Fall Has Fell!

Fall has fell!  Well, almost.  Friday, September 23, is the official first day of fall.  It is the autumn equinox.  Twice a year, in March and September, the length of the day and night are the same and that marks the beginning of spring (March) and fall (September).  The actual date may vary by a few days, from the 21 to the 23, depending on the year.

The equinoxes, as well as the solstices (longest and shortest days of the year) have been significant events historically, with each typically having its own holiday(s) and marking the time for major events.  In days gone by, the fall equinox was often associated with harvest time.  Now, since most of us are long distanced from farming, it just marks the first official day of fall.

For outdoor enthusiasts the beginning of fall is often tied to the beginning of September and  back-to-school rituals.  That is frequently when folks start putting away their summer toys.  If you haven't already done so, the first day of autumn (September 23 this year) is a good time to start!  There should still be time to get things cleaned up, serviced, and properly stored before the winter storms begin.

Tent campers usually have it easiest, especially if you observe good protocols for each outing.   Hopefully you clean your tent, sleeping bag, stoves, lanterns and other equipment and store them properly after each outing.  If you do, you shouldn't have very much left to do.  You might want to inspect everything so you can arrange to make necessary repairs or get replacements lined up during the off season.  Also it is a good idea to double check your provisions and make sure there isn't anything perishable or that might freeze left in there.  If you do any winter camping, now would be the time to swap out summer sleeping bags and clothing for winter equivalents.

RVers and Boaters usually have a LOT more to do.  RVs and boats need to be prepared for winter storage and that means winterizing water systems, servicing engines and drive systems as well as clearing out perishable provisions.  RVs and boats should be properly covered to protect them from winter weather.

OHV riders winter procedures will differ depending on what kind of OHV(s) you have and whether you will continue using them as the weather changes.  Dirt bikers usually put their machines away for the winter.  ATVs and UTVs with 4 wheel drive are more likely to continue to be used when the snow flies so you may invest your time preparing them for winter use instead of putting them into storage.

Of course, fall is when the leaves fall!  It is a good idea to make sure your RVs,  OHVs. and boats are properly stored or covered to prevent accumulated leaves from staining the surfaces.  Such staining can usually be removed with a good scrubbing, but you can save yourself a lot of effort by covering your  units before they get stained.  If you don't live in an apartment or condo, fall usually means raking leaves.  For many of this, it will be an unusual level of activity, not as bad as shoveling snow, but enough that it is prudent to exercise some level of caution to avoid muscle strains or even heart attacks!  Dry leaves are a LOT lighter than wet ones, so either rake them up before it rains or give them a day or two to dry out after it rains before raking them up.  If you have limited strength or mobility, it might be useful to start early so you only have a limited amount of weight to move around.  However, that will mean doing it multiple times as the leaves continue to fall.  I kind of favor waiting until all or at least most of the leaves are off the trees and doing it all at once, but that does mean the pile will be bigger, but if necessary I can always shovel the piles into trash cans or trash bags as I go and I only have to do one major raking.

One thing that NEVER goes away, is our desire and need for outdoor activities.  Whether you choose to continue going on outings as the weather changes or not, you will still have the urge to get out.  You might use the ''off season'' to perform maintenance or upgrades on your equipment or to research new destinations and activities for next year.  You might even explore options for new winter activities.  Skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and winter camping are all fun possibilities and just might be worth exploring.

Get ready!