As a senior at Appalachian State, I have now survived three Boone winters. With the first dusting of the season coming so early this year, I think it is safe to say that we can expect a crazy winter in the upcoming months. To keep you warm, safe and entertained, there are a few tips I suggest when taking on the cold!
First, have a great coat. This seems pretty obvious, but it can determine your comfort level for the entire season. Make sure you have a hood to keep your ears covered, the sleeves are long enough to protect your hands, and pair it with a scarf to cover your neck. Sometimes style needs to be pushed to the side and practicality needs to take its place. Walking to class becomes less of a drag when you have the proper attire on. It is also important to walk outside first and see what kind of clothes you need to be wearing. Boone has a tendency to look a little bit warmer from inside of your apartment rather than when you are actually outside.
Next, if your parking lot is icy… DO NOT DRIVE. Appalcart routes usually go to most of the areas where people live in Boone. Take the Appalcart instead and do not put yourself in danger of driving even when you have four-wheel-drive on your vehicle. Ice is not something to mess with, especially on the steep slopes of Boone.
Do not isolate yourself! It is easy when it is snowing outside to just sit inside of your apartment and watch Netflix all day (I think we have all been there once or twice.) However, after a few weeks of two feet of snow on the ground you will not want to be sitting around all day. Make sure you make time to see your friends! Have movie nights, make hot chocolate, have a Christmas party or order food from your favorite restaurant! If it is not too windy, maybe even go outside and enjoy the weather by going to Appalachian Ski Mountain to work on your skiing or snowboarding skills. App Ski Mountain also has student rates and great deals for season passes. Whatever you decide to do during your winter, make sure you are still doing something. Don’t get into a funk where you feel like you can’t leave your couch!
Stay on top of your schoolwork. When it starts snowing, a lot of people tend to fall behind because even when class isn’t canceled for the university, they seem to cancel it for themselves. Make sure that you drag yourself out of bed to go to class. We are paying for this education and it should come first! If you cannot make it to class because it is unsafe, email your professor—they usually are pretty understanding if your safety is in jeopardy. Make sure you make up what you missed in class and ask your fellow students what went on during classes you missed. Don’t let your grades slip because you are too scared of the cold. Like I said, get a coat!
Lastly, ENJOY IT! Boone looks beautiful covered in the snow. Buy yourself a hot chocolate, go skiing, tubing, ice-skating and even go sledding down some of the natural slopes of Boone. Sometimes even being snowed-in to your apartment with some of your closest friends creates the best memories.
Keep all of these things in mind when the real snow starts to kick in the coming months and stay warm!Â