Taking the Plunge: Polar Plunge Combines the Best of Winter and Community

The Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for Wisconsin’s Special Olympics Program, might involve a quick dip in a very cold lake, but it’s a heartwarming experience for ...

Local Fatbiking Scene Welcomes Newbies, Old Helmets

With December temps in the mid-to-high 30s, it would seem that snow will come and go this winter. One thing that is here to stay, though, is fat biking. Even if you haven’t tried it yet, you’ve likely seen ...

Menomonie Shop Offers Consignment and Trade for Winter Outdoor Gear

At the end of November, Menomonie’s Bait on Broadway underwent a transformation and became Menomonie Outdoors. Bob Sachsenmaier and ...

5 Tips for a Healthier, Happier Winter

Wintermission Eau Claire effort encourages residents to make the most of the season

Winter means different things to people from different places. When I was teaching communication and public speaking in Virginia, we closed the university because of ...

Best Youth Curlers Aim for Eau Claire

curling club hosts icy sport’s Junior National Championships for the first time

The next generation of top American curling talent will slide into town when the Eau Claire Curling Club hosts the USA Curling Junior National Championships. The Jan. 12-18 tourney will ...

An International Invitational

annual ski jumping contest takes flight January 17-18

The 134th Annual Silver Mine Invitational will take place in Eau Claire Jan. 17-18 at the Silver Mine Ski Jump, 2900 Silvermine Drive. The event is a ...

Drilling Down

western Wisconsin firm finds success with specialty ice fishing products

In early December, you might have seen many an ice angler out on Half Moon Lake, including a few bright red pop-up tents with the brand name Eskimo. With a name like that, you might think Alaska or Canada ...

Buck Up for the Birkie

skiers from near and far gear up for North America’s largest cross-country race

Bob Burch is a world-class skier who has skied the largest cross-country ski race in North America, the American Birkebeiner, every year for 36 years. This February he will make the drive from Eau Claire ...

Chasing Colors: Aurora borealis inspires photographic hunt

Perhaps losing the feeling in your fingertips for the sake of snowshoeing or skiing isn’t a fair trade, but would you risk frostbite for a perfect picture of the quintessential mid-winter sighting ...

Night Time Is the Right Time

chilly fun comes to Pinehurst Park on Thursdays this January and February

Now that winter is officially upon us, it might be tempting to lock your doors and burrito-roll inside your favorite blanket. But here in Wisconsin, cold weather doesn’t have to negate outdoor fun ...

Chippewa Valley Skiing Enthusiasts Don't Shy Away From Winter; They Embrace and Conquer It

You might know them by their brightly colored zip-front windbreakers. Perhaps it’s a rustic winter sweater and a backwoodsy vibe that gives them away. Their dedication to proper winter attire ...

Skijoring Is Great Winter Exercise for Humans and Their Best Friends

Hubby helps our husky into the brilliant red crossback harness designed specifically for working dogs – although Betty, who spends most of her days curled up on the sofa or bed, hardly qualifies. ...

Exploring the Legend of Eau Claire's Half Moon Lake Toboggan Chute

I didn’t grow up around here, so when I first heard that a 125-foot-long, covered wooden ramp was once used to launch young tobogganers across an icy lake, I was skeptical. Would the city really sanction ...

Rebuilding Pinehurst

local nonprofit, volunteers turning vision into reality

The former ski hill at Pinehurst Park has steadily evolved into a fresh and exciting new recreation area. Led by local nonprofit OutdoorMore Inc., Pinehurst Park is on its way to becoming not only ...

A New Place to Skate

growing Chippewa youth hockey program has new rink

The cliché about Wisconsin weather – wait a few minutes, and it will change – often rings true, even in winter. Sure, it’s usually cold, but warm spells, snow, sleet, and other types of precipitation keep ...

Frigid Fun After Dark: Winter After Hours starts in Boyd Park in January

Winter can be an isolating time, and sometimes even we hearty Wisconsinites need a nudge to break our routines and actually get outside and enjoy the season’s snowy splendor instead of complaining about it. We need motivation to pull on our stocking caps and dig our ice skates out of the closet or even strap on some snowshoes ...

BACK ON THE ICE: Winter Fest and Games returns for more icy excitement

Put on your snowshoes and rev up your snowmobiles: The third annual Winter Fest and Games presented by CCF Bank is coming up! From Jan. 27-29 Lake Altoona will be the coolest spot around with a flurry of events and festivities for winter enthusiasts ...

Up, Up, and Away!

international cup competition adds new layer to Silver Mine Ski Jump tourney

Getting outdoors this winter and watching high quality athletic competitions doesn’t have to be an either/or proposition in the Chippewa Valley: Eau Claire has hosted the Silver Mine Invitational, which welcomes top ski jumpers from around the world, for 130 straight winters. Introducing your family to the thrilling sport of ski jumping ...