Chill magazine 2016

6 1 0 2 R E WINT

CHILL 2016 • 1

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Zamboni..................................................... 6-7 Ski Instructors............................................. 8-9 Red Lodge Mountain......................................10 Beartooth Snowmobiling................................11 Weaving................................................. 12-13 Winter Photography................................. 14-17 Senior Olympians.................................... 20-21 Jewelry................................................... 24-25 Nordic Skiing.......................................... 28-29 Card Making........................................... 30-31 Winter Fishing......................................... 32-33 Beer Brewing.......................................... 34-35 Winter Drinks.......................................... 36-37

Index

Special publication of the

Ice temps vary for ice skating, hockey

The ice for a Yellowstone Quake game at Riley Arena is frozen at 18 degrees.

“Hockey players want it as hard and fast as it can be,” said Zamboni machine mechanic Josh Beacham.

Figure skaters prefer their ice to be 18 to 24 degrees.

There is an art to ice making and the Zamboni resurfaces ice that has been gouged.

When resurfacing, the Zamboni’s large blade at the rear of the machine is adjusted to a certain height, 1/16th of an inch at Riley, and as the driver circles the rink that top layer is shaved off.

The small pieces are called snow and they are shifted into a storage area within the machine.

There are two tanks of water aboard. One is for “washing” and the other is for ice making. That 1/16th of an inch layer is replaced as the Zamboni goes.

An internal squeegee smooths the ice. The ice making water is hotter and fills grooves created by stops and starts on the ice. Once the Zamboni has completed its circuit the ice gleams with fresh water and the shavings are removed from the machine, often shoveled into a bucket at one end of the rink.

The bottom layer at Riley is laid down with water at 1/32nd to 1/64th of an inch and the ice may be 3/4 of an inch to 2 inches thick, said David Koch, Riley’s general manager.

“You basically have damage to the ice in four different ways,” Koch said.

They are: 1. Normal wear and tear.

2. Figure skaters gouging holes with spins from toe and heel maneuvers.

3. An air pocket forming.

4. From hot coffee or hot chocolate.

“When idiots don’t listen and spill hot drinks on the ice, it can go all of the way through to the concrete,” Koch said.

6 • CHILL 2016

Eric Holman cleans and smooths the surface of the ice rink at the Riley Arena as he maneuvers the Zamboni around the rink between periods of a Yellowstone Quake hockey game.

Zamboni – best vehicle on ice

By LEW FREEDMAN Staff Writer Eric Holman drove with care, almost as if he had a Motor Vehicles license examiner in a seat next to him. But no, Holman was flying solo.

Although he had driven the Zamboni many, many times, this particular night was special. It was his first experience smoothing the Riley Arena ice during a Yellowstone Quake junior hockey game with hundreds of fans in the stands.

The best thing of all happened: Nothing.

Holman didn’t bash the boxy vehicle into the boards. He didn’t leave behind any missed dry spots. He guided the Zamboni up to its behind-the-goal exit and dumped piles of ice shavings accumulated on his ride.

“Of course I was nervous,” he said. “I was just trying to do a good job.”

Then Holman uttered a basic truth about the universally recognized, unique vehicle that slicks the ice from Saskatchewan to Dallas, from New Brunswick to Cody.

“Everybody loves the Zamboni,” Holman said.

Hockey players admire the Zamboni.

Ice rink managers recognize it as an indispensable tool. Fans watch it coast over the ice between periods of hockey games. If ever a figure skater, hockey skater or casual skater showed up at an ice rink and there was no Zamboni within sight, they wouldn’t know what to say. Little kids, who don’t even understand what the Zamboni does out there, welcome it the way they would Santa and his reindeer.

“You always get the kids waving,” Holman said. “That’s what makes it fun.”

ZAMBONI HISTORY

Given that the Zamboni is such an institution, it is difficult to imagine a time when ice rinks were not “Zammed.”

In 1939, brothers Frank and Lawrence Zamboni, along with a cousin, built a Southern California rink called Iceland Skating Rink in Paramount, Calif. It was 20,000-square-feet, with enough room for 800 recreational skaters at a time.

Innovative Frank recognized that it took too long to smooth the ice, so in 1942 he began experimenting with machinery to do a faster job. He started with a farm tractor.

It took until 1947 for his inventive thinking to bear fruit. Zamboni unveiled a machine that could shave the ice, lift the shavings into a compartment inside the machine, wash the ice and then smooth it down with a squeegee-like contraption. The idea was solid, but there were rough edges in the execution.

Zamboni kept trying, building a better

Mechanic Josh Beacham cleans ice from the vertical auger, which helps lift ice into the snow tank. mousetrap in 1949 and finally in 1953, he applied for a patent for his ice-smoothing machine. After discovering his first name for the company he founded to manufacture the machines was taken, he called the contraption and the company Zamboni.

Although there has been some finetuning along the way, the Zamboni that first surfaced the ice in a National Hockey League game on Jan. 1, 1954, for the Boston Bruins at the Boston Garden is basically the same today.

As sturdy as a tank, the Zamboni is the staple of every ice arena. The smallest Zamboni can be purchased for as little as $10,000, but a new Model 700 of the size most hockey fans recognize is a six-figure purchase that can top $200,000.

The Riley Arena Zamboni is a used model. It once cruised the ice for the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL, but was bought second-hand for $20,000, according to Riley general manager David Koch. The Zam is a 1997 model and the money to buy it came from Victor Riley, Koch said.

Zambonis are built to last, but even new cars require oil changes and care, and so does this machine.

“It still requires maintenance,” Koch said.

RILEY ARENA ZAMBONI

Although memorable photographs exist of Zamboni machines being driven down streets in traffic in Southern California, the Riley Arena Zamboni never ventures outdoors. It lives in its own mini-garage inside

the building behind a large, pull-down door 20 feet from the ice where it is serviced.

Ideal Zamboni cruising speed is 7 mph and the vehicle, like a powerboat, does not have brakes. Stopping requires lifting the foot off the gas pedal. The pedal on the Zam is humongous, Bigfoot-like in size.

Seven mph?

“That’s really humming,” said Josh Beacham, Riley’s Zamboni mechanic.

The observant patron will notice once the Zamboni takes to the ice it never stops moving and it doesn’t back up. It maintains a steady rhythm and pattern, circling the ice from left to right. The goal, Beacham said, is to smooth the ice in about seven minutes, approximately half as long as the intermission between periods of a Quake game.

Beacham said the Zamboni is about the same length as a 15-passenger van at 12-feet long and eight-feet wide. It is eightand-a-half feet tall when the snow tank top is down.

Frank Zamboni died in 1988, but the company remains in the family and Koch said it provides great customer service.

“We have his direct line,” Koch said of a younger human Zamboni.

Once, said Beacham, the Riley Zamboni overheated and he was talked through an entire repair job rather than buying a new part.

“He saved us 900 bucks,” Beacham said.

CLOSE SHAVE

“It’s like nothing else you’ve ever driven,” said Beacham, who despite familiarity with the Zamboni’s inner workings, only recently actually drove one.

Although Quake goalie Derrick LaCombe, who has worked full-time in ice rinks, and coach Ryan Theros, who has managed a rink, are experienced Zamboni drivers, there is less clamor for the opportunity to drive Zambonis than to ride in passenger seats on the back.

Koch said Riley plans to sell raffle tickets for the right to ride on the back of the Zamboni as it resurfaces the ice during games.

The concept has proven popular elsewhere.

“It’s a unique experience,” Koch said.

After his first highly visible Zamboni drive, Holman said he shouldn’t be nervous again. He said as he steered, he remembered the No. 1 rule of Zamboni ice resurfacing.

