A Snowy Hike in Minneopa State Park
Two weeks ago, the Midwest was plunged into the newest polar vortex. While you read about Chicago setting train tracks on fire and Lake Michigan freezing, Minnesota was dealing with 40 mph+ winds, -35 degree temperatures, and -55 degree windchills. It was so cold that perfectly functioning cars with brand new batteries weren’t starting, and MSU, Mankato cancelled classes two days in a row. The only thing that compelled me to leave our apartment was to run my car for thirty minutes to keep the battery alive.
Well, after a week of negative temperatures, Minnesota decided we deserved a break, and we had a day of 40 degree weather. To celebrate, Kayla and I trekked out to Minneopa State Park to remember what it felt like to go outside without the air hurting our faces.
Our first stop was Minneopa Falls, which had been transformed into a Narnia-like cascade of frozen spires. We were originally going to take the stairs down and hike to the base of the falls, but the entire stairway was so thickly coated in ice that the only option to descend it was to grab the railing and slide on your butt all the way down. We cut our losses and watched a group of rambunctious teens try to climb the frozen waterfall, hoping they wouldn’t be dumb enough to walk out onto thawing ice and drown in the freezing water.
Since the trail by the falls was a no-go, we decided to drive over to the trails around the bison range instead for some casual snowy hiking. It was clear that most actual Minnesotans were equipped for winter hiking with snow-shoes, but enough people had stamped down the snow so that it wasn’t too exhausting to hike through with normal boots. (Nothing like the death-defying winter hiking Mary and I did at Custer State Park in South Dakota last year.)
Despite how desperately I wish Minnesota winters were shorter and less harsh, the dormant skeletons of trees, delicately frozen rivers, and white blanket of snow can be just as moving as the lush greenness of spring and summer. On this hike, I was reminded of Buzz Aldrin’s first words upon standing on the moon: "Beautiful, beautiful. Magnificent desolation."
These are our “we conquered the polar vortex” stances. Now, let’s just hope we survive the rest of the winter.
If you liked this post, don’t forget to hit the heart button down below. Thanks for reading!