Outdoors with Don Q: Work now to smell the roses when summer arrives

If you are like me, I would be willing to bet that by now, you are feeling trapped in your home by our winter weather.

And, as a die-hard winter addict, I love cold days, frosty nights, frigid temperatures, deep snow, thick ice, long hours of darkness and the starkness of our landscapes in the wintertime. However, I must admit that sometimes our winter season even wears me down a little bit.

So, when I am tired of browsing on the internet, playing card games on my computer and feel like the walls are closing in on me, I take some remedial action that you, too, might try.

Here's what I do:
I stay busy for days at a time, planning and working on future spring, summer and fall activities, vacation trips, fishing excursions, etc.

I drag out all kinds of maps, brochures, pamphlets and advertisements, then I get busy on the internet contacting websites and making telephone calls.

It is a great way to pass the time on a wintery day, plus it can be very productive and as a bonus, it can save lots of money later in the year. More importantly, when summer arrives it is very gratifying for me to know that all of the necessary reservations and plans are solidly in place.

So, if you are thinking of going somewhere special later this year, why not take the time, now, to work on all of the necessary arrangements. It is a perfect way to wait out the endless winter weather.

Here is an important tip:
This is the best time of the year to get the best prices on all kinds of things such as: Airline tickets, car rentals, hotel and motel reservations and tours.

On all of our previous trips to Alaska (I've been there 14 times, Elaine has been there 8 times), British Columbia (we've been there 3 times) and the Yukon (we've been there 3 times), we have worked like two little beavers to firm up our travel agendas, obtain information, purchase airline tickets, reserve rental cars, book hotel and motel reservations, select sightseeing tours, lock in fishing trips, etc.

Then, when summer arrives, we just sit back, grin and enjoy ourselves.

If you have never traveled to faraway places like Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon, be advised that there is a huge world of difference between making all of your necessary arrangements now, as opposed to doing so at the very last minute.

Most particularly for traveling to and in Alaska when it comes to prices. If your plans are not locked in solidly by the time summer arrives, you will have a very rude culture shock waiting for you.

As an example, if you were to wait to the last minute, the price for airline tickets could be as much as 3-4 times what you pay at this time of year.

Geez, why pay a god-awful amount for an airline ticket in June to fly roundtrip to Anchorage when it costs a lot less to buy your tickets now? That doesn't make any sense. Plus if you make your reservations now, you have much more flexibility in setting your departure and arrival dates and times.

As a special tip:
If you are thinking of taking that special trip to Alaska that includes a bus sightseeing tour at Denali National Park, do it now, do it now, do it now.
If you wait until the last minute to book a park tour, good luck! You will need it. Your chances of getting on one of those tour buses will be about as good as my chances of winning the Lotto - Slim to none.
At the park, the only road vehicles permitted are authorized park vehicles, tour buses and authorized professional photographers.

As another example of early pre-planning, the rental rate of your vehicle climbs dramatically when you compare making the rental at this time of the year as compared to doing so in June, July or August.
If you reserve that car, van or truck, right now, you also have a greater flexibility in specifying the type and size of that vehicle.

Finally:
These examples should give you a good idea of why it is so critical to do all of your planning and reservation-making at this time of the year. Besides, about now, you are probably getting tired of staring out the window at snow-covered surroundings and you can't go anywhere or do anything.
Work now, and you can take the time to smell the roses in the summer.

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you about our top two favorite locations for having fun in Alaska.
If he grins and says, Their top two favorite locations for having fun are:
One: The Homer Spit with the Land's End Hotel and the Salty Dawg Saloon for photography, partying and overnight accommodations, and
Two: Sitka for sightseeing, accommodations and the Halibut, King Salmon, Silver Salmon, Ling Cod and Yelloweye fishing in the ocean," he could have been on one of their previous trips to those two locations.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. His wife, Elaine Quilici, is the Outdoor photographer in chief. The Quilicis live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com