“It’s never supposed to hit the dasher boards,” Holman said. “But you get as close as you can.”

Only one kind of close shave is permitted while making perfectly clear ice.

CHILL 2016 • 7

ski instructors

Sleeping Giant instructors (from left) John Wells, Dean Madley, Mike Gimmeson, Tanya Schuh, Justin Joy and Pasha Stinson recently attended a training at Big Sky. Wells and Madley received Freestyle Specialist Certifications, while Gimmeson, Schuh, Joy and Stinson received Children’s Specialist Certifications.

Instructors love what they do

By SCOTT KOLB Staff writer Ski and snowboard instructors at Sleeping Giant Ski Area are busy this time of year teaching lessons on the slopes.

With each new season at the resort, which is located 50 miles west of Cody

8 • CHILL 2016

on the North Fork highway, there are plenty of novices to downhill skiing and snowboarding who need instruction on how to properly handle their outdoor equipment.

Safety is an important consideration due to the speed that can be reached going down the hill. Proper technique in

handling the skis or the snowboard can make the difference between an enjoyable experience or a fall.

“Our instructors are professionals and they really love what they do,” Sleeping Giant Snow Sports Director Mike Gimmeson said. “They enjoy teaching people

how to ski or snowboard. We want people to have a good time on the slopes and learning the proper techniques is a big part of that.”

Those running the classes at Sleeping Giant, like fourth year ski instructor Hank Whitelock, have the teaching expertise to help people make a safe run down the course.

“I love to ski and enjoy sharing what I love with other people,” Whitelock said.

“Skiing is different for everybody. Some people pick it up quick and for some, it takes a little longer.”

Flying Squirrels is an instructional course for the youngsters. In this group, they can learn to properly fit their equipment, get some safety tips and enjoy a downhill ride.

“We’re offering this course for kids between the ages of 5-8 years old,” Gimmeson said. “It will help them in gaining a better understanding of the sports. They can hone their technique in these classes and that will make for a safer ride on their skis or snowboards.”

PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTOR

Although utilizing skis is the more traditional route down the mountain, snowboards grow more popular every year.

Justin Joy is a snowboard instructor and has been teaching for the last five years.

“I was a student that struggled with the skis, had trouble not crossing my legs and maintaining balance, so I took up snowboarding,” he said. “We get a variety of people in my classes, it’s not just for the younger crowd. There are older folks that want to try something different and for some people, skiing just doesn’t work for them.”

Navigating the board can be a challenge. Speed going downhill can lead to spills and the boarders have to learn to take a more diagonal approach.

“There’s a lot to snowboarding, but it’s easier to learn with the help of an instructor,” Joy said. “We take precautions, because it could potentially be more dangerous while learning. We teach them how to fall without getting hurt.”

Joy says there’s more traversing with the snowboard. This lowers the potential to catch the front edge and makes for a more enjoyable ride.

Certified by the Professional Ski Instructors Association (PSIA) and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), the teachers at Sleeping Giant all know their sport.

They possess the background knowledge and practical course experience to help their students thoroughly enjoy a day in the mountains.

There are a total of 20 instructors working at Sleeping Giant and they’re always striving to get better at their craft. In December, instructors attended a training conference at Big Sky, Mont.

“Sleeping Giant is a good place to learn,” Gimmeson said. “Our biggest customers are first-time people and beginners. The groups are smaller and people get a lot of hands on instruction.”

Classes to teach people the techniques of skiing styles like freestyle begin in early January and continue throughout the winter season.

“We have some gentle slopes at Sleeping Giant and a few small gliding areas, so skiers can get the feel of it and not get going so fast,” Whitelock said. “Some of the slopes even have a gentle rise at the

RIDING THE BOARD

Hank Whitelock, a fourth year ski instructor, with son Liam, 3. bottom to prevent people from going too fast at the end of their run.”

With good instructors to guide them, even inexperienced skiers shouldn’t be intimidated by the prospects of taking a trip down the snow covered hills.

“Over the years, there have only been a handful of people in my classes who I haven’t been able to impart the skills of the sport,” Whitelock said. “Some people just aren’t into it, but most customers are eager to learn. Most are enthusiastic about skiing.”

YOUNGER SKIERS

Not only do the classes at Sleeping Giant cater to adults who need some instruction on the finer points of winter sports, but also to a younger crowd. Children can take classes to become more comfortable on the slopes.

CHILL 2016 • 9

Cole Creek offers steep terrain, moguls

By AMBER PEABODY News editor Each year many skiers and snowboarders anxiously await the opening of Red Lodge Mountain’s Cole Creek Drainage.

For years, locals skied out of bounds into the area, searching for perfect lines and untracked powder. So in 1996, Red Lodge Mountain undertook an aggressive expansion and built two high-speed quads accessing this scenic drainage, which features 18 slopes and trails.

Located on the back side of the mountain, Cole Creek offers several double

10 • CHILL 2016

black diamond chutes for advanced skiers, along with four blue runs for intermediate skiers.

It has awesome terrain on black diamonds including Hellroaring, Coal Chute, True Grit and Sluice Box, and for mogul lovers there is plenty to play on.

Intermediate skiers can enjoy Latigo and Drifter, but the grade is much steeper then most blue runs, so be prepared.

During good snow years, Palisades Park also opens.

It is considered bonus terrain because no man-made snow is used to

cover the area and it can remain closed for an entire season.

When fully covered it features fun terrain on three blue and three black diamond runs.

Intermediate skiers will enjoy the Columbine and Paradise runs, while experts can take Flintlock, Lobo and Winchester.

The true bonus is the view of the palisades, upthrust eroded sandstone spires that stretch along the Beartooth Front.

To find out what lifts are open go to redlodgemountain.com and check out the snow report.

Locate line to Cooke City, approx. 6 miles

Wilderness

Pilot Creek Parking Area

Junction Hwy 212 & Chief Joseph Hwy

Wildlife Winter Range No Snowmobiling

Beartooth Mountains offer many trails for snowmobiling • The Beartooth Mountain trail system includes 30 miles of groomed trails and 34 miles of ungroomed trails.

• The groomed season is mid-December through mid-March, weather permitting.

• Elevations range 7,500-10,000 feet.

• The 53-foot safety shelter maintained by the Cody Country Snowmobile Association features wind and solar power technology,

a wood stove, benches, generator, lights and an emergency phone.

• The Cody Country Snowmobile Association averages about 200 members.

• There are 17 clubs in the Wyoming State Snowmobile Association.

• The annual economic impact of snowmobiling in Wyoming is $175.8 million.

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weaving

Weaving fiber works of art

By RHONDA SCHULTE Staff writer Shawls and belts, afghans and table linens, wicker furniture and fruit baskets – all are useful items woven from various types of fibers.

For thousands of years, household items and clothes were spun and woven by hand. Today, whether a twill weave, waffle weave or some other pattern, most woven items are produced by machine. Yet they lack the quality and character of a scarf, a placemat or decorative wall hanging made by those who weave by hand.

Cody weaver Kay Strike likes to experiment with different types of yarn as she creates one-of-a-kind cloth pieces on her jack loom. Weaving is a good pastime when temperatures dip and days are short.

“You can make beautiful scarves and table runners for gifts with a holiday theme or winter theme,” she said.

Strike enjoys weaving baby blankets and baby sling wrap carriers for mothers.

“I really like to make placemats and table runners,” she said. “And dish towels are very fun. You can do a lot of designs with a small unit.”

She loves the practicality.

“It allows you to do art in a useful way, so you have something that’s going to be useful for someone else,” she said.

Strike likes to experiment with different types of yarn.

