NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1531661
36 Nebraskaland • January-February 2025 E very January or February, I come down with the dreaded, mind-numbing angst of cabin fever. I don't have motor oil in my veins, as I've heard said about tough Nebraskans, so when extremely cold temperatures strike and the roads are bad, I might stay inside for days, fi ghting the urge to rip out my hair. So, on those rare nice days — and by "nice," I mean the wind isn't howling and the temperature is above 30 degrees — I make the eff ort to get outside. Last winter was especially brutal. After back-to-back snowstorms and frigid conditions in January, the weather fi nally broke. Missing the ability to cook outside, my husband, Rick, and I bundled up and spent an afternoon at Two Rivers State Recreation Area to enjoy lunch in the snow. Using a deer sled, we dragged wood and cooking gear from the truck, dug out a fi re ring and as the venison stew heated, Rick and I stood back to enjoy the warmth of the fi re while soaking up the special kind of silence only heard in winter. Although I have visited Two Rivers on numerous occasions, January off ered a stark contrast to the activity and noise of the high season. Not a soul was in sight. No tent or camper obstructed my view. It was one of those rare windless days. Despite my general feelings about winter, that particular afternoon was by no means unpleasant. While sipping from my hot mug of Irish breakfast, I felt a wave of relief after what seemed like the longest, most stifl ing bout of cabin fever in my nearly 12 years of living in Nebraska. And lunch? Hot food simply tastes better when the weather is cold. Here are tips for enjoying a meal in the snow. Building a Campfi re To build a campfi re, you need to build heat gradually, and the three main components are tinder, kindling and wood. In the winter, don't count on being able to fi nd dried sticks and leaves, especially after a recent snow. Instead, avoid the frustration of having to ignite a wet fi re starter by bringing your own tinder and kindling. Old newspaper, paper grocery bags, dryer lint and cotton balls make good tinder because they ignite quickly. For kindling, buy fatwood fi re starter, which are sticks of pitch pine that are impregnated with resin and are highly fl ammable. Use only local wood to prevent the spread of pests and make sure the wood is dry. Lastly, bring a shovel in case you need to dig out snow inside the fi re ring. First, assemble the tinder and kindling: Lay down several pieces of fatwood side by side, with an inch or two of space in between them. Then lay the same number of fatwood sticks on top perpendicular, with space in between — the spacing is important for airfl ow. Next, place pieces of tinder on top of the fatwood. Then lay pieces of fatwood around the tinder LUNCH IN THE SNOW Story and photos by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley A Cure for Cabin Fever The three main components of building a campfi re are tinder, kindling and wood. Use local wood only to prevent the spread of pests.