Some people just don’t like snow. Go figure? I don’t understand it, but it’s true. So what do these poor folks do for outdoor fun when snow covers the New England landscape? They head for the beach, of course!

Now I’ve heard tales of people who actually save up all year just to hop on a plane and head south to escape the snow and find their beaches. Why would they do that? Southern beaches are hot and crowded in the winter just like New England beaches are in the summer. On the other hand, in the winter New England beaches from Long Island Sound all the way up to Eastport, Maine, are stunningly beautiful, austere – elemental landscapes that you can have all to yourself.

Personally, I prefer the windswept, surf-scoured beaches along the outer reaches of Cape Cod and the Maine Coast over relatively tamer bayside beaches. Who cares if the water is a little chilly for swimming without a wetsuit? There all kinds ways to enjoy a winter beach.

You can, if you have the right talent and protective clothing, go surfing or sea kayaking or scuba diving. I’ve never tried any of those in winter, but I intend to soon. It’s just hard to tear myself away from the mountains and the snow.

But the simplest way to approach a winter beach is to dress appropriately for the weather, carry a daypack with a pair of binoculars, a camera, a thermos bottle of hot liquid, bottled water, a lunch, and take a long walk.

Dressing for a long day hike on the beach isn’t that much different from dressing for a day of playing in the snow in the mountains. You want sturdy, comfortable footwear, (preferably waterproof, wet feet in the winter aren’t a whole lot of fun) with soles that cling well to wet rocks.

You’ll want warm socks, long underwear, a layer of insulation (fleece is best), and something to break the wind. Basically the same waterproof, breathable gear you wear for mountain hiking or skiing is perfectly appropriate, though there’s nothing wrong with a thick wool sweater and a mackinaw, either.

You’ll definitely also want a hat, and warm, windproof gloves or mittens, and a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from blowing sand and the sun. You want to be able to stay out no matter how hard the wind blows or how cold it gets. In fact, that’s the real secret of winter beach walking. The colder it is, the harder the wind blows, the more the snow and sleet and sea-spray come at you sideways, the more fun it is.

That’s not to say that a calm, warm, sunny day can’t be nice. Then you can just stroll along, using your binoculars to watch the seagulls and passing boats, snapping pictures whenever the mood strikes.

If you’ve been cooped up indoors over the holidays, that’s certainly a pleasant change of pace.

But the real fun comes when the wind kicks up and you have to struggle just to stay warm and keep moving. That’s when the surf crashes on the beach like the very pulse of the earth, and the elemental forces of nature take you far away from your everyday concerns and focus all your senses and thoughts on the single moment of time and the single place in the universe that you are occupying.

Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Snowy options

There’s plenty of snow to be enjoyed in the mountains, and if you’re looking for something fun and worthwhile, consider the “Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer” on Jan. 22 at the Stratton Nordic Center (Sun Bowl location) at Stratton Mountain (1-800-STRATTON; www.stratton.com ), Vt. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk starts at 10.

This family event features a fun 3K or 5K snowshoe walk on Stratton’s snow covered trails to benefit breast cancer research, education and screening. This would be a great way to introduce your family to the fun of snowshoeing. An optional 3k snowshoe Fun Run’ will start at 9:30 a.m. for those with higher fitness goals and will finish in time for everyone to join in on the fun walks. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (www.komen.org) and its Vermont affiliate.

For more information about the event, e-mail [email protected] or call 1-800-882-2748.

Rain, rain, go away

Unfortunately, the weather so far this winter has been less than perfect. A couple of storms have delivered rain all the way to the Canadian border, still others have thrown down rain in the south, snow in the far north, and ice and sleet in between. As I write this, a mixed-bag of a storm has just passed through, and several of the northern ski areas are having wind problems, and there’s snow in the northern forecasts.

When the weather gets hinky like this, it pays to check the weather before you leave for any planned outdoor activity. That way, at the very least, you know what to expect. With services likewww.weather.com, there’s no need to fly blind. You can always get an idea of what the weather is likely to be anywhere you are going.

It also pays to always along waterproof-windproof outerwear, a hat and gloves or mittens no matter what outdoor activity you have planned.

Tim Jones is a full time freelance writer on travel and outdoor sports. His e-mail address is [email protected]