While she hasn’t delved into tapestry, she finds the textile art of “painting” with yarns and threads intriguing.

But you don’t have to be a tapestry artist to create.

“I think anybody who makes something is an artist in a way,” she said. “You have to pick colors and you have to pick the structure for any fiber craft.”

A love of hand-woven towels prompted Amanda Morrison to make her own cloth. She arrived at that point through a progression of weaving-related hobbies.

Morrison crocheted but had always had an interest in knitting.

“Finally, I went to a yarn shop and the lady there taught me,” she said. “I started spinning to support my knitting.”

Just as in days past, hand-spinning fiber into yarn with a spindle is time-intensive; especially when starting with dirty, raw fleece. She has alpaca and sheep fleece but Morrison said it would take a special project for her to use the yarn she had spent hours washing,

Amanda Morrison weaves a hand towel on her table-top loom.

picking clean and dyeing. She generally uses the “smooth and easy to spin” commercially processed fleece called roving.

Spinning naturally led to weaving.

In her home off South Fork Road, the young mother uses a table-top loom to weave fabric row by row, passing a wood shuttle with weft back and fourth through a narrow shed and then pushing the threads together with a beater.

The weaving goes quickly once the loom heddles are threaded, a process called warping. Because it is time-intensive, Morrison likes to warp enough thread to make 10 towels.

Anyone interested in the fiber arts can pick from all sorts of materials. Weavers take materials from plants (reeds, pine needles, cotton, hemp, bamboo, linen, corn), animals (alpaca and sheep wool, silk) and man-made fibers (acrylic, rayon, polyester).

“So many people do this for gift giving,” Morrison said. “It’s a nice activity for those cold days.”

Morrison’s expanded her knowledge and techniques through membership in the Yellowstone Weaving & Spinning Guild that brings about 15 women together to share techniques and projects with each other.

“One lady in the group made a tapestry out of lavender flowers and stocks,” Morrison said. “It was just beautiful.”

Morrison, who joined 4-5 years ago, is the guild president.

“It’s really nice to be with a group of like minded people,” she said. “You learn things all the time, you see things and you get new ideas, which I think is fantastic.”

For spinning and weaving to survive modern technology, the job of educating and teaching the ancient craft falls on fiber art experts such as the guild members who must not only teach the next generation techniques but also to cherish the legacy.

Guild members have taught community education classes. They bring out their spinning wheels and looms for Homesteader Days in Powell, the Park County Library Winter Gathering, Wyoming Days at the fairgrounds and the Boot Scoot’n’ Boogie in Cody.

“The goal of the group is education for the public or anyone interested in fiber arts,”

Morrison said. “It’s definitely the goal of the group along with learning [from each other].”

Strike said you don’t need a big loom or a lot of time and money to get started.

“You just need the interest,” she said.“You can use a rigid heddle loom. They’re inexpensive to buy and you don’t need expensive yarn.”

For spinning, Morrison recommends starting with a drop spindle.

“They are cheap and you can use materials from around the house,” she said. “It’s easier to use but slower than a spinning wheel.”

She said beginning weavers would do well making scarves with a peg loom, while a frame loom would be an easy and cost-effective way to make placemats.

Many how-to videos are available on the Internet, but Morrison said, “It’s not like someone teaching you who knows all the tips and tricks. Weaving seems simple – and it really is – but there are a lot of nuances to it to end up with a successful piece.”

She and Strike said the guild welcomes newcomers and members are happy to teach them about the different types of fiber arts.

Children find hand-spinning and weaving fascinating, and even younger children can weave with a simple peg loom.

“Whenever we’re doing demonstrations, kids are always very interested,” Morrison said. “They like to try the drop spindles.”

It’s the type of hands-on activity that can draw their attention away from computer screens, and something they can feel successful doing, she said.

“Even if it’s something lumpy done on a drop spindle, it’s good for them to learn where things come from,” she said.

Just as they learn about food sources by gardening, children learn clothing comes from animals and plants by spinning and weaving.

At age 4 1/2, Morrison’s son Logynn is already helping his mother weave by operating the beater, a bar mounted across the loom designed to push the threads into place.

“I’m the puller backer,” he said with confidence, grabbing onto the handle and giving it a firm pull.

Weaving guild celebrates 40 years

Yellowstone Weaving & Spinning Guild members will celebrate 40 years in 2016.

The guild draws membership from the Big Horn Basin area, with most from Cody and Powell. Started by master weaver Vernice Myers of Cody in 1976, it was incorporated in 1984 and is open to any person interested in hand weaving textiles, spinning, felting and basket weaving.

The fellow artisans, young to old, beginner to masters, meet to “show and tell” about their projects, share tips and tricks, and trade supplies or patterns.

Programs include lessons on melon or garlic basket making, how to fix socks with knitting, felting and dyeing, weave pattern presentation, spinning and plying. The guild owns many pieces of equipment available for members’ use, as well as a large collection of books and periodicals about the fiber arts.

Yellowstone Weaving & Spinning Guild meetings are on the second Saturday of the month September-May at 9:30 a.m. in the Garland Community Church.

People interested in learning to do the fiber arts are welcome.

For more details call Amanda Morrison, (307) 250-4038.

CHILL 2016 • 13

'Extension of my feelings'

Leon Jenson

Leon Jenson of Cody specializes in natural light compositions, landscapes and environment, and wildlife.

Jenson served in the U.S. Air Force where his photographic interests took shape. During his four years in the military, Jenson became proficient on the Leica, Canon, Nikon and Pentax SLR camera systems, and the Rolleiflex 120 mm film medium format camera.

He honed his technical skills in Phoenix, Ariz., while stationed at Williams Air Force Base.

View more of his work at http://leonjenson.tripod. com.

Avalanche – "Driving toward the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park near seasonal closing time, I watched Avalanche Peak appear bathed in moon illumination and stopped to photograph the scene.

Moon illumination of snow is incredible for natural lighting of a scene, and then to balance the illumination with the night sky above brings it all together."

Fox – "This fox was a joy to spend some time with in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. When it’s cold they cover their nose with their tail. He would sleep, wake and look over the valley, and sleep. I would time my exposures to when he woke. This was another time that I stood motionless for hours and enjoyed the time I had with this fox. I used a telephoto lens on this shot."

Aurora – "Now this was a cold night for early November. It was 25 degrees on the night of Nov. 6 and early morning of Nov. 7. There’s nothing quite like standing out in a slight breeze in the 20s for five hours photographing the Aurora Borealis. This was one of those times that many photographers can attest to. All those times you have spent in the cold winter days and nights pays off. Bundle up and keep shooting. Twenty years ago I picked up a trick from winter climbers and spent a lot of time becoming accustomed to using gloves to operate both camera gear and back packing stoves. Then, you won’t find yourself removing gloves to change lenses or operate camera controls. I use fleece gloves."

Comet Catalina – "I photographed Comet Catalina recently on a cold and breezy night. About the only difficulty in photographing the comet was acclimating myself to the cold, early morning breezy temperature. I stood outside in the wind with tripod and camera an hour before shooting to allow time for myself and camera gear to become accustomed to temperatures. I continue to treat the DSLR camera as I did a film camera in the cold. Although the DSLR camera is much improved for summer and winter temperatures, it’s a carry-over from my film days."

CHILL 2016 • 15

'Each image tells a story'

Amy Gerber

Amy Gerber of Cody is an award-winning photographer who specializes in wildlife and landscape photography. She has followed the lives of several grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park, and when the Park is open she spends as much time as possible taking pictures of wildlife and scenery, and enjoying the general beauty of America’s first national park.

