monkey move to Florida and icy roadways are all good reasons to stay home and watch another wretched “reality” television program. However, if you can readjust your attitude for a moment, you will find that a walk in the woods during February and March is one of the more rewarding ways to pass the time.

Whenever the weather is benign, or even when it’s not, there are many reasons to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails of Indiana right now. To help, we reveal four of our favorite short winter hikes. All somewhat challenging to find but you can visit WildIndiana.com for detailed directions and map.

MOSSY POINT

Mossy Point Nature Preserve, dedicated in 2005, is located west of Annapolis in Parke County.

The 191-acre state nature preserve is located along Sugar Creek, west of Turkey Run State Park. The namesake of the area is Mossy Point, a rocky hemlock-covered bluff over-looking Sugar Creek. The preserve also contains Coke Oven Hollow, the former site of various business concerns including a smelting operation, flatboat builder, coal mine, clay mine and pottery factory. From 1841 until the early 1900’s, the area was buzzing with pioneer industry though today the mature forest hides most of the scars of man.

The area is covered by an unbroken canopy of upland and floodplain forest with many unique plants such as evergreen partridgeberry and ginseng. Bald eagles are commonly seen roosting in massive creek-side sycamore trees. However, there are no official trails.


BROWNING HILLIf you like history, mystery and really off-the-beaten-path adventure, a hike up

Browning Hill south of Bloomington is for you.Browning Hill, sometimes known as Browning Mountain, is the highest point

in the rugged area southeast of Monroe Reservoir. The west end of the flat-topped hill has been called “Indiana’s Stonehenge” due to a curious circle of stones that various people claim to be connected with Native American rituals or UFO activity.

The first problem is finding the trailhead; it isn’t especially noticeable but is marked by a small generic U.S. Forest Service trail sign where forest ends and private property begins. The only maintenance seems to be from the boots of occasional hikers but the treadway does become more apparent as you climb the hill on an old road.

After a short ½ hour hike, you should reach the trail junction at the top and take the right fork approximately ¼ mile to Indiana’s Stonehenge. The rectangular area is composed of large square blocks of a lime-stone that seem to defy randomness. Some claim a larger stone at the “head” serves as altar for ceremonies held inside the site.

FERN CLIFFLocated in Putnam County, Fern Cliff is a 115-acre Nature Con-

servancy-owned preserve on the banks of Snake Creek southwest of Greencastle.

There is a 2-space parking area next to the gate, then a trail that follows an old service road until it eventually becomes a real trail. Shortly thereafter, you arrive at a dramatic vista that overlooks an abandoned quarry, ruins of a mill and the Snake Creek valley.

You can follow the trail to the bottomlands and poke around the old quarry and mill but use caution while walking. During cold weather there is an impressive frozen waterfall resulting from spring seepage high on the cliff top. Slightly upstream along Snake Creek is a narrow ravine containing the namesake Fern Cliff, an impressive canyon with rock shelters, tight passages and impressive bluffs, all packed into an intimate setting that is festooned with hundreds of ferns and mosses. The effect is that of a hanging tropical garden.

FALL CREEK GORGE (The Potholes)Located northwest of Attica, this small preserve is very popular for offering hikers an outstand-

ing quick trip along a narrow canyon with unusual rock formations. In winter, there are also many areas of interesting ice formations along the creek.

The only trail shortly leaves the parking area then descends a small side tributary to the main creek. Here you can look upstream and view potholes that seem like a series of stone bathtubs in the narrow, undercut gorge.

The trail then returns to the cliff top and gives a birds-eye view of the canyon. It terminates shortly thereafter at a pool with a nice waterfall.

Keep in mind that the short but steep steps, rock walking and canyon-skirting trail can be some-what risky when frozen or wet.

While in the area, take time to drive the back roads in the area as the entire Big Pine Creek wa-tershed downstream of Rainsville is quite unique and scenic.

Photos by Brent T. Wheat


>>Gear Guide For more gear info and reviews, visit WildIndiana.com

If you have questions about the legal carry and use of firearms, the best and cheapest way to find the answers is Indiana Firearms Law Reference Manual 3rd Edition.

