Friluftsliv: Embracing the Outdoors in Everett All Year Long

Editor’s Note: Originally published October 26, 2021.

There’s an old saying in Western Washington: if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. That’s true for the spring and summer months, but from October through early April you can pretty much expect one flavor of meteorology – a thousand variations on chilled moisture. You know: overcast clouds and mist and fog and spray and basement-flooding downpours.

It’s okay to feel blah during the darker, colder months. It’s normal. But maybe there’s a different way to travel through the winter.

Last year I read about the idea of friluftsliv. This is the Nordic idea of “the open-air life” (as it’s commonly translated). It turned a light bulb on inside my head.

Friluftsliv posits that there’s no such thing as bad weather. It’s ok to be outside at any time, all year – we just need to normalize it and layer our clothing appropriately (we’ve all had a taste of this with Covid-induced outdoor dining). The free air life is stimulating. It helps to work up an appetite and promotes restful sleep.

In the PNW this means, practically, making use of water-wicking wool socks, water-resistant windbreakers for foggy forest jogs, and a decent raincoat for the inevitable downpour.

Here are my best bets for getting out and enjoying the Everett outdoors (and indoors!), no matter what the weather gods are up to.

Invest in waterproof gear and get out there // Unsplash

Urban hikes/Walks

Walks and hikes are the low-hanging fruit of friluftsliv, especially if you live in residential North Everett where sidewalks abound. Lace up some waterproof shoes and incorporate some steps into your daily routine. I usually set out with a few layers and discard them before arriving at the grocery store or the library -- the activity warms me up!

Pro tip: invest in a waterproof (or at least water-resistant) packable layer. Keep it in your backpack; you never know when a misty drizzle will blow in from the Salish Sea. Or just do the thing and buy an umbrella (native Washingtonians: there is no shame in this!).

I walk all winter long and it levels up my hiking game come spring.

Bikes

Confession: I love biking in the rain. I enjoy the wet hissing sound of tires on slick pavement and the white noise of cars traveling on wet roads. I like slowly navigating over a carpet of oak leaves on McDougall, taking care to coast to an easy stop.

When you bike in late fall or winter be sure to wear reflective clothing and put lights on your bike. Support your local bike shop by buying fenders (no splashes) and waterproof panniers for hauling your groceries home. The best time to bike is all the time.

Get a great upper body workout // Unsplash

Climbing gyms

We have two! Vertical World in South Everett (okay, technically super-North Lynnwood) and Summit Everett in the northern part of the city. The pros of climbing include a great upper body workout, a tight-knit climbing community, and a roof over your head while you master bouldering basics.

Gym memberships can be pricey. It pays to take a starter course before deciding to commit to a monthly membership. Belay on!

Fishing/Crabbing

North Everett is a peninsula: there’s a river on two sides and a saltwater bay on the other. If you love fresh seafood you can get yourself a license and go to town. You don’t even need a boat or a canoe. Toss a crab pot off the docks at the Everett Waterfront or hit the docks at Rotary Park or the fishing Pier at Langus Park. There’s nothing as delicious as the catch of the day. This summer a buddy and I boiled crabs in saltwater on Jetty Island -- it was perfect; the PNW encapsulated in savory, buttery bites.

Proper licensing is everything. It helps keep the fish stock healthy and keeps the fish and game wardens doing their thing.

Hours of exploration abound // Richard Porter

Kayaking/Canoeing

About all that water -- check it out by kayak or canoe. The Snohomish River Estuary offers hours of exploration if you are up for exploring side channels. There’s Jetty Island and the shipwrecks off of Jetty Island on the bayside, not to mention the Port Gardner/Pigeon Creek area. You can even rent your own kayak on the Everett Waterfront.

A simple watercraft is just the thing to see the world from a new, meditative perspective.

A few notes

These are just ideas to get you started in your own journey through the elements. There are many ways to get outdoors off-season. If you have a great idea, please share it in the comments section below.

Please be safe while enjoying the outdoors. If you’re headed out on the water or into a secluded area, tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. It never hurts to check in with a buddy.

Enjoy your friluftsliv this season. See you out there!