Gerber teaches biology and environmental science classes at Cody High School. She also volunteer advises the school’s photography club and has led several student trips to such places such as Costa Rica and the Andros Islands.

View more of her work at http://amy-gerber.artistwebsites.com and on Facebook on the Cub Creek Photography page.

Otters on the Ice – "Another winter favorite are the river otters.

This family was living along the North Fork of the Shoshone River.

Watching them fish, swim and slide around on the ice-covered winter habitat is a thrill."

16 • CHILL 2016

Ermine – "The long-tailed weasel is a formidable predator. In the winter, their fur turns from brown to white and they are known as “ermine. One of my winter favorites."

Pebble Creek – "The still beauty of the winter landscape is breathtaking."

Wolf on the North Fork – "This gray wolf is well adapted to life in the winter, where they take advantage of the deep snow to aid in catching prey. This wolf was photographed along the Shoshone River a few winters ago. He and his pack mates eventually disappeared along the river. "

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Senior Olympians relish winter sports

By AMBER PEABODY News editor Lifelong enjoyment of winter sports keeps Mary Keller, Ernie McFarlane and Marty Sharp busy through the colder months.

All three participated in the Wyoming Senior Olympics Winter Games last year and are looking forward to this year’s competition.

BECOMING AN OLYMPIAN

In college, Mary Keller, 51, had dreams of becoming an Olympic athlete.

Thirty years later she accomplished that goal during the Senior Olympics.

“I was a serious Nordic skier in college with Olympic dreams that never came to fruition,” she said. “The Senior Olympics were my first races in 30 years."

Keller describes herself as a “winter girl.”

Growing up in Cody, her sport of choice was Alpine skiing. It wasn’t until college that she discovered Nordic.

“In college I ran cross country and my coach asked what I thought about cross country skiing,” she said. “I tried it and fell in love. The silence in the woods, flying across the snow under your own power and I love getting myself up hills.”

She was on the D1 cross country ski team at Williams College in Massachusetts when she developed Fibromyalgia, which affects the muscles and soft tissue, and includes symptoms such as chronic muscle pain and fatigue.

Her competitive career now over, Keller hasn't entirely give up the sport she loves and hitting the trails as often as possible.

“The Park County Nordic Ski Association provides high quality cross country trails in one of the most beautiful places in the world,” she said. “One of my greatest joys during the week

is to scoot up to ski through the woods next to the river. I try to get up at least once a week.”

When Keller learned the Senior Olympics were coming to Cody, she used that as motivation to make it through the long Wyoming winter.

“The dark winter can be brutal,” she said.

“Some people plan to go to Mexico in February [to take a break from it], but with this on my radar it perked me up through November and December. It gives me a goal through the winter to keep outside every day for at least 20 minutes.”

Because of her Fibromyalgia, Keller had to limit her training. It also caused her to compete in the shorter 5K skate and classic races.

“It was just the right distance,” she said.

With great conditions, things went fairly smooth during the events.

“The only problem was it had been so long since I had ski raced some of the rules had changed,” she said. “When I was racing you could marathon skate, with one foot on the track and one ski out pushing you along. You can’t do that now in the classic race.”

Keller took first in both her races in the 50-54 age group, and said she enjoyed being one of the youngsters competing.

“I was nicely surprised,” she said. “I’m only 51 so I’m on the young end of the pool and I’m

Ernie McFarlane competes in the Alpine race during the Wyoming Senior Olympics Winter Games in 2015.

going to take advantage of that for the next few years.

“I had a blast. I enjoyed the people who were there, appreciated the race organizers and got two gold medals.”

She is currently training for this year’s event and hopes other people will take advantage of the opportunity.

“When you have the Winter Olympics here why wouldn’t you do it if your weekend is free?” she said. “It’s a shining star to shoot for.”

One of her races falls on her mom’s 80th birthday, which Keller thinks will be a great way to celebrate.

“I got so much of my competitiveness and love of the outdoors from her,” she said.

LIKE RIDING A BIKE

Growing up in Vermont, Ernie McFarlane, 75, began skiing when he was 4 years old.

He was on the ski team in high school, com-

peting in downhill, slalom, cross country and jumping.

Later he taught skiing at Jay Peak for two years.

“I’ve loved it since I was a kid but working at Jay Peak took a hobby and made a job out of it,” he said. “It took the fun out of it because you had to be there.”

After a break, McFarlane started cross country skiing again in 1972 in southern New Hampshire when his children Duncan and Heather took up the sport. When the family moved back to Vermont in 1980, he helped start a Bill Koch Youth Ski League Club in Newport.

“It’s a neat kids program for cross country skiing,” he said. “The town had 4,000 people and 165 kids in the program. About 30 wanted to race and the rest wanted to have a good time. We had races every Sunday.”

McFarlane coached for seven years until his children aged out of the program. It helped develop three high school state champions including his son, who also was a junior national biathlon shooting champion.

After he quit coaching, McFarlane and his wife Mary continued to cross country ski at the Craftsbury Nordic Center, which now has the Green Racing Project, a developmental team for potential Olympic athletes.

McFarlane moved to Cody in 2000 and started skiing at Pahaska. He also spent time helping the Nordic Kids Ski program.

Three years ago he took up downhill skiing again after a 10-year absence when his grandson wanted to try the sport.

As he waited to get on the ski lift the attendant asked “How long are those skies?” To which McFarlane replied, “205 slaloms.”

The attendant then asked, “How old are you?”

Mary Keller (left) and friend Susie Smith after the 2015 Nordic races.

When McFarlane said he was 72, the attendant asked why he bought a ticket when he could have gotten in for free.

“It was like riding a bicycle,” he said of taking up downhill again. “You can get right back on. I like the speed aspect, although I don’t go as fast as I used too.”

He eventually retired his 205 slalom and 210 giant slalom skies, which were more than 20 years old, for more modern 170 Atomics.

Last year he competed in the Senior Olympics in Alpine skiing. It was his first race since competing and winning in New Hampshire in 1973.

During the slalom race, he finished second in the 75-79 age group.

“I did the first run and the other guy [Gary Kittelson] beat me by five seconds,” he said.

“The second time he did the same thing. He ended up beating everyone. He’s from Red Lodge and has a trainer and coach. He said, ‘If I go to a race and don’t win, it’s because it was against a former Olympian.’”

He is looking forward to competing again in the Alpine race this year.

“They do a great job putting it on,” he said.

“I just hope to have snow this year for it.”

“We like to get out on a sunny day,” he said.

More recently they’ve taken to fat tire biking.

During a trip back East a few years ago, they saw people riding the bikes on trails. When they returned to Cody, they learned more about the bikes and purchased two of their own.

“The tires are good for snow,” he said. “They are 4 or 5 inches wide and have low pressure for a lot of flotation. The wide tires get quite a bit of grip but you have to ride on packed snow or a groomed trail.”

They also enjoy mountain and road biking in the warmer months.

“We enjoy bike riding and it’s a way to go do it in the winter,” he said. “Every year it’s gaining in popularity.”

Sharp entered multiple categories during last year’s Senior Olympics Winter Games. He finished first in the 2.5K snowshoe event in the 60-64 age group, and also competed in racquetball and basketball.

“If I enter an event like that I want to be halfway competitive and have a chance to place in my age group,” he said. “It’s what I strive for.”

Sharp said the conditions were good, but the weather was a little on the cold side. He plans to compete again this year.

“They have nice trails at Pahaska,” he said.

“I enjoyed it and am hoping for a little more participation this year.”

Cody hosts 2016 games

Cody once again will host the Wyoming Senior Olympics Winter Games on Feb. 18-21.

Individuals ages 50 and older as of Dec. 31, 2015, may participate.