Written by Indianapolis attorney Brian Ciyou, the hefty 380-page book covers virtually ever topic related to the legal possession, carry and usage of firearms, espe-cially handguns. Written with a tremendous attention to detail and only the occasion-al passage of legalese, it is very readable by gun owners

while still serving as a tremen-dous reference resource for trainers and lawyers.

The book covers local, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations and legal issues related to firearms in Indiana and even includes an appendix that details local ordinances from communities around the state. Though the entire book is valuable, Chapter 21- Deadly Force- and Chapter 22- Civil Liability- should be considered mandatory reading for anyone contemplating carrying a fire-arm for personal defense.

There is even in-depth mate-

rial that covers the shipping and transportation of firearms that would be valuable not only to handgun owners, but hunters traveling out of state.

WHERE TO BUY:

The Indiana Firearms Law Reference Manual is $26.95 plus 7% sales tax and $3.95 shipping & handling. It can be purchased through Amazon.com, at the Indy 1500 Gun & Knife Show in Indianapolis or through http://www.firearmslaw.com

Indiana Firearms Law Reference Manual

The need for high quality, great-sounding Electronic Game Calls has never been higher. Vermin like coyotes are taking too big a bite out of wildlife populations in many areas, and sportsmen realize something needs to be done; the new FLX Series of Electronic Game Calls from Flextone Game Calls has you covered.

The FLX50 Electronic Game Call Features• Ergonomically designed grip• Trigger activated calls• Preloaded with 40 categorized calls• Directional delivery of sound• High quality, powerful speaker• Uses 3 AA-Cell batteries

Flextone FLX50 Electronic Game Call

Tenzing TZ PP15 Predator Hunting PackBased on many of the same basic design features as the

company’s wildly successful TZ TP14 Turkey Pack, the all new TZ PP15 Predator Pack provides predator hunters with an extremely functional and comfortable hunting pack designed to carry all specialized predator hunting gear with the added utility of quick deploying, fully adjustable spring-loaded legs and a fold-down seat. The result is the most innovative and functional predator-hunting pack ever made.

• Internal aluminum frame• Adjustable aluminum legs• Padded backrest• Detachable camera case• H2O compatible (2-liter)• 500 Denier Nylon construction• Two hand warmer pockets• Detachable front pocket design• A-TACS AU camouflage


http://Visit WildIndiana on the Web

Website: WildIndiana.comFacebook: Facebook.com/WildIndianaTwitter: Twitter.com/WildIndianaMYoutube: Youtube.com/WildIndianaVideoGooglePlus: +WildIndianaMagazine

There are lots of ways to keep in touch with WildIndiana Magazine! Check out our website, updat-ed regularly, along with Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Google+

Next Issue Preview

April-May 2015 The next issue of WildIndiana Magazine will hit stores beginning

April 1, 2015. Here is a sample of some of the great articles wait-ing on you:

Mushroom Hunting

There is nothing quite so tasty as a fresh morel mushroom, nor anything quite so secre-tive as a mushroom hunter. Learn tips and tricks from the experts to fill your bag!

Smallmouth Fishing

April and May mean wading and we’ve got you covered!

Springtime Means Pad-dling in Indiana!

Regardless if you like a mild paddle down your favorite river or a slightly hair-raising adventure in some of Indi-ana’s “real” whitewater, we share our favorite paddling spots


>> News And NotesRiver Otter Trapping Approved

The Indiana Natural Re-sources Commission has approved a rule allowing limited river otter trapping season beginning this fall.

River otters, a native Indiana species, are one of several suc-cessful management projects of the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, along with the res-toration of white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons.

By the early 1900s, the loss of habitat and unregulated trapping led to a declining pop-ulation of river otters, prompt-ing the Department of Conser-vation, DNR’s predecessor, to ban the taking of river otters in

1921. It is believed the species was gone from the state by the 1940s.

In addition to the county restrictions, a licensed trapper can take no more than two otters per season with a state-wide quota of 600 otters. The trapping season will be Nov. 15 to March 15, unless the state-wide quota is reached sooner.

The proposed trapping season will not adversely affect the river otter population. The conservative bag limit and statewide quota are designed to allow otters the opportunity to continue to expand their range and population densities in central Indiana.

The rules still need approval from the Attorney General’s Office and Governor’s office before taking effect. Details will be included in the 2015-16 In-diana Hunting & Trapping Guide that will be available in August.

