As Sophia Petrillo would say on the “Golden Girls� before she started one of her stories: “Picture it:� Duluth, 2008. A college student walked along the snowy sidewalks of Fourth Street in search of outdoor equipment. To her right was the city bus bringing people to their various destinations. To her left was the inviting orange “Skihut� sign. She walked in.

The college girl turned her head to the snowboards.

“Just because the store is Skihut, doesn't mean we don't sell other winter equipment,� said assistant Skihut manager `Lucky.' “These days, the name `ski' is also associated with snow boards.�

Skihut does not only contain downhill skis and snowboards, but other outdoor equipment.

“During the winter months, we rent out snowshoes and cross-country skis,� Lucky said.

According to Lucky, Skihut's winter months start in November around Thanksgiving and end in April, just when the summer season starts.

“We are busy year-round,� Lucky said. “We rent and sell bicycles too.�

Not completely satisfied, the college student hopped into her 2000 Ford Focus and drove down to Canal Park. She got out of her car, zipped up her gold jacket, threw her purse over her shoulder, stuffed her hands into her pockets, and headed to Midnight Sun Adventure Company.

According to their Web site, Midnight Sun Adventure Company is a retail store and full-service guiding adventures store, whose mission is “to get you active in the outdoors safely, comfortably and knowledgeably.�

The college student walked along the solid, snow-covered path and abruptly stopped to read the sign: “Midnight Sun Adventure Company is out of business. Thank you all!�

The once active building where people could rent out or purchase equipment—skis, kayaks, snowshoes, rock climbing and running—closed its doors on Dec. 17, 2007.

Completely shocked at her discovery, the college student turned around and headed back up the path towards the little shops that line the right side of Canal Park. She noticed the huge red and white `SALE' sign hanging above the Duluth Pack store and entered.

The outdoor-lover's heaven was right before the college student's eyes: canoes, leather products, packs, shoulder bags, camping equipment, clothing and much more.

“We don't sell a lot of canoes or snowshoes,� said one employee of the store, Heather Grundhofer. “We have had these four canoes hanging above for quite some time.�

Grundhofer said that their store sells a lot of Smartwool and Merino clothing.

“A lot of people who enjoy being outdoors love these two brands because they are soft and keep you warm in the winter,� Grundhofer said. “These brands also have outdoor clothing that keep people cool during those hot days and are machine washable, which is always nice.�

Grundhofer added that the Duluth packs also sell particularly well.

“Not only are the packs for portaging hot items, but also duffel bags, business and portfolio bags, purses and back packs,� said Grundhofer.

The college student walked up the stairs to where the majority of the clothing was located.

“Our hottest seller is The North Face merchandise,� said another employee, Eric Johnson. “We also sell Patagonia, which is another brand that is more for the environment, because of what the clothes are made out of, but people want North Face.�

The North Face ranges from fleeces to vests, jackets, pants, footwear and almost anything else imaginable for the outdoor or brand name lover, according to the web site.

The college student left Canal Park, got back into her Focus, and drove home with a sense of relief that Duluth does have everything for the outdoor lover— whether rain or shine, snow or sun.

Sara Jochems is at joch0019@d.umn.edu

Sitting inside the house on one melty Sunday morning, I had been studying for an exam for two days straight and was itching to get outside. I was housebound by choice and ready to break my rules.

After clipping in my new Atlas Elektra snowshoes, my partner and I left the salty road and the pickup behind as we padded to the trail.

I have always found a simple but calming connection with nature. Some sort of Zen surfaces through the chaos of my life when I am breathing with the trees. However, it wasn’t until recently that I considered the options of winter activities. In fact, I would have been perfectly content to discover another stout or two.

But, by the encouragement of my partner, I gave snowshoeing a try. After all, it was only glorified walking with big, expensive shoes. And as it turns out, I loved it.

The shoes, as I soon learned, were not like the traditional wooden webs I had imagined. Instead, my hardwood frames and latticework rawhide lacings were replaced with aluminum tubing and metal cleats.

Hiking along, I was that savvy outdoors woman on the magazine cover. Cotton candy skies and a tangle of trees was my backdrop. Here, nature was my only companion teaching me about water under ice, what birds really do on a Saturday afternoon and air so clean you can’t suck it in quick enough.

I decided that if I could feel such a connection to nature, there must be others too.

Mitch Scudamore, a resident of Duluth, shared with me his experience about kayaking.

“When a wave comes you go up and when a wave leaves you go down. You’re right on the water’s edge and you are one with the water,� he said.

Like Scudamore, UMD sophomore Christy Bangasser also sensed that connection with kayaking.

“It’s great exercise and you’re with nature. Those are the two most relaxing things for me,� she said.

UMD junior Bill Rusk felt traveled to Joshua Tree National Park for a rock-climbing trip and described what he saw.

