How Iowans can embrace winter like Minnesotans
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People snowshoeing with Wander Women (left), and Kerri Sorrell leading a hike. Photos: Courtesy of Wander Women Midwest
Iowans might be more winter-shy than our brethren in Minnesota, but that doesn't mean we have to hide away these next few months.
Why it matters: "Minneapolis is so good about it because they have to be. They've really embraced it," Kerri Sorrell of Wander Women Midwest tells Axios.
- While Minnesota can deal with up to six months of winter, Des Moines residents typically endure only around three or four (frigid) months.
- "We're just far enough south that it's easy enough to hide for the year. I don't want people not to experience nature for a third of the year," Sorrell says.
State of play: Research has shown there's a slew of benefits to going outdoors despite the cold — including getting vitamin D from sunlight, reducing cortisol levels and decreasing anxiety, according to UC Davis Health.
Winter activities: Hiking is one of Sorrell's favorite winter activities, including in Jester Park, Brown's Woods and Margo Frankel Woods. She also recommends:
- Birding: Especially birds of prey stay in Des Moines over the winter, including bald eagles. They're easier to spot against the snow this time of year.
- Spotting animal tracks: Winter is prime time for track spotting and discovering where your neighborhood raccoon ran off.
Pro tips: There's no bad weather, just bad clothing, Sorrell says. Insulating layers, a buff, hat and mittens make all the difference.
- And before you buy new, shop your closet first — she uses a pair of rain pants as snow pants, for example.
Plus: There are plenty of places that loan or rent out snow gear.
- Jester Park Nature Center rents out snowshoes and cross-country skis. Captain Roy's, Active Endeavors and Iowa State also rent out gear.
The bottom line: It's easy enough to stay inside, but learning to appreciate winter can offer mental health benefits, Sorrell says.
- She views it as a "reparative" time to reflect on the stillness of the season.
- "Winter is my reset," Sorrell says. "That time to rest and recharge is really, really important for me, personally."
💭 Thought bubble from Axios Twin Cities: "I find joy in shoveling snow! Reprogram your brain to assign the same satisfaction you get from mowing your lawn into clearing your driveway," reporter Kyle Stokes says.
- "You have to get outside any day when the sun is shining, no matter how cold it is," reporter Nick Halter says. "Nothing makes me feel alive more than going for a run when it's below zero, yet sunny."