Indiana Master Naturalist Class at Salamonie LakeBecome an Indiana Master

Naturalist through classes at Salamonie Interpretive Center, March 19 through May 7.

Classes will be Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., with the exception of one Tuesday evening and one Sat-urday morning class. Students must be age 18 or older.

Students will learn about wetlands, astronomy, mammals, birds, spiders, geology and soils, wildflowers and forestry.

Participants must attend the March 19 orientation. Students must attend no less than eight of the nine sessions, complete a final exam and 30 volunteer hours to obtain the IMN certi-fication.

Cost is $80 per person. Registration and fee payment are due by March 10. Space is limited to 30 people.

Register by contacting Upper Wabash Interpretive Services at (260) 468-2127

DNR No Longer Maintaining Waverly Access Site on White River

The DNR is no longer leasing and maintaining the popular public access site on the West Fork of the White River near Waverly in Morgan County.

A 20-year lease has expired, and DNR has been unable to rene-gotiate the lease with the current property owner.

The DNR is exploring other options for free public access to this stretch of the river

Program on Urban Coyotes in GreenwoodThe public can learn about coyote biology and how to deal with

coyotes in urban areas on April 2 in Greenwood. Sponsored by the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, the free

programs will take place at the Greenwood Public Library, 310 S. Meridian St., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Those wishing to attend should register in advance at wildlife.IN.gov/7548.htm or by calling (317) 234-2440.

Presenters will include the DNR furbearer biologist, DNR district wildlife biologists, DNR conservation officers and licensed nuisance animal control operators.

Presentations will cover ways to reduce conflicts with coyotes, pet safety, and current hunting/trapping regulations. Licensed nui-sance animal control operators will also be on hand.

Marsh Madness at Goose Pond FWAThe sixth annual Marsh

Madness Sandhill Crane Festival takes place March 6-7 in Linton (Greene County). Tickets are $25. To find out more infor-mation, view the schedule and buy tickets, visit the Friends of Goose Pond website at http://www.friendsofgoosepond.org/

NRC Approves Two New Nature Preserves

The Indiana Natural Resourc-es Commission has approved nature preserve status for two sites, bringing to 264 the number of state-designated sites protected by the Nature Preserves Act. The newest additions are Meyer Nature Preserve in Morgan County and Sally Reahard Woods in Harri-son County.

The Meyer Nature Preserve is just over 68 acres in north-east Morgan County, about five miles south of Mooresville.

Sally Reahard Woods is a 658-acre property that is adjacent to the Mosquito Creek Nature Preserve.

Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons


February and early March is a sweet time in the for-ests of Indiana because sugar is running through the veins of maple trees and it’s time to make syrup.

Maple syrup production is actually more widespread than many Hoosiers realize, with commercial operations scattered through-out the state. Various estimates place the number of “active” syr-up producers anywhere between 150-200 but many other people will experiment with making small batches.

Starting traditionally on Valentine’s Day every year at our lati-tude, annual syrup production varies but the total output for Indi-ana averages around 7000 gallons. This is the lowest among states that keep record and a far cry from 1916 when Indiana was first in the nation, according to the Indiana Maple Syrup Association.

Regardless of our minor-league status in terms of volume, maple syrup time is a generations-old tradition in the Hoosier state. It also provides a substantial tourism boost to many areas where the sugar camps are located.

Visitors to maple syrup camps should dress appropriately for

the weather, including good walking shoes or boots. Keep in mind that the sugar camps and walking tours are often very muddy; a second pair of shoes and a few garbage bags can help keep your vehicle clean.

There are several maple syrup festivals in Indiana. The two biggest are:

The Parke County Maple Fair, February 21-22 and February 28-March 1 in Rockville. There are tours of several area ma-ple syrup producers, dinners, craft booths and other activities throughout Parke county. For more information, check the Parke County Tourism website at http:///www.coveredbridges.com

The National Maple Syrup Festival will be held March 5-8 in Brown County at several locations including Brown County State Park and the Story Inn. Visit http://nationalmaplesyrupfestival.com

Let It Flow: It’s Maple Syrup

Time In Indiana

Indiana was the #1 Pro-ducer of Maple Syrup in the United States in 1916

Photos: Brent T. Wheat


Small Water Angler

February-March 2015

bike riding, hiking, canoeing, it all keeps me going. So, the addi-tion of Quiet Sports has been a great part of the show for me,” says Mark Kaley, another Ren-fro family member and Chief Financial Officer for Renfro Productions

Many central Indiana Hoosier outdoors enthusiasts have fond memories of their annual pil-grimage trip to the Boat, Sport and Travel Show. Kevin and Todd Renfro have similar recol-lections of growing up with the show, but from a more behind the scenes point of view as they literally grew with the show and have countless stories.