“It was a surreal landscape with miles and miles of Joshua trees that stretched on… golden globes of granite that looked like they had been plopped down on the land but it had just eroded away,� said Rusk.

“It’s this existential sense… I see it as something to achieve. I think, ‘Yeah, I can do this’,� he said.

After talking to these people, I was filled with the urge to go out and tackle every adventure I ever dreamt about. Their adventures were different than mine but I got the distinct feeling that nature could give off this universal feel-good vibe to its visitors.

At any rate, whether folks are hitting the trails or paddling the waves, maybe the feeling of calm through the chaos can find them too.

Dayna D. Landgrebe is at land0357@d.umn.edu

For Cory Cavegn, a broken jaw, a cracked rib and bruised lungs doesn’t stop him from hitting Spirit Mountain slopes. He’s even gone down slopes with his jaw wired shut. For Cavegn, snowboarding is a way of life.

In Cavegn’s opinion, Spirit Mountain’s runs are sufficient enough to have a fun time. There is always something new, whether it’s the new rail or the whole terrain park.

“There are always ways to challenge yourself by trying tricks or different runs,� said Cavegn.

For others like Cavegn, Spirit is one outdoor recreational location where students go after school and on the weekends.

“It’s fun to get away from school on Fridays and jump over to Spirit Mountain,� said UMD snowboarder Peter Youngbauer.

Not only UMD, Spirit Mountain gets boarders from St. Scholastica, University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS), Lake Superior College (LSC), other colleges around the Twin Ports area, as well as non-students and out-of-towners.

For snowboarders, their activity takes work in order to be good.

“It definitely takes practice. It took three or four times just to get down the hill on my board,� said UMD boarder Josh Duclos.

Their hard work however, pays off. According to the official Spirit Mountain Web site, boarders can enjoy over 15 runs. The boarding park includes jumps and rails that are designed for tricks and is not for beginners.

The passions these boarders have consume their lives and appreciation of wintry Minnesota.

“The best thing to do is to throw four boards in the back, jump in the car, and head out to hill with some friends,� said Cavegn. “It’s at the slopes where the fun times lead to stories and memories for students in the Duluth area.�

Cory Claeson is at claes019@d.umn.edu

Winter in Duluth can make us feel like there are no entertainment options, but there are many winter activities available in the area. A day of ice skating followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride, for example, is perfect for a romantic or family event. Here's a possible agenda for this special occasion.

The park includes, "...pleasure skating, hockey, a warming house and restrooms,� according to northshoreinfo.com.

You and your date could ice skate, and then snuggle up in the warming house for a break. Or you could take the family ice skating, and bring the kids in for some hot chocolate when you're done.

If you leave in the morning and arrive at Odegard Park around noon, you can stop somewhere to eat before your skating adventure. The center you will be at is right by several locally favored restaurants including Betty's Pies and Lou's Fish House, located right on Highway 61.

Making sure to leave enough time for driving, you could end the day with a horse-drawn carriage ride. Getting right back on Highway 61, if you go about two more hours you will come to Grand Marais. Take a left on Gunflint Trail and go 28 more miles. Look for the “Okontoe� sign on the left hand side of the Trail at the Bow Lake Road. It is here that you will find Mike, Bob, Cap, and Duke—the 2,000-pound Belgian horses who will pull you and yours through lantern-lit trails.

“Our sleigh rides are offered in the evening so you may enjoy the crystal clear view of starry skies and the Northern Lights,� according to northshoreinfo.com.

All sleigh rides are, "private party" carrying only the folks you bring. The Deluxe Sleigh, with its ornate woodwork and red crushed velvet seats, carries two passengers and is perfect for your romantic celebration. The other two sleighs accommodate up to six and twelve passengers—perfect for the whole family.

“Sleigh rides at Okontoe have become a yearly tradition for many, with riders aging from one month to 100 years old,� according the Web site. “Our guests, who have come from all over the United States and from 38 countries around the world, frequently comment that 'this was the highlight of our vacation.'�

The sleigh ride season is dependent upon snow conditions, but generally runs from the second full weekend in December through the end of March, according to their Web site.

“Christmas through New Year's, Valentine's Day and President's weekends are especially popular times for sleigh rides,� according the Web site, “so early reservations are encouraged. However, even if you think it is 'too late,' give us a call because a spot may just have opened!�

The 45-minute ride concludes with homemade hot chocolate served from a wood cook stove in the warmth of Mark and Nancy's century-old log home.

“For the 2007-2008 season, sleigh rides will run Tuesday through Saturday nights at 6:30, 8:00, and 9:30,� said the Web site. “Our base rate is $95 for the first two people, and $15 for each additional person. The Deluxe sleigh ride for two is $135.�

Reservations can be made by calling 218-388-9423, or by emailing okontoe@boreal.org.

Kendra Richards is at richa551@d.umn.edu