Along with Nordic and Alpine skiing, and snowshoeing, events include basketball, swimming, pickleball, indoor walking and running, and racquetball.

For details, visit wyseniorolympics.com.

RUNNING THROUGH THE SNOW

An avid distance runner, Marty Sharp, 60, enjoys the cross training opportunities winter provides.

Sharp has spent his life living in areas that offer winter sports, moving to Cody 15 years ago. He and his wife Mary Ritz enjoy snowshoeing, cross country skiing and fat tire biking.

The couple try to snowshoe about a dozen times per year and cross country ski as well.

“We’re runners and it’s a lot like running,” he said of snowshoeing. “You try to go as fast as you can. It’s a good cardiovascular activity.”

He and Ritz often ski or snowshoe close to Yellowstone’s East Entrance as it allows them to bring their dog along.

Marty Sharp rides his fat tire bike while his dog Decker jogs alongside.

CHILL 2016 • 21

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jewelry

Beading process relaxing

Jeanne Whiteman displays some of the many necklaces she has made.

By BUZZY HASSRICK Special to the Enterprise “Relaxing” is probably the last, or one of the last, word that comes to mind when faced with an array of colors and materials, sizes and textures destined to be assembled as jewelry.

Yet that’s the common response

24 • CHILL 2016

employed by three assemblers when asked about the process of creating necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Jeanne Whiteman and Rhonda Dunlap of Cody, along with Patty Coe of Lovell, shared their stories, starting with the close relationships that launched their entry into beading.

CREATIVE PROCESS

For Whiteman, the launch occurred six years ago when her husband, Andy, bought her a turquoise necklace at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Plains Indian Powwow. When it broke, she went around town trying to find someone to

repair it and ended up at Beca’s Beads.

The owner encouraged Whiteman to learn how to fix it herself.

“It wasn’t hard to repair. I loved the store and I liked the owner,” recalled Whiteman, who became hooked on the hobby. “My father was a geologist, so it was a perfect fit.

“I’ve always been drawn to rocks, even as a little girl. I’ve always thought petrified wood was fantastic.”

After Beca instructed her in the basics, Whiteman said, “I went to town learning everything.”

She strings beads and stones on jewelry wire that has a heavy-duty coating, using amethysts, turquoise and cultured pearls.

“Working with pearls is very fun,” she added, because they can be dyed in a variety of colors.

Whiteman incorporates metal, wood and crystal beads with the stones.

“I enjoy putting together different colors, sizes and textures and see how they go together,” she said. “It’s trial and error.”

Halfway through stringing a necklace, Whiteman said she may realize the design doesn’t please her, so she takes it apart and starts again.

“You can remake it as many times as you want,” she said. After starting one, “if I have trouble, I’ll leave it to redo later and start another. It’s a creative process.”

After stringing the beads on wire, she’ll add gold or silver “findings,” which are the materials that join together the different components of the jewelry.

“By incorporating nice metal, it gives the piece a more finished look,” said Whiteman, who also seeks the unusual for her creations. “I’m always looking for something a little unique. I want things that will stand out and be noticed.”

Before assembling a piece, she’ll spread out her supplies on the dining room table, which she described as “a real production.” She brings a cup of hot tea to the table, turns on the television, usually to an old movie, and then begins, spending

from one to eight hours on one necklace – an exercise she described as “relaxing.”

“It’s visual,” Whiteman said of her approach. “If it appeals to me, I hope it’ll appeal to someone else. It’s fun for me knowing that people wear what I make, that they enjoy my stuff enough to purchase it.”

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Like Whiteman, Dunlap started beading about six years ago; unlike Whiteman, her best friend launched her hobby. After the friend showed her how to make jewelry, Dunlap started to do her own pieces while continuing to learn more from her friend.

Dunlap obtains her supplies from stores in Cody and Billings and also on the Internet, looking for good deals.

“I try to keep things reasonably priced so I can keep it reasonably priced for my customers,” she said.

Dunlap uses a variety of beads such as glass and crystal and some gem stones but never plastic and not turquoise, saying “it’s too expensive.”

“I try to make jewelry that’ll satisfy all sorts of customers – children, teens and women,” she said. “Some women like longer necklaces,” others want them closer to the neck, and some prefer multiplestrands.

“I make a variety of different kinds to appeal to all of the different customers.”

For inspiration, Dunlap scours the Internet to see what people like and also looks at new fashions. The exposure helps her with colors too. She also visits distributors.

“I see beads in a store and find something really neat,” Dunlap said.

She finds the assembly relaxing and also sets up on her dining room table. She prefers music in the background.

“I can sit there for hours and work on things,” Dunlap said.

BEADING AS THERAPY

While Coe also describes the process as relaxing, it was in anticipation of a stress-

ful time that started her jewelry hobby five years ago.

“Both my sons were deployed to Iraq with the Wyoming National Guard,” she recalled, noting they both returned safely.

“Beading became my mental therapy while they were gone.”

She started with lanyards, using different color beads and including a hook at the bottom for attaching an identification card. Then came earrings to match, followed by necklaces.

“It just kind of grew from there,” Coe said.

To start a piece, she looks through her supplies and selects, in her words, “what catches my eye.” She’ll make a necklace, take it apart, play with different colors and experiment with different combinations.

“It’s always a work in progress,” Coe said. “If I do the same thing over and over, it’s like a job. I go for one-of-a-kind so when you buy a piece of mine, you don’t see three others like it.”

Coe describes herself as an active person who usually doesn’t like to sit around.

The exception is beading.

“I get wrapped up in beads and look up, and two to three hours are gone,” she said.

Coe became particularly busy last fall in preparation for the Crisis Intervention Services Craft Fair in Cody, staged annually before Thanksgiving. Dunlap and Whiteman also exhibited at the fair.

“That’s my best event every year,” Dunlap said. “It’s the best crowds, and people are ready to buy for Christmas. I enjoy setting up the booth and making it look pretty.”

Dunlap shows pieces at Cody Styling Co., and Whiteman’s work is on display at the Cody Country Art League. Coe sells on the web under Pattys Dream Designs on Zibbet and attends many craft fairs.

“I’ve found I really enjoyed it, learning how to display and meeting interesting venders,” she said. “It’s been a learning process, but it’s been fun.”

CHILL 2016 • 25

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Cross country ski couple exci

By LEW FREEDMAN Staff writer For those who know Will Sweetser and Sarah Dominick, they wouldn’t be surprised to hear the husband and wife skied from Maine to Cody.

They might well have strapped on the cross country skis for the trek if they hadn’t moved to town in July, out of season.

One thing for sure was they were not going to be moving to a place that doesn’t have snow.

Sweetser, 44, is a former Dartmouth College competitor (1989-93), and Dominick, 43, competed for Bates College, but grew up in Cody and raced for the Filly Nordic team. They are a coaching couple who runs their own equipment business, selling the latest ski poles from Europe, while importing ski wax from Italy and Finland. The name of their business is Mountain Endurance Sports.

For 15 years Sweetser was director of the Maine Winter Sports Center, but funding was lost and the organization changed its focus just as Sweetser and Dominick were about to become parents. A couple of months ago Aesklyn was born.

Given the couple’s Nordic commitment it is not out of turn to ask if the baby is learning to ski before she learns to walk. The answer is almost, but not quite.

“No, but she has been in a front pack for 200 kilometers of skiing,” Sweetser said in describing his little girl’s first two months of life.

He does not deny cross country skiing is likely to be in the youngster’s future. Sweetser and Dominick also hope Nordic skiing is in more young Cody skiers’ blood than ever.