Kevin remembers the time Sampson, the 700 pound wres-tling bear, took a stroll around the show. “The bear freaked out”, Renfro recalls. “He ran right through the ring and just kept going. (Fortunately) No one was injured.” Sampson was finally returned to his cage but not before showing the Ontario Tourism booth a thing or two about bears!

While things don’t always go as planned, the rewards far out-weigh the headaches. According to Kaley, “The amount of time, energy and attention to details for such a large event is prob-ably the hard part. The other aspects of the show are exciting and make the ‘job’ of the sports show very interesting. Each year we try new things, work to keep the show fresh and at the same time connected to the long tradition of the Sport Show. Then, for ten days a year you see people you have not seen all year; exhibitors, pre-senters, attendees, show staff,

friends and family who come for a visit. It is like old home week. So, I guess the hard part leads to the fun part, opening the door on a great tradition.”

With a production company and outdoor show so steeped in family values, a sense of community evolves among staff, exhibitors, and vendors. This strong sense of duty to com-munity was never as evident as when everyone chipped in to help a show attendee who had fallen on hard times.

Mark Kaley explains: “A couple of years ago a man from rural Indiana was invited to display his mount (at the Legend of Indiana Record Buck Wall during the Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Expo) and delivered it to be displayed. Upon arrival our staff noticed this mount was not in good condition, it showed signs of major water and fire damage and it had a foul odor. After some discus-sion the gentleman explained that the mount was damaged in a recent house fire, it had caught fire and got wet as they put the fire out. This young man had lost his home, the con-tents of his home-everything -except his mount. Our staff explained that the damaged buck could not be displayed on the wall at that time and that if he would agree to leave

it with us we guaranteed him a place on the Legends Wall the following year AND we would at no cost to him have his mount completely restored to its original condition. The young man was speechless at first and then welled up in tears and said that was ‘without ques-tion the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him in his entire lifetime,’ With support from Renfro Productions, the Indiana Deer Hunters Association and a local taxidermy studio the young man proudly displayed his mount the following Febru-ary.”

If you go: This year’s Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show takes places Feb-ruary 20-March 1 at the Indiana State Fair Grounds. Featured


A Family Tradition - continuedevents include wakeboarding demonstrations, Timber Tina’s Lumberjills show- a champion-ship all-female timber sports team, the Dock Diving Dogs, a casting pond and kayak pool, and boats- lots and lots of boats. For more information, visit http://www.indianap-olisboatsportandtravel-show.com

sighted. Even better, we had the pleasure of floating with two very curious river otters for about ten minutes the first day. The lower Blue River has several floatable sections with access at regular intervals while there are also numerous park and wade sites also along the entire course. There are canoe/kayak rentals in the area and camping is available at nearby O’Bannon Woods State Park.

The Blue River, in Harrison County, is one of my favorite streams. If you make the drive to Harrison County, I’ll bet it will be a new favorite of yours, too!

All photos: Don Cranfell



Recipe File:

Gingered Watercress

grows great in a greenhouse, hydroponically or even in damp spots in the yard. I was traveling

during the summer when some went to seed and when I came back, it was growing in numerous spots throughout the yard. I will have to let you know how well it comes back this next year. Though it grows abundantly in the wild, it is so easy to cultivate that you can have greens at your fingertips.

In spite of sometimes sour weather, please get outdoors and see what you can find. Foraging watercress is a great way to spend time with the family, collect some delicious gourmet food and break up the ever-present cabin fever.

Until the next time, enjoy life and cook the same way.

A quick and easy yet elegant hot side dish that makes great use of all that wonderful fresh watercress you’ve collected.

Ingredients:About 1 ½ pounds of fresh watercress, washed and

roots trimmed away3 tablespoons oil2 Cloves garlic, minced1 knob fresh ginger, minced1 tomato, seeded and choppedKosher salt and black pepper

Directions: Heat the oil in a skillet or wok. Add the garlic and ginger, cooking for one minute. Add the tomato and cook to a paste. Add the watercress and cook, turn-ing occasionally until tender (about 10 minutes).

