Winter has become my season for planning. It’s the time I research, test, acquire, and maintain gear for the adventures that await later in the year. Over the past week, I’ve made some adjustments to my kayak in the garage. On longer trips, I’ve struggled with numbness in my legs and feet, so I decided to tackle the issue by installing a back support in my kayak. When the weekend arrived, I couldn’t resist taking it out for a test ride.

It was less than two weeks until Christmas, and I had one vacation day left. When the forecast called for crisp, sunny weather, I couldn’t resist the urge to get outdoors. After all, I hadn’t winter camped since my military training, and neither had I tested my new tent. So, I decided to take a midweek day off and head to the Björnö Nature Reserve for a much-needed adventure.