The adult skiers in the clan also spent a brief time in Jackson Hole years ago. Deep down Dominick always thought she might return to Wyoming permanently. There is lots of family and she would like to raise her daughter in an outdoorsy and ski environment. This move allows her to do so.

Dominick was a cross country runner before trying Alpine skiing. Then two cousins influenced her to give Nordic skiing a shot.

“I fell in love with it,” she said.

28 • CHILL 2016

Will Sweetser of Cody prepares to take daughter Aesklyn Nordic skiing.

ted to grow sport in Cody After finishing college in 1995, Dominick said she thought she would go right back to Wyoming, but life plans changed and it took an extra two decades. One thing Sweetser and Dominick knew was, if they were leaving New England, one of the nation’s few hotbeds of cross country skiing, they had to relocate to a place where the sport is embraced. It was obvious places like Alabama were out.

Dominick sees Cody as a community in tune with Nordic skiing but one where the sport can grow.

“I’m really happy to be back,” she said. “There seems to be a younger feel to the community now.”

Sweetser looks at Cody through similar eyes.

“It certainly has potential,” he said.

Sweetser and Dominick coach a few young, elite skiers, including one member of the United States World Championship team and a Paralympian.

“Our first passion is coaching,” Sweetser said.

Although Sweetser calls his competitive days long past, he said he and Dominick skied 200-220 days a year in Maine. They also attend many major competitions in the effort to market the wax and poles. He mentioned one race where “a hundred kids tried out the poles.”

Sweetser said top Norwegian skiers are using these poles. Given that Norway’s racers are always among the top racers in the world, that is a notable endorsement.

Cross country skiing owes its origins to Scandinavian countries, and an archeological expedition turned up a 4,500-year-old ski in Sweden.

The sport is not as widely popular in the United States.

Much of the country, with the exception of New England, the upper Midwest, the Rocky Mountain states and Alaska, clues into Nordic skiing only during the Winter Olympics.

Still, technology and the Internet may be changing that limited outlook, Sweetser said. All World Cup races with the best skiers in the world can be seen live, he said, even if a viewer must rise at 4 a.m. to watch.

“For high school kids now, that is a real boon,” he said.

As they become more established in Cody, Sweetser said he and Dominick might like to offer some free Nordic ski classes, help get some local races going and work in cooperation with the non-profit Park County ski group.

“We’re thinking of starting a club with the the Park County Nordic Ski Association,” Sweetser said.

All they need is snow to get rolling.

Will Sweetser and Sarah Dominick market wax and poles at major Nordic ski competitions.

CHILL 2016 • 29

card making

Options endless w

Pat Manning (left) and her friend Myrna Bush make homemade cards and a variety of other craft items.

30 • CHILL 2016

hen creating cards

By AMBER PEABODY News editor Making your own cards is a great way to express your creativity.

“What makes it fun is the variety,” card maker Pat Manning said.

Adds fellow card maker Myrna Bush: “Just when you think you’ve seen all the different techniques there’s more. We don’t hit on half of them. There’s all kinds out there and the variety of materials is endless.”

Manning got involved 15 years ago when she was invited to make cards with friends.

“I’ve always been a crafty person and this is something you can make and get quick results, unlike knitting or crocheting," she said.

Bush took up the hobby 14 years ago and said she finds it “very therapeutic and relaxing.”

The women became part of a group that made cards for various charities including Families on the Frontline, a traumatic brain injury organization and the Park County Humane Society. They also taught classes at Absaroka Assisting Living for about seven years.

“It’s fun to see someone’s reaction after they’ve made their first card,” Bush said.

“That excitement is fulfilling and a different aspect of the card making process.”

Four years ago, Manning delved into the world of craft fairs, starting at the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Art and Craft Show.

“I needed some help so I pulled Myrna in and it went from there,” she said.

The duo attend about four craft shows per year and begin preparing in July. And they create more than just cards. A variety of treat containers, calendars and other decorative pieces also are for sale.

“It’s fun for me to have people buy

A hanging calendar is one of many items Bush and Manning make. things because I’m excited for them to see the unique and different things we made,” Manning said.

When looking for ideas the ladies go on Pinterest.

“They have a variety of different things,” Bush said. “Some of the ideas I take from there and put a different twist on it.”

Both ladies enjoy making Christmas cards, but create cards for all occasions.

Manning uses a variety of techniques and says she enjoys watercolor and ink stamps. Bush enjoys coloring in her pieces.

“I also do watercolor and neat shading techniques,” she said.

Bush used to make many baby cards, selling them at Because of Brenna when the store was open downtown. Manning’s cards are currently available at Legends Bookstore.

Interest in the hobby continues to grow.

“With Pinterest it’s gotten really big,” Bush said. “You can tell by all the products out there, a lot of people are doing cards.”

Range of difficulty when creating cards varies, which is part of what makes the hobby accessible to everyone.

“The whole area of card making has evolved,” Manning said. “When I first started you had to cut everything out and if you were not a good cutter outter it didn’t look so good.”

Tools such as the Big Shot – a portable shape-cutting and embossing roller-style machine – have made things much easier.

“The Big Shot allows you to do a lot of stuff,” Manning said. “I use it all the time.”

Cost of the hobby also varies depending on how much time someone wants to put into it.

“It can get expensive,” Manning said. “It can be addictive. I’m a demonstrator for a stamp company which helps feed my habit.”

Manning and Bush are part of a group of ladies who meet once a month to try different techniques.

“If someone sees a technique they bring it to the group,” Manning said. “It’s a lot of fun with everyone putting a different twist to it.

“I’ve had a lot of pleasure and enjoyment the last 15 years doing this and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. And as long as there are other people out there who enjoy it we’ll get together.”

CHILL 2016 • 31

Tips for catching winter trout

By TIM WADE North Fork Anglers When the snow and cold weather arrives in Wyoming sometime in October or early November, a lot of anglers put away their fly fishing gear thinking the fly fishing is over until the following spring. The truth is, these anglers are missing out on five months of great fly fishing in Wyoming, as well as in Montana, Colorado and Idaho.

While the North Fork of the Shoshone and other rivers considered to be free flowing do slow down or freeze over during winter, there are places where winter flows are perfect for wading or floating and the water temperatures are warm enough to generate hatches and all day action. The angler just has to know where these places and rivers are located, best time to fish, best fly selection and of course, the right gear to keep one fishing and comfortable.

Rivers that have controlled water releases below dams are the places the angler must go during winter to find active, happy trout. Usually, these rivers are rich with aquatic insects, crustaceans and minnows due to the time the water is stored behind a dam and the nutrient carrying capacity.

Some you might recognize are scuds, sowbugs, aquatic worms and leeches. Winter dry fly hatches are generally tiny blue-winged olives (mayflies) and midges (non-biting relatives of the mosquito). These generally occur during the middle part of the day – 10 a.m.-

32 • CHILL 2016

3 p.m. – when the air and water temperatures reach their peak. Some of the best hatches are found right on the lower Shoshone River.

The thing to keep in mind when fly fishing during winter months is this: The best water conditions are found closer to the dam discharge area. As one goes further away from the tailwater releases, water temperatures do drop and fishing is S-L-O-W. On the lower Shoshone River, for instance, the dry fly action is good down to the Corbett Dam area, or about 12 miles from Buffalo Bill Dam. Rivers that have controlled releases are plentiful and pretty easily driven to in a day or couple of hours. Not counting our local river, the Shoshone, anglers can easily drive to the Bighorn River in Thermopolis, the North Platte which runs through Casper, the Bighorn River in Ft. Smith, Mont., the Madison River in West Yellowstone/Ennis, Mont., and the mighty Missouri near Wolf Creek or Craig, Mont.