Season with salt and pepper, serve; makes about six servings

-Continued from pg 20

Tami RichardsonAccount Manager

Office 765-482-4427x18 • Cell 317-440-6952107 South Meridian Street Suite 2022 Lebanon, IN 46052

[email protected] www.RadioMom.fm

Tami RichardsonAccount Manager

Office 765-482-4427x18 • Cell 317-440-6952107 South Meridian Street Suite 2022 Lebanon, IN 46052

[email protected] www.RadioMom.fm

Chef Karl- Watercress

Photo credit: Brent T. Wheat


Chef KarlFood Editor

>>Food with Chef Karl

Winter Food Foraging: Fresh Watercress

Chef Karl Benko collecting fresh watercress from a spring near downtown Indianapolis

Above: A hillside spring over-flowing with tasty watercressBelow: Sometimes even boots

aren’t enough!

The hunting season never seems long enough for me.

If I can find a way to recap-ture the same soul stirring feelings that I get while hunting, then I have effectively made the season longer. That’s why I go looking for wild edibles.

I think the process of forag-ing is a great substitute for the times when you can’t hunt and fish. I get outside and focus on what is going on around us and in the environment. Case in point: the forest floor is cov-ered in dried leaves right now but what of the vibrant green in the stream close by? The air temperature is 20 degrees yet this plant is healthy and growing luxuriantly.

Watercress is a rapidly grow-ing aquatic or semi aquatic pe-rennial plant found throughout Indiana. It is related to mustard, radish and wasabi, hence its nickname, pepper cress. The texture is crisp but not hard to chew. It is easy to work with as

there is minimal preparation, it can be used in a multitude of dishes and makes a great stand alone salad. It is often used as a salad or soup component. A quick search on the internet will find numerous recipes for this great gree.

On New Year’s eve, WildIndi-ana Publisher Brent Wheat and I went for a walk in a park on the north side of Indianapolis to show him how easy watercress is to find and harvest. Water-cress is a plant of clean, fresh flowing water such as found in springs or spring-fed creeks and is abundant in this park. You might need waterproof boots for harvesting in some areas but the plant typically only grows in shallow areas.

To prepare, wash the water-cress fully before use and snip off the roots. The only safety precaution I suggest is not har-vesting in areas that hold flood waters due to possible bacterial contamination. Younger plants are more flavorful and less fiberous but all are safe to eat.

My friend Sue Mogle and I grow our own at home as it

This is the first column by WildIndiana Foods Editor Karl Benko

Benko is a Regional Chef for Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group. A 28-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Karl graduated Oakland College Culinary School in 1992. He is a member of the 1992 US Culinary Team that competed in the Culinary Olympics held in Frankfurt, Germany.

Karl has helped open over 40 restaurants and clubs in nu-merous cities during his career. As a partner at Petersons in Fishers, Indiana the restaurant earned numerous awards and accolades.

Karl lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife Carrie and there son A.J.

Meet Chef Karl

-Continued on page 19


Don CranfellThe Small Water Angler

>>Small Water Angler

Harrison County’s Blue River

Hello and welcome to the first installment of the Small Water

Angler column. I can’t begin to tell you how

exciting it is to be a part of the wonderful adventure of starting a new magazine. This column will strive to bring you a variety of interesting human-powered angling stories from everything that this great state has to offer.

Here in the Small Water Angler column we will explore the backwaters, streams, rivers, and lakes that are best experi-enced on foot and by paddle. Statistics tell us there are about 800,000 anglers who fish this great state and the majority ex-plore our waters without ben-efit of internal-combustion en-gine, seeking the more intimate and remote places. Whether it is stalking small mouth bass in limestone bottom creeks, trout in several of our rivers or panfish from the bank of a pond or lake, that is our focus.

