Come new years eve, DON'T get drunk and start the New Year sick, go on a little survival trek.
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I used to live near a huge Ft Lewis training
range, Weir Prairie, near Yelm. I would leave
the house about dark, walk in a good stretch and set up a solo camp. One year I used a 8X8
diamond for cover and one heavy Hudson blanket
plus my capote. I had a small hand made dinner.
Made some .600 round balls for my canoe gun.
About 10 a stiff breeze came up and sent me to bed. I laid in my roll and fed the fire with
twigs. About 3AM I was awakened with cold feet.
My winter pack boots had evidently made my feet
sweat. The cold crept in and started in my feet
and up legs. I had no choice but to build a fire and dry/warm my feet. I went back to sleep
and awoke about dawn. Had a big tin of hot tea
and walked out. Point: I had time to think.
I did something positive and best of all broke
a mold of drinking too much on New Years.
The next year I rolled up in the diamond canvas
and was warmer. Only might have enjoyed myself
more had I had a partner to talk to. I tried
but no one was dumb enough to sleep out in 20-degree weather. I'm dumb enough. Try it!!

That sounds like a great idea Oracle. I don't think there is a better way to bring in the New Year.

Funnie how some folks start out thier New Year drinking to everyone health while destroying thiers!!!!!!Ironic!!!! I figure the first day should set the pace for the rest of the year,cant imagin getting up every morning sick and it be all self induced.Like getting the flu on purpose dont make you look to smart !!!!!!!!!!!!It finally snowed here and then went to 45 the next day rained most of deer season and Sat is the last day,eating chicken this year but it will taste like venison HAW HAW Sounds like this year for the start of 08 will be colder than last, good year for snowshoeing in the woods.See you up the trail

Sounds like a great way to bring in the new year and to make a new year's resolution, even a tradition, got some new territory I've wanted to explore, only I think I might start a little before sundown. It's funny how so many of us keep saying we don't have enough time to do things, mebbe we just need to rearrange our time a little.

Oracle,
I have done the winter sleep out from time to time. It usually coincided with deer season. Once was just a winter shoot for two fellas that didn't get out enough. We were in the high Rockies in Colorado New years weekend.
volatpluvia