Winter Cottaging

One of the great things about owning your own cottage is that it is your home away from home.  It is your year round retreat if you are lucky enough to have a winterized cottage that is accessible year round.  One of the downsides of our new property is that it is on an island so there will be some time in the spring and in early winter/late fall when our place will be inaccessible.  But hopefully we will be able to access our cottage (once it's built... like in 20 years) in the winter.  We plan on making it winterized as much as possible so that we can enjoy it hopefully 9 of 12 months a year.
We've cottaged in the winter numerous times and it is so much fun. Sled rides, warm fires, sitting on the lake enjoying a cold one in the winter sun. 

When you are cottaging in the winter however, you need to be safe.  You have added danger such as fire, carbon monoxide, poor driving conditions on goat trail like roads, unsafe ice, etc. 

CanadianParent.com has shared some great Safety Tips for Winter Cottaging. 

1. Lock your doors and windows ― even if you’re leaving the cottage for a short period.
2. Keep space heaters far away from anything flammable and steer children and pets clear of space heaters.
3. Install smoke alarms near every sleeping area and on every storey of your cottage. Be sure to test them.
4. Install working carbon monoxide detectors.
5. Check the weather and modify your outdoor activity if it calls for extreme low temperatures or wind chill.
6. The sun can reflect strongly off the snow, so wear sunscreen and/or protective clothing.
7. Children must be supervised around large icy areas.
8. Ask the local police department and/or knowledgeable people in the area if the ice in your area is safe for skating and play.
9. Inspect the ice, frozen lakes or rivers yourself before allowing children near them, and exercise extreme caution.
10. When operating a snowmobile on ice, keep it moving until you reach the shore to avoid dangers of slushy spots.
11. If you must snowmobile at night, be aware that holes in the ice are difficult to illuminate at high