I fell in love with fly fishing many years ago, particularly small mouth bass fishing. Any time spent flinging feathers and fur from a 5wt. rod in pursuit of “just one more” is heaven to me, but not always possible. I often carry spinning gear on my outings for those unforeseen times when you simply can’t fly fish. In this column we will cover everything possible from bass to bluegills, trout to carp, with an emphasis on the fly side. In my ventures around the state I probably average about an 80/20 ratio of fly fishing to tackle fishing and will approach this column in much the same manner. We’ll talk about tactics

and tips for fishing with a fly rod, and where to do so, with added information for when na-ture and the fishing gods con-spire against us and we must break out the spinning gear.

Just such an instance happened

to me this last fall on what has probably

become my favorite river for small mouth bass fishing, the Blue River in Harrison County. My good friend and frequent fishing partner, Hunter, and I had gone down for one last fall trip before the chills of winter set in using his kayak and my inflatable pontoon. I always string up a spinning rod and put it in the spare rod holder for those times when you just have to get in one more cast before floating by. A Gumball Head jig head with a white twist tail grub is a suitable set up for just

such instances. It can quickly be unleashed and re-stowed while you mind the oars and is quite effective day in and day out on the Blue.

After stowing the spinner in its hold-er I reached for my fly rod tube only to realize it was still in my Jeep at the take-out. Here I was downstream with all my fly gear and no fly rod, very little tackle, and a single spinning rod. The fishing gods were definitely conspiring. While this could have ruined the day, I made do with the tools at hand and we had a grand time catching many fish that first day.

The Blue is teeming with sev-eral species; smallmouth bass from 10-16 inches were the order of the day along with an occasional largemouth or Ken-tucky spotted Bass in the 12-15 inch range thrown in for good measure. There were a few bluegills that fell for our flies and jigs but there were more rock bass than you could count sprinkled throughout our day.

On day two, a front had moved through overnight and conditions were not as good but now I had my fly rod! Hop-pers and poppers are a load of fun in the warmer months but in the chilly waters of fall, streamers give the best results with bass. As they are ambush hunters, all black bass hit hard and on a dead run, making for a jarring strike.

I tend to stay with streamers of slightly negative buoyancy this time of year, something that

holds its place in the water col-umn with only a slight sinking action between strips. Just like with the jigs, whites, yellows, and light greens are the colors to key on in the Blue River. As the winter weather takes hold in earnest, I switch to a 6-7 wt. sinking tip line to get right down on the bottom. Accord-ing to Bob Sawtelle, property manager at nearby O’Bannon Woods State Park, “In winter months (the) smallies caught are usually few, but the largest of the season. Fish the spring holes on a sunny day. Also, sauger and walleye are known to bunch up at the mouth and lower third of the river in February.”

Such as it was, we had a suc-cessful trip with eagle, osprey, and several species of duck

-Continued on page 18


>>Cover Story

Sledding, whether using a plastic sled, a wood tobog-gan, the iconic Flexible Flyer, a disc, a sturdy inner tube or a stout piece of cardboard, is one of the

delights of winter.Finding a safe location for sledding can be challenging, but here

are several locations within central Indiana that offer free-for-the-skidding slopes. A map of these locations can also be found on WildIndiana.com.

Carmel: West Park, 2700 West 116th Street, offers a small designated sledding hill Crawfordsville: Milligan Park, 910 Mill Street, has a small hill that is often used for sledding.Fishers: Fishers Heritage Park at White River, 10595 Eller Road, offers a sledding hill. The Flat Fort Creek Park, scheduled to open too late for 2015 sledding, will offer a 50-foot ADA-compliant sledding hill.Fort Harrison: Also in Marion County, Fort Harrison offers perhaps the largest public sledding hill in Central Indiana. There is a $5 fee for in-state vehicles to enter the park.Greenfield: Riley Park, located at Apple Street and U.S. 40, offers a popular sledding hill in this 40 acre municipal park.Greenwood: Freedom Park, 850 Stop 18 Road, offers a man-made sledding hill with stairs to the top.Hendricks County: Hendricks County has two sledding areas. An 800 to 900 feet slope – fast, popular, somewhat dangerous (use at your own risk) -- is in Washington Township Park at 115 McClain Place in Avon. Hummel Park, 1500 S. Center St., Plainfield, has a wide 200 to 300 feet designated slope. The sledding hill is off County Road 700 East across from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy rather than the main park entrance off Center Street.Lafayette & West Lafayette: The twin cities clinging to the sides of the Wabash valley offers several exciting sledding prospects. Murdock Park, 18th and Ferry Streets, offers a unique tubing run with a snow-making machine that insures fresh powder when there are three or more consecutive days below 27 degrees. Happy Hollow Park, 1301 Happy Hollow Road, also offers a Tube Run. Slayter Hill on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette is a traditional sledding area, but if the university is closed for a snow day, anticipate lines not only of people but of sleds, tubes, and anything else that will slip over snow; kayaks have appeared.Lebanon: There is a small man-made sledding hill in Abner Longley Park near Thompson and East Streets.Marion County: Indy Parks and Recreation has several designated sledding areas- Brookside Park, 3500 Brookside Parkway S. Dr.; Christian Park, 4200 English Ave.; Ellenberger Park, 5301 E. St. Clair; Garfield Park, 2450 S. Shelby St., Glenns Valley, 8015 Bluff Rd., Paul Ruster Park, 11300 E. Prospect St.; Rhodius

