This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Colgate chapter.
As the temperature drops, many of us start to doubt the naïve choices of our college-bound high school selves about the whole northern vs. southern school debate. Admittedly, tour guides probably aren’t bragging to prospies about the snowy walks downtown or the icy Persson steps. But that all being said, we tend to get in the habit of putting down winter more than it deserves. Next time your hair freezes on the way to class, remember that there are actually some great perks to living in the tundra.
- Skiing is an awesome workout. Next time you feel like casually burning 2,000 calories, hit the slopes for an afternoon (something about spending 5 hours at Trudy sounds a little less appealing). Depending on your weight and type of skiing, the average person can burn 500 calories an hour. And for a place nearby to get that workout…
- Tog. It may not be Vail, but the prices definitely aren’t either. Take your Gate card and a full day lift ticket is only $15. Rentals are just as inexpensive, and the ride from Colgate to Toggenburg is only 45 minutes. Although the runs are short and the trails are few, it definitely has the CNY charm and simplicity that we love.
- No oily skin. We get to forget about the infamous shiny T-zone in pictures, but unfortunately that’s just because our skin is so dry! Find a happy medium with a good moisturizer, like Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Moisture. It works just as well as the fancy stuff and you can even grab it on a Price Chopper run.
- More slices. Winter is the perfect excuse to grab a slice on the way home, especially when you miss the Cruiser… a girl has to eat to stay warm, right? It’s just science.
- Boys wearing flannels. Hot.
- Boys not wearing flip-flops. Ew.
- Chili at the Barge. If you haven’t tried their famous chicken chili yet, stop eating at Frank and get downtown right now! If you’re not into chili, they also offer a few other soups every day which are certifiably delicious, like their Minestrone.
- Easier mornings. You don’t have to spend time picking out what shoes to wear, which leaves you an extra two minutes to spend warm in bed inside your blanket burrito. Just look out the window; is it still winter? Yes, so you’re wearing boots. Is it snowing? Probably yes, so you’re wearing snow boots. Do you own Bean Boots? Probably yes, so you’re wearing your Bean Boots again. Nothing like an easy outfit choice.
- The men’s hockey team. They’re strong, they’re fast, and they’ve got 4 home games this month.
- More men’s hockey teams. When your guy friends hit Taylor Lake for a game of pick-up, it can be even more fun to see than the D1 boys. Better yet, get out on the ice and join them!
- Cuddly winter accessories. Big comfortable scarves are cute, can dress up boring shirts fast, and even double as a pillow in your morning lecture.
- Clothes that keep a secret. Those scarves also come in handy when you notice that wonderful hickey on your neck right before your 9:20. And when the walk to the gym just seems a little too far for this week (or month), that cardigan won’t let everyone know the way those summer crop tops do.
- A little less FOMO. When it’s warm and sunny outside, there’s always that tinge of regret that comes with the desire to stay in your room and watch Netflix all day. But when the high (not even the low, the high!) for the day is single-digits yet again? It’s like you’re supposed to spend the day watching an entire season of Girls in bed. Extra points for a groutfit.
- Wearing leggings as pants. Apparently leggings totally count as pants now, which is easily the most comfortable and brilliant idea ever. The colder it is, the more often you resort to leggings and the less you wear real clothes. In other words, for all of us that don’t like pants, winter is the best season ever.
- Colgate is ridiculously gorgeous. Even in its windy, subzero worst, nobody can deny that this place is actually incredible.