10 Outdoor Activities You Should Avoid This Holiday Season

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This holiday season is the season of joy, happiness, and entertainment – but not all the activities one can take are safe. People go for outdoor activities that can be thrilling and at the same turn into your worst dreams. From snow and cold to pedestrians and density, some things are best avoided if you’re looking to maintain a Merry Christmas and a merry bone structure.

Think about falling on the ice and then having to get up just to notice you are trapped on the mountain when you should be enjoying a cup of hot cocoa in front of the fireplace. Well, no one would want their holiday story to be the one that came out of the emergency room. Which is why to spare you some embarrassment (and sore limbs), here’s a rundown of outdoor activities that should be a big NO-NO on your holidays.

Skiing Without Preparation

Skiing seems like a lot of fun but jumping into it without adequate practice or even the right equipment is a sure way to crash. Just consider it for a moment, you are putting sticks to your feet and then sliding down a snowy slope. If you are not careful, you may find yourself with a whole lot more than a sore head. Get a pass only if you have ever taken some lessons, and you have all that you need to keep you safe.

Walking on Frozen Lakes

Photo Credit: eberhard grossgasteiger/Pexels

Skating on an ice surface of a frozen lake is beautiful, but have you ever wondered what is beneath that ice? Thin ice can break sooner than your favorite Christmas cookie. In this case, it is advisable to skate indoors or simply watch the frozen water from the side of the shore.

Climbing Mountains In Bad Weather

Mountains are great to look at and some people like to climb them, but climbing one in bad weather? That’s just tempting fate. Naturally the gusts of wind, blizzard or the freezing cold can make even the walk in the park into quite the epic sprint for survival. Avoid the possibility of frostbite or even death and take a warm walk at lower altitude.

Driving Off-road During The Snowy Season

Driving with Snow on Your Car — Photo Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

Going off-road is always fun, but going off-road in heavy snow is just not advisable. It is easy for a car to be marooned and ice increases the risk of an accident. The last thing you want is to be out in the cold, waiting for a tow truck to arrive.

Camping Without Winter Gear

It may sound like a lot of fun to camp during winter, but it is as good as suffering when there is no adequate equipment for the season. Just picture yourself freezing in a lousy sleeping bag and your breath is freezing in the air like a cloud. If you’re not prepared with extra winter gear, do not attempt the camping during this season; wait until spring.

Extreme Water Sports

It is not a season to be attempting water sports like surfing or even take a ride in the jet ski. Hypothermia can develop much faster than most people would expect, and the water is not very friendly to a human body. You should not expose yourself to cold water activities during winter for many reasons listed by the National Weather Service, instead engage in warmer activities.

Fireworks in Windy Conditions

Fireworks are popular during the holiday season, but firing them in strong winds is a sure way to create chaos. There is always an element of danger in any fire and you do not wish to be the one who has ignited a neighbour’s tree and caused it burn. Consider this a late-night show for clear and most of all – calm nights.

Biking on Icy Roads

Biking on icy roads might sound like a good workout, but it’s more like playing slip-and-slide with traffic. Tires lose grip due to lack of friction according to Vala, a wrong turn and you could easily fall off—or be killed. Replace the bike with a walk through the park, instead.

High-Speed Sledding

Sledding is great fun — it is good as long as the child does not choose to sled into a tree, a rock, or worse still, a parked car. Just take it easy and avoid areas where you can easily get out of control with regards to speed. The idea is not to make people have to go to the doctor for a stitch or have a heart attack laughing so hard.

Hiking Unmarked Trails

Vacation walks may be lovely, but it is not a good idea to start walking along unknown trails. Snow can mask such things like holes or cliffs, and it is difficult to find your way in the forest. Stay on a safe and well known trail, so the experience remains exciting and not stressful.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.