Park, 1001 S. Belmont St. Martinsville: Martinsville City Park, 360 N. Home Avenue, offers a great hill that is around 400 feet long at a 45 degree angle with a good-sized runout at the bottom.Muncie: McCulloch Park, at North Broadway & East Centennial Avenue has a popular sledding hill that has been in the news recently as officials added hay bales and signage to reduce liability risks rather than prohibit sledding as some cities across the U.S. have done.New Palestine: Southwestway Park, 5621 S. Carroll Road, has a sledding area.Westfield: Simon Moon Park, 2710 East 171st Street, offers “The Hill,” a gently-sloping 40-foot mound that is available for sledding in winter.Zionsville: A 100 to 200 feet slide is in the Mulberry Fields park at the corner of Mulberry Street and Ford Road.

A map of all these areas can be found on WildIndiana.com

Have a favorite spot you’d like to share. Visit our website and let everybody know before the snow is gone for another year!

WildIndiana Guide to Central Indiana Sledding Hillsby Rod Rose


Slide On Over: Sledding DestinationsA sledding-themed vacation is possible, but Indiana’s unpredictable weather can make planning problematic.

Indiana’s best toboggan run is at Pokagon State Park, in Angola near the Michigan border. The park is about 2-1/2 hours north of Indianapolis, just off Interstate 69. Lodging is available at the Potawatomi Inn, and at several area motels. Call well ahead, however; the Potawatomi Inn is usually booked two years in advance.

The toboggan run is refrigerated, and operates whether or not there’s snow. During the 20 to 30 second run, toboggans reach speeds of close to 40 mph.

Toboggan rental is $13 an hour; because the ride is so pop-ular, no all-day rentals are offered. Park admission is $5 per car for Indiana residents, $7 for out-of-state vehicles, and $2 per person for buses. For more information visit http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/4699.htm

Paoli Peaks, 2798 West County Road 25 South in Paoli, Ind., offers an Arctic Blast Snow Tubing Run that is separate from the skiing area. Snow making machinery creates tubing runs when the weather doesn’t cooperate, but conditions can change rapidly.

For an update, call 812-723-4696 or visit http://www.paoli-peaks.com/ for information about hours and costs, and http://www.paolipeaks.com/snow-report.html for snow conditions.

Clothing rental is available at the Paoli Peaks Pro Shop.

Gear: Snow sled costs range from under $10 to $150; a tube designed specifically for sledding can cost $80 to $105. You can also go “old school” and pick up a “10.00/12.80 R20” truck inner tube that is about 40 inches in diameter at most large farm supply

and tire stores

On The Hill: Sledding SafetyChildren younger than 12 should wear helmets, the

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recom-mends. Bicycle helmets are a good option

Skidding, sliding and skipping down the slope is the point, of course, but remember that what goes down must also go up to go down again. Avoid over-exertion and take an occasional break. Bring snacks and bottles of water.

Whether the decision to head for the sledding hill is spontaneous or planned, wear appropriate clothing. It should be water- and wind-resistant. Dress in layers. Goggles or safety glasses provide eye pro-tection.

During any outdoor winter activity that in-volves exercise, avoid cot-ton fabrics, including jeans. Among winter sports fans, cotton is called “the death fabric” because once it’s wet, it provides no warmth. Hypothermia and frostbite are the most common cold-related injuries, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention caution.

