A family reunion in cold temperatures.
By JONATHAN SNYDER
January weather, below freezing temperatures, high winds stinging the nose and snow draining the natural color from the land — a perfect time for staying inside with a cup of coffee or being huddled up next to an indoor fireplace while watching TV.
But for brothers Steve, Larry, Jim Chandler, and their family and friends, this is camping weather.
The Chandler men have a tradition of heading to Ouabache State Park in the middle of winter to enjoy each other’s company and time in nature for a weekend.
The seeds of this convention were planted by their father, Donald Chandler, who was a tailgunner on a B-17 aircraft in WW2 and worked in aircraft maintenance for the military for 37 years. When the Chandler kids were younger, Donald used to bring home survival films about snow camping and how to stay alive in cold and snowy conditions.
The tradition started in the mid 1980s with just Jim, Steve and Larry. The kids camped with their father throughout winter and summer months, but after he passed away the tradition halted for a few years. Now the trip is a way to honor Donald’s legacy, both for his service as a dad and a military member.
But while the trip does honor the legacy of a veteran, the focus is on the camradarie of men getting together and enjoying the elements away from technology and screens, according to Steve. As the group has expanded to brothers-in-law and other family members, the fervent passion for being in the elements and around each other has stayed.
“Sometimes we just sit by the fire and enjoy each other’s company,” said Steve.
This year’s group consisted of 10 people, some who have traveled a long way to get here. The group plans the weekend around each others’ schedule, which involves family members coming from as far as Cincinnati and Coldwater, Michigan.
The group does not use any technology for their sleeping or cooking, instead choosing to cook over an open fire while using hand warmers and lanterns among other items for heat. Steve stressed that their tents are not heated and there is no electricity used, other than the Ouabache provided indoor bathrooms, which they only use to change clothes.
Some of the worst weather they have camped through was back in 1994 when temperatures hit 10 below.
While in the park, the group mainly sits by the fire and enjoys the time they have, but they do often go hiking among other activities. They have gone ice fishing in past years, but the yield can be unreliable, Steve said. The hiking trips allow them to see different animals and other wildlife that are normally hiding in the summer months due to the increased number of visitors.
“Just sitting around is when it gets really cold,” said Gary Chandler. “Hiking around warms you up.”
While there were some struggles in the early years of the tradition, practice has made for a more prepared group. During heavy snow, the group brings the equipment in on sleds. They have come a long way from sleeping with different ingredients, using their body heat to keep the food from freezing, a memory which still gets laughs from the group today.
“It’s trepidation to start with, but it’s a family reunion without the holiday,” said Jim.
While the snow is a challenge for camping, the group stressed that wet weather, not below freezing cold, is a real killer. Good sleeping bags, coats and planning can offset the cold temperatures, but muddy ground and rainfall can lead to unreliable campfires, unreliable paths for hiking, tough ground for setting up tents and the wetness of sleet leads to a much colder environment.
“Brutal dry cold is a better experience,” said Larry Chandler.
Despite the weather, daily routine and life itself being brutally cold, the Chandler’s have found a time and place where the warmth of family allows them to reset. The peace and quiet of a park with no one else around, no computer or phone screens and no lines is a backdrop for them to get together, share stories and get away from the bustle of life, even if the weather is below freezing.
“You have to be a little nutty in this world, but it’s something we enjoy,” said Gary.
jonathan@news-banner.com
