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If dogsledding whets your appetite for fun but seemingly anachronistic activities involving animals, you might consider a midwinter lesson in FALCONRY. That’s right, falconry. New England is home to two fully-outfitted falconry centers that teach the art of handling birds of prey and using them to hunt small game. Though it has survived for thousands of years, falconry participation is understandably waning amid a variety of modern pressures, not least of which is government regulation of populations of endangered birds of prey. The British School of Falconry at the Equinox Resort in Manchester Village, Vermont, is an 11-year-old offshoot of the original school of the same name, located in Gleneagles, Scotland. And though their winter offering is limited to indoor lessons in bird-handling, it’s still an awe-inspiring experience. Held in a cavernous barn equipped with perches for their Harris Hawks to fly to and land on, and even a fake pheasant to simulate wild prey, the intro lesson covers falconry history, hunting, and training methods, before moving on to basic bird handling, an activity whose rush is much the same whether indoors or out. “People are just totally blown away,” says Rob Waite, the school’s manager. And it’s easy to see why: for a close-up look at power matched equally with grace, it would be hard to beat having a raptor land on your outstretched (and, thankfully, gloved) hand. This first class equips participants to move into the higher level falconry courses, and many participants return in the warmer months to do the Hawk Walk, an hour-long free-fly of the hawks along the trails at the Equinox, or to go on actual hunting trips with the birds. Those who prefer fish to quail should have no problem continuing their pursuit of dinner throughout the winter, but be warned: ICE-FISHING is a slightly different beast than warm-weather fishing. Though it would seem at first glance to provide a concentrated dose of the solitude that many anglers crave, it is in fact a surprisingly social activity, as evidenced by the lines of ice shanties sitting cheek by jowl in the middle of vast frozen lakes. The premise is simple: identify a good spot, cut a hole in the ice with a hand- or gas-powered augur, drop a weighted line with a lure or jig on the end through the hole, and wait. Of course, much of an ice-fisherman’s effort goes into ensuring his comfort during that wait—the lake-top shacks, towed into place with trucks or snowmobiles, can get pretty posh, with lights, TVs, heaters, bunks, stoves, and ample supplies of alcohol (for warmth, of course). For the beginner, though, the basic setup requires little more than an augur, a two-foot rod, some jigs and lures, a cooler of live bait, a bucket to sit on, warm clothes, and patience. One of the easiest ways to try it is to find a lakeside resort that offers instruction and rents shanties. The variety of fish is nearly the same as you’d find in the warmer months—perch and other panfish, along with walleye, pike, and even some large trout—and ice-fishermen will tell you that fish caught in the winter actually taste better. Maybe you prefer to actually move on the ice rather than sit still—doing laps at Frog Pond on Boston Common doesn’t count. You might want to try your hand at ICE-BOATING (also known as ice-sailing and ice-yachting), a venerable sport that’s taken on some new twists in recent years. Reputed to be the “fastest way to sail,” ice-boaters can reach velocities up to five times the wind speed on the dozens of lakes throughout New England that provide ideal venues. Usually designed for one person, iceboats consist of three skate-blades or runners supporting a frame on which sit a cockpit and a mast. Larger vessels were used throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for both transportation and racing on nearly every navigable waterway of the Northeast; clubs around New England continue the tradition when conditions permit. Other, more recent, variations include ice-boarding (like wind-surfing, but on ice) and the use of kites to augment standard sails and catch more wind. Watching a race will give you an idea of the level of speed—and fun—involved. The real purists simply ignore the onset of winter and continue practicing their chosen sport, regardless of hypothermia or, seemingly, common sense. Among the most committed are those who SURF THE ATLANTIC year-round, a group that you probably did not know existed unless you’ve frequented coastal New Hampshire or Rhode Island in winter. This hearty bunch spends hours at a time getting slapped around by dark gray water whose temperature hovers just above freezing. “The winter’s a lot gnarlier around here than summer,” says Josh Day, a New Hampshire surfer who works at Cinnamon Rainbows, the hub of New Hampshire surfing. “Winter’s cold, and it’s big, and mostly it’s just locals out there.” It’s a little different than in, say, Southern California, and you need to make sure you’re properly outfitted to stand a chance: five-millimeter-thick wetsuits, complete with full hoods, gloves, and extra thick booties, are standard issue and tend to compromise your mobility slightly. A crowded beach in winter might consist of a half-dozen guys waiting for a wave, but those who bear the cold are rewarded with swells that can reach two to three feet overhead in height, particularly when a nor’easter is blowing in. The chief benefit of winter surfing, according to locals, is that once temperatures drop, the scads of novices that have begun to flock to the area during the summertime vanish. Silly people… The Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid (www.orda.org, 518-523-4436) is the only place to sled like an Olympian. A half-mile bobsled ride will cost you $65, while a ride on a “luge rocket” is $30. Spectators might want to catch the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge (January 4-6), a pro-am event that sees race-car drivers trying their hands at bobsledding. The Camden Snow Bowl (www.camdensnowbowl.com, 207-236-3438) is the preeminent toboggan venue in the Northeast. Registration fees for the National Toboggan Championships range from $50 for the two-person division to $100 for a four-person team. Sign up early! Jim Blair at Eden Mountain Lodge will take you out for a threehour, 10-mile dogsled ride for $325. Lessons are available, with arrangements and pricing upon request (www.dogsledridesvermont.com, 802-635-9070). The British School of Falconry at the Equinox Resort, Manchester Village, Vt., lets participants take a falcon into the hunting field with a specially trained dog. Prices range from $55 per person for the intro session to $145 for the Hawk Walk to $350 for a two-hour guided hunt with the birds (www.equinox.rockresorts.com, 802-362-4780). The New Hampshire School of Falconry at the Timberdoodle Club in Temple, N.H., offers a class called Falconry 101 for teenagers, along with other programs and instruction (www. Check out weekend ice-fishing classes run by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (www.wildlife.state.nh.us, 603-271-3212). They take place most winter weekends all over the state. Wannabe iceboaters can visit www.neiya.com, the website of the New England Ice Yachting Association, the best place for information on conditions, schedules, activities, and links to other ice sailing clubs. Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Shop, in Hampton, N.H., is the de facto hub of the Granite State’s surf scene (www.surfnh.com, 603-964-7714; for a surf report, call 603-929-RIDE).
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Ice boating. Photo by Jerry and Marcy Monkman.