Clothing specifically designed for winter sports is safer, more comfortable, and will contribute to the enjoyment of the experience. Shivering around a fire pit or huddled in a vehicle with the heater cranked to super-nova will only spoil the fun.

When not using a designated sled slope, be aware of your surroundings. Never sled in an area that ends at a street. Never use a railroad embankment for sledding. It’s dangerous and it’s trespassing.


The Heartbreak of Boat Envy>>And Finally...

I have a problem, a secret that has been hidden for many years.

Actually, as my friends and family are more than willing to at-test, I have several problems. However, today we are talking about a serious psychosis that affects many men and even a few women. It is something that we hold inside, often feeling as if we are the only ones who suffer from this malady. However, now that it has become customary to publically share every sordid detail of your personal afflictions, it is time to discuss the problem in a frank and open manner.

I am talking about Boat Envy (BE).This condition started many years before I even owned a boat.

As a youngster I lay in bed many nights while mentally standing at the helm of a mighty cabin cruiser, hair pasted back by the breeze as booming diesel engines propelled the vessel down the sun-drenched Intercoastal Waterway. Sometimes I fantasized of a creaking sailboat that carried me, steely-eyed and laughing at the horrific storms, across the Pacific to places only Jacques Cousteau and native islanders had ever seen.

Unfortunately for boating dreams, my parents were of that old-fashioned philosophy that held it was all right to say: “When you get a job, you can get a boat.” Nowadays, mothers and fathers are forbidden to make such harsh statements but back in my day, parents were even allowed to make children carry out the garbage or mow the grass. It was a tough time.

Luck finally struck when word came that an uncle was giving me a derelict old boat that had spent the last several years nurturing a fine batch of weeds at his lakeside home. We drove to the lake where all of the assembled male relatives wrestled the ungainly craft into our bor-rowed van. To my eye, the rotting hulk was beautiful, a jewel in the rough. At least until a snake crawled out of the deck as we were rolling down the highway.

That little problem was handled quickly and the boat was soon dry-docked in our garage where I spent many hours pounding, sanding, ripping and gouging. Unfortunately, by the time the rotten parts were removed, there was only a skeleton left. Thus, my first naval command eventually ended up as firewood.

A year and many thousands of hours of whining later, my parents finally bought my first real boat. It was a fiberglass canoe that had previously done livery duty and as such was scratched and patched over every inch. It weighed approximately four tons and was so slow that driftwood routinely passed us while paddling. Howev-er, it was a boat and I believed my prayers had been answered. A canoe is the original all-purpose vessel and I was sure it would last forever.

This was the beginning of my affliction. The first signs of dis-

ease were seen within a few months as I began to wish for a small fishing boat. The canoe was fine but a bit unstable for fishing in lakes, in fact already having sent some of my gear into the depths as I experienced my first near-drowning. Obviously, I needed something larger and more stable for fishing and reasoned that anyone, including parents, would understand the need to own both a canoe AND a small boat.

Now, four decades later, what started with an ungainly canoe has evolved into an endless procession of boats, boats and more boats that have cluttered my yard and caused serious damage to

personal net worth. Through the years I have owned, often simultaneously, canoes, kayaks, rafts ranging in size from six to 14 feet, bass boats, center console boats, a sailboat and even an odd cata-raft. Even more frightening is the number of boats that have been seri-ously investigated for possible purchase.

The first warning sign of BE is complete satisfaction with the boat you currently own.

If you think the boat sitting in your driveway or behind the barn is perfect for your needs, beware. There will come a day when you see another boat for sale and a tiny voice inside begins reciting the long list of shortcomings in your current watercraft. No Siren or foul temptress has ever been as seductive as a boat for sale.

There is no known treatment for BE aside from being excep-tionally wealthy. Actually, experts aren’t sure that even this is an adequate cure. Undoubtedly the man sitting on his 100-foot mega-yacht, complete with skeet range and hot tub, occasionally casts yearning glances at his 110-foot dockside neighbor that has TWO hot tubs.

I’ll never have that problem because, due to that serious addic-tion to boats, I will never become incredibly wealthy. Consequent-ly, I’ve been forced to take the poor man’s version of the cure: a fiancée who now hides my credit cards and bankbook.

I’m hoping the cure will work so I can seek help for a nasty case of Backpack Envy. - Brent T. Wheat

“At least until a snake crawled out of the deck”

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