Explore familiar by moonlight

By Stephen Hlawaty
Outdoors Columnist

In Peter Weir's 1989 film "Dead Poets Society," English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) has his students at the exclusive private boys' school of Welton Academy stand on their desks during one class. The lesson: Nonconformity encourages new perspectives and insights.

The same lesson can be applied to our appreciation of the outdoors. By participating in familiar outdoor activities within an unfamiliar context, we might gain a greater appreciation for those activities.

One way to reinvigorate such familiar outdoor winter activities as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing is to organize these activities into full-moon outdoor adventures.

For centuries, the full moon has captured and inspired the hearts and minds of people from around the world. Western folklore has attributed the full moon to the chiming of the dinner bell for werewolves. The Chinese prepare ritualistic and religious offerings to their ancestors and gods during the full moon. Others have suggested that the full moon inspires madness.

Enthused by the beautiful and magical backdrop that the full moon provides, I gathered 10 of my closest lunatic friends for a moonlight tour of the Zimmerman Trail near Cameron Pass. We were a collection of would-be werewolves whose tracks were a mixed bag of snowshoes and skis. Packed with thermoses of Dr. McGillicutty's inspired cocoa cocktails, water and various snacks, we assembled ourselves and our gear in the Zimmerman Lake parking lot. None of us had done such a thing before, so the prospect of being in the wooded mountains at night was exhilarating. We were a congregation celebrating the outdoors, the night and the full moon.

But nightfall against the backdrop of a full moon isn't exactly dark. A full moon's light, reflected from the snow's surface hoar, adds a brilliant luminescent quality to a nighttime outing. That said, there is still a degree of darkness with which to contend. But that twinkling of darkness amid the brilliance of a moonlit forest in the snow adds an additional layer of exhilaration when you have to rely on your hearing as much as your eyesight to get your bearings. With ears tuned for orientation, every sound intensifies with precision. The snap of a tree branch, the rush of the wind through the trees, the crunch of the snow's top layer underfoot, or the hooting of an owl - these familiar sounds resonate with a more reverent quality than they would in daytime.

While snowshoeing or cross-country skiing under a full moon delivers a magical experience, you should temper your devotion to the pursuit with a good degree of common sense. The nighttime brings colder temperatures, so pack accordingly. Waterproof and breathable clothing, worn in layers should you need to don or doff any, is essential. Hats, gloves and proper boots are also a necessity. As always, water is a must.

Along with such items, a few nonessentials might make the trip more enjoyable. An insulated container with a warm drink or soup is a great addition to the night's events. Since you never know when clouds might roll in to darken the moon, wear a headlamp for hands-free lighting, which makes using your ski poles far more effective. Indeed, snowshoers would be wise to carry ski poles since darkness often disorients and affects one's sense of balance. One word of caution when using a headlamp: Beware of blinding your friends by looking directly at them during conversation. It might be better to turn your headlamps off when talking eye-to-eye. Also, when pausing to enjoy something warm to drink or eat, douse your lights to enjoy the beauty of the darkened sky.

One consideration that might not seem obvious when planning a full-moon adventure is choosing the appropriate trail. My friends and I decided on Zimmerman Lake because of its wide path. When snowshoeing or cross-country skiing with a group, or when having to negotiate cumbersome winter gear at night, wider is better.

To start planning your trip, the full moon will fall on the following nights during the 2006-2007 snowshoe/ski season: Dec. 5, Jan. 3, Feb. 2, March 3, April 2 and May 2. So if this has made a believer out of you, let me hear you say "A-la-luna."