McClory: The beginning of the year means it’s showtime

Happy New Year! Finally, at last, the holiday madness is over, and now we can all get back to our normal routine and prepare for the next season. What season is that? Well, it’s the show season! It’s time to plan for the fishing and hunting shows that are scheduled to take place over the next few months. Oh, yes, and how can I forget to mention the catalog attack! I’m sure by now your mailbox, just like mine, is overflowing with your favorite spring clearance outdoor catalogs from Cabelas, Bass Pro Shop and many others. Their timing is perfect because it’s just in time to pick out a special hunting or fishing article that Santa forgot or maybe you were lucky enough to get a gift certificate. Unfortunately, it can often be difficult to get an item from one of these clearance catalogs. Even if you call the minute you get the catalog, the chances are your size or color is out of stock. Oh well! As for sportsman shows, the first show of the season is the Fly Fishing Show this weekend in Marlboro on Jan. 15-17, at the Royal Plaza Trade Center. From I-495 take Exit 24B on to Route 20 West (Boston Post Rd.). Show hours are Friday, 10-6; Saturday, 9-5:30; and Sunday, 9-4:30, and admission is $15.Our first weekend snow skiing outing took place this past weekend at Sunday River in northern Maine. It also happened to be the coldest weekend so far this season. Saturday morning, the air was crystal clear as we waited for the lift to start at 8 a.m. We wanted first tracks. The temperature was a balmy minus-6 degrees with a 20-mph wind at the base of the mountain and we were comfortable, not cold at all. I am often asked how I stay warm when the conditions are like they were last Saturday. First, if I am going to be moving like when I am skiing or hunting, my first layer on the top and bottom is good quality lightweight polypropylene long underwear that wicks away sweat. I have to warn you that these components are not cheap. Be prepared to spend about $40 plus each for top and bottom. The next thing I put on top is usually a wool shirt if I am hunting, or, if skiing, a zip-up turtleneck polar fleece shirt. On the bottom, for hunting, wool pants and, for skiing, Gore-Tex ski pants. I like the Gore-Tex ski pants because they breathe and vent when I am skiing and, when I sit down on the chair lift, I don’t end up with a wet butt! My next layer for both is a fleece vest. I prefer one with windstopper material. Finally on top I wear a good quality ski coat that has underarm zipper vents. This allows you to cool down while skiing the slopes and when you are riding the lift you can zip up to maintain heat when you are not moving. As for a hunting jacket, it depends on the type of day. If it is going to be reasonably nice I wear a wool coat, but if there is rain in the forecast I wear a Gore-Tex jacket with fleece outer material. And, of course, I wear a helmet when I am skiing, with a helmet liner when it is cold. While hunting, I like the Gore-Tex Jones-type hat. I usually carry a neck muff in my pocket that I will use when the conditions warrant, like this past weekend. On my feet, I wear Canadian wool socks and I like the La Crosse or Rocky “Bean” style boot, rubber bottoms and leather tops. Today’s ski boots are filled with a lot of foam lining so I only wear thin Lycra or polypropylene socks when skiing. As for keeping my hands warm, there is nothing that can take the place of a good pair of Gore-Tex gloves and if it is really cold you can insert a thin glove liner into them for additional warmth. Now if I were going ice fishing or some other activity that doesn’t require a lot of moving I would make only one change. I would wear heavyweight polypropylene long underwear, and I would wear the foul weather Gore-Tex coat mentioned. I can’t guarantee that you will stay warm if you dress as I have suggested. What I can tell you is that I have never had a problem staying warm dressing this way. I’m sure you can modify what I have mentioned to help