Any available week of vacation is far better spent on a mountaintop than on a beach crowded with exotic lizards, human and otherwise. This year, however, I allowed myself to be talked into a beach trek to Hawaii - and had to admit it was not only palatable, but sounds pretty good right about now. In fact, I had a certain Kauai beach in mind earlier this winter while tromping through wet woods on snowshoes. And most people's fear of snow is less about what it is than what it does. Namely, plant you on your butt or propel you at great force into some immovable object.
Snowshoes are a different story, however.
An evil plan began to hatch. Short learning curve. No fancy equipment. Hours of adventure in a frozen, winter wonderland. Grand photo opportunities.