In order to save space and time, this column will detail the two rivers most fished by local anglers during the winter months. These would be the lower Shoshone and the Wind/Bighorn River near Thermopolis.

To be comfortable when fishing for an hour or all day in the winter months, serious thought must be given to wader selection, wading boots, gloves and hats to keep your body’s thermostat regulated as temperatures fluctuate due to wind, cloud cover and ambient temperatures. Keeping the body’s core warm

is essential for a fun, comfortable day of winter fly fishing.

Most people forget hypothermia is a serious threat when air temps drop below 60 degrees.

Once your body’s core temperatures begin to drop, you have about 30 minutes to rectify the situation.

Chest high breathable waders – those with the Gore-tex membranes and five layers of micro-fiber and waterproofing construction are the only waders that seem to stand up to the extreme temperatures one can encounter during winter months.

Under your waders, dressing properly begins with warm feet. A thin silk or propylene sock under a pair of thick Smart Wool or alpaca socks will keep you warm, as long as your wading boots are not too tight. Legs should be covered with silk or synthetic underwear, followed by Simms Cold Weather pants, or Polartec 200 fleece sweat pants.

Upper body warmth begins with a light layering long sleeve top. Again, silk or poly-pro are good options for pulling moisture away from your skin and keeping a layer of warm air close to the body. A heavy wool or fleece sweater would be the next layering piece to don. Both are breathable materials and also have great moisture wicking properties. A Wind-stopper jacket or heavy duty rain jacket can be added to block any additional cold air. It is also recommended to have dry, warm

clothing handy, in case you do take an unexpected dip when the weather is frightful.

Cold weather masks help should wind chill be an issue. A warm, water proof hat or stocking cap will keep the top of your head warm.

Of course, gloves are the ticket for those really cold days when the trout are rising to bwo’s or midges and the air temps are well below freezing. I prefer the new Simms Wind Stopper gloves for cold weather fishing.

Now that everyone has an idea of how to prepare for winter fly fishing conditions, it is time to discuss fly patterns, techniques and equipment to make the time pass quickly when fishing during the months of November through March, even April, here in Cody and the Rocky Mountains.

Fly selection for winter fly fishing is not all that difficult. There are some dry fly patterns that work very well when the trout are keying on midges or tiny blue-winged olives.

Nymphs, wet flies, and streamers will also be listed so you can be prepared for any situation.

Just fill one or two fly boxes with these suggested flies and you should walk away from a tailwater with a huge grin.

When matching the hatches during fall and winter months, or fishing with dry flies or flies designed to ride in the surface, it is best to get the size right. For instance, if size 18 or 20 blue winged olives are on the water, dig through your fly boxes and choose one of the selections recommended below. The trout will be slow to accept an imitation that is a size 12. Does this make sense? It is important to understand this rule when fly fishing during colder months.

Five dry flies work well on tailwater fisheries when the days are short and the nights are long. Those are: Parachute Adams, Sparkle Dun, Snowshoe Dun, Griffith’s gnat and FDM midge. Olive, gray and occasionally purple, are good color choices. Size should range from 16-24. Size 18 and 20 will be used most often.

Light leaders and tippet will be needed to present a dry fly properly. Size 16-22 fly sizes are best fished using 4X-7X tippet. The best rule of thumb that can be given for choosing the right tippet size is to divide your hook size by 4. Size 16 is 4X, size 20 is 5X and so on.

Should the fish refuse your dry fly, try dropping down a tippet size or two. Many times, doing

so makes the difference between success and frustration.

There are times when the wind is blowing or the air temperatures are very cold. This slows down the ability for an emerging insect to climb out of its nymphal shuck and then fly off the water in search of a mate. When this occurs, the trout seem to prefer flies that are not floating high and dry, but those that are stuck in the surface film. Fly fishers switch to emergers, cripple or stillborn fly imitations.

Recommended imitations are: Bow-tie midge, Para-sipper, Smokejumper, Snowshoe cripple and Trifecta emerger. Best sizes to have in your fly box are 16-22, colors olive, black or gray.

Fishing dry flies and emergers also requires a treatment with a waterproofing agent on your fly. To keep it simple for readers, Loon Aquel is one of the better fly floatants, goes liquid at body temperature, costs less than $6 and lasts quite a while. Leader length should be 9-12 feet in length so the angler can get longer drifts and hide the fly line from the trout when casting and presenting your fly choices.

Wet flies are those designed to fish below the surface. These flies imitate the larval or nymph stage of aquatic insects. It is recommended that wet flies, better known as nymphs and soft hackles by fly enthusiasts, be weighted (usually with a metal bead) and non-weighted so the angler has water depth and speed covered. Again, to keep your winter fly boxes simple, here are five wet flies that work well in winter on the lower Shoshone, Bighorn, North Platte and Missouri River tail waters. Pheasant tail, Gold-ribbed hares ear, Copper John, Zebra midge and Prince nymph. Sizes should be small; 14-22. These flies should be fished under a strike indicator (aka: bobber) with a drag free drift and generally 2-6 feet below the indicator.

Last but not least in your winter fly boxes are streamer flies. These are designed to imitate baitfish, baby trout and leeches. Streamers are generally weighted, much larger than dry or wet flies and are given action by the fly fisher. The ubiquitous Wooly Bugger might be the best streamer to try when the trout are not enthused with our dry flies or nymphs. Best colors are black, purple, olive, dark brown or olive and black. Should the Wooly Bugger fail to perform as expected, Zonkers, Red Death,

Double bunny, Clark’s rat and Butte rat are reliable substitutes. Hook sizes should range from 2-10. Heavier leader, 1x-3X, will be required to turn over these larger flies.

A good fly rod choice for fishing winter would be a 9’ to 10’, five, six or seven weight.

These rods also cast heavier flies like bead head indicator rigs and streamers much better when the wind speed hits 30 mph. Rods with line weights less than a 5 can be used, certainly, but 3 and 4 weight fly rods do have more breakage issues during winter.

Large or mid-arbor fly reels with a good disc drag are better at landing fish during winter months. Floating, weight forward fly line that matches your rod size is good for all purpose application with dry, nymph or streamer.

Make sure to put at least 50 yards of backing behind the fly line in case you are lucky enough to hook the big Kahuna. Carrying an extra rod and fly reel set up with a sinking or sink-tip line is also recommended. By carrying two rods and reels, one can easily go between fishing a dry fly to casting a streamer using sinking or sink-tip fly lines.

Dry and wet flies should be used in conjunction with a floating fly line and non-sinking leader/tippet system. One can use a floating fly line when fishing with streamers, too, although there are times when the floating line can’t get one’s fly (streamer) to the bottom fast enough.

A sink-tip fly line like the new Orvis Bank Shot with a 7 foot fast sink tip casts large or small streamers very well from shore or when fishing in a boat. The floating line behind the quick sinking, weighted fly line “head” makes for faster pickups and fewer false casts to get your fly back in the water and in the zone.

Streamer leaders must be kept short when fishing sinking lines. Two to four feet is all that is required.

The content here and fly recommendations are general in nature but are consistently reliable with this qualifying statement: Every angler is responsible for learning how to cast, present and land fish now that this information has been given to you.

Anglers are also responsible for respecting the wild trout resources found in most of our Rocky Mountain tail waters. What is important is to use barbless hooks, land trout quickly, keep them wet while handling and release.

Locally raised honey has healthful properties The healthful benefits of honey are many, especially when one considers locally raised honey.

Jason Hebert does just that. He monitors several hives at his Alger Avenue home, as well as two other venues. He hopes to expand the operation.

“Eventually I want to build up to 40-60 hives,” Hebert said. “I would love to get to 100 but I would need more property.”

Hebert said the idea came from his wife Tasha Skinner, who “read this book about homesteading on small acreages and said we should look into getting bees.”

So Hebert said he researched what it would take and purchased two hives ... “then we bought eight more hives.”

Raising honey bees isn’t an exact science, however.

Jason Hebert pours a beer from his kegerator – a refrigerator converted to a beer dispenser.

“It’s hit and miss on that. They are tough to figure out. They are intricate little creatures.”

And then there’s the elements.

“Last winter around Thanksgiving, I had a bunch of hives blow over so I lost a few,” Hebert said.

“I came out of the winter with 2-3 strong hives and spent the whole summer building up the hives, raising my own queens and catching swarms.”

He said as a hive builds up it will become “overcrowded.” He will “transfer frames, put a new queen in there and then you have a new hive.” He added that crystallized honey is “the way to tell if you have true, raw honey.” He uses a mesh kitchen strainer to “get out the wax and the major bee parts.” This keeps the essentials, including pollen, intact.

“If it doesn’t have the pollen in it, then it is useless. If it doesn’t have the pollen in it, you can’t build up a resistance to it.”

beer brewing

Brewmeister at work

By VIN CAPPIELLO Editor It has been a logical progression for Jason Hebert.

What started as passion for consuming the cool, carbonated, malt beverage has grown into just about a full-time passion.

Not an obsession. A passion.

“I enjoy beer,” said the Cody man who spends a good amount of time yearround brewing his own craft beers. “I like the taste. I like the flavors. But I like all the different microbrews and craft beers. I like the freshness of a craft beer.”

Hebert says he started brewing by using popular kits with liquid malts; he bottled those beers as well. The more he brewed, the more he enjoyed it. So he began to research the process a bit more fully.

“These days you can Google or YouTube anything to learn how to do it,” the self-taught beer connoisseur said. “Now I’m working into more complex beers.

Every beer I’ve brewed has turned out well.”

So well, in fact, Hebert has taken the next step and has turned his attention to using a mashtun cooler to create a smooth lager.

“You have to ferment them a lot cooler,” said Hebert, who works from his Alger Avenue home to create his beers. “A lot of the home-brewed ales call for [fermenting at] 60-70 degrees. Lagers are supposed to be 48-52 degrees. Luckily the pantry in my basement stays at about 52 degrees during the winter.”

Hebert grew up in Boston and speaks fondly of the Samuel Adams brewery there. Perhaps it was this exposure that produces his passion for one his preferred beers.

“Octoberfest: That’s probably my

Home brew glossary

MASH TUN COOLER

vessel used in the mashing process to convert the starches in crushed grains into sugars for fermentation.

KEGERATOR

refrigerator converted to allow for the dispensing of beer from a keg, which is kept cool on the inside of the unit.

LAGER

kind of beer, effervescent and light in color and body.

PILSNER

a lager beer with a strong hop flavor, originally brewed at Pilsen in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), and traditionally served in a tall glass tapered at the bottom. favorite beer,” Hebert said. “I like darker beers. I like a malty taste to it – mid-line in the hops and bittering.”

He describes the process he followed last year, when he made a quality batch of Octoberfest.

“I had to ferment it for 14 days then put it into a secondary for 2-3 days to raise the temperature ... what you call a diacetone rest. Then you put it in the refrigerator for three months. Then you keg it and drink it.”

The result? “It was excellent.”

So he tried another beer.

“Last winter I did a clone of Stella Artois and that turned out really well too.”

Hebert said the freshness of home brews are a draw, especially for those who have “grown tired” of commercial brews. But it also requires some ingenuity. While the general engineering requirements are the same regardless of what kind of beer a brewer is making, sometimes the individual must get creative.

Enter ... the kegerator.

Hebert said this is nothing more than a typical refrigerator converted to a beer dispenser, complete with, in his case, two taps on the outside and interior tubing attached to a keg inside the fridge.

He also uses the “Beersmith” app, which contains valuable information for home brewers.

“It tells you everything you need to do,” said Hebert, as he scrolled up and down the iPad screen. “These are all ones I’ve made ... Alaskan Amber ... a honey brown ale with my own honey ... Dopplebock ... Sam Adams Octoberfest ...

“It gives you the breakdown of all the ingredients ... the mash ... and all your fermentation steps ... You can go through and pretty much find any recipe you ever thought about wanting to make. Somebody’s probably already made it. You go through and then tweak it the way you want it.”

Hebert takes pride in the brewing process. When he pours a beer, he tips the tall, frosted pilsner glass and does so with precision and at a relaxed pace – the same pace at which he consumes his favorite Octoberfest.

“I do enjoy beer.”

CHILL 2016 • 35

CHOCOMINT TODDY

mix until well blended. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

INGREDIENTS

WARM HUG

1 fluid ounce coffee flavored liqueur 1 fluid ounce peppermint schnapps 6 fluid ounces boiling water 1 (1 ounce) envelope instant hot chocolate mix Whipped cream for garnish Shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large mug, mix the coffee flavored liqueur and peppermint schnapps. Pour in the boiling water and stir in the hot chocolate

36 • CHILL 2016

INGREDIENTS

1 cup prepared hot chocolate 1 fluid ounce Irish cream liqueur 1 fluid ounce creme de cacao

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine hot chocolate Irish cream liqueur, and creme de cacao in a coffee glass or mug.

Ward Off Winter Chills With These Delicious Hot Drinks CARAMEL APPLE CIDER WITH SALTY-SWEET RIM INGREDIENTS SPICED DRINK RIMMER

1 tablespoon raw or demerara sugar 1 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/8 teaspoon apple pie spice blend 1 tablespoon caramel sauce or honey

BEVERAGE

1 cup apple cider 2 pieces hard caramel or toffee candy

INSTRUCTIONS

SINGLE CUP HOT BUTTERED RUM INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 teaspoons butter 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons confectioners sugar 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger dark Jamaican rum 2 tablespoons creme brulee flavored ice cream 1 pinch ground cinnamon 1/2 cup simmering water 1 pinch ground nutmeg

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To make the drink rimmer, mix sugar, fine sea salt and spice blend on a small saucer. Pour caramel sauce on another small saucer.

2. Dip the rim of a mug or heatproof glass into the caramel sauce, evenly coating the rim. Then, dip into the rimmer mixture.

3. Heat the apple cider and caramel candy in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until candies have melted.

4. Ladle hot caramel apple cider into the spice-rimmed mug.

1. Combine butter, brown sugar and confectioners sugar in a large coffee mug; stir the mixture together with a fork until well combined.

2. Pour in the rum, add the ice cream and cinnamon, and fill the remainder of the mug with simmering water.

3. Mix the drink with the fork until the ice cream and butter have melted together to make a creamy topping. Sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg and serve.

WASSAIL PUNCH

DREAMY NIGHTTIME DRINK

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

2 quarts apple cider 2 cups orange juice 1/2 cup lemon juice 12 whole cloves 4 cinnamon sticks 1 pinch ground ginger 1 pinch ground nutmeg

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a slow-cooker or a large pot over low heat, combine apple cider, orange juice and lemon juice. Season with cloves, ginger and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer. If using a slow cooker, allow to simmer all day. Serve hot.

1 cup milk 1 teaspoon honey 2 drops vanilla extract 1 pinch ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour milk into a microwave safe mug and place into microwave. Cook on high until the milk is very hot and begins to foam, about 3 minutes. Stir in honey and vanilla, then sprinkle with cinnamon before serving.

RECIPES FROM ALLRECIPES.COM. CHILL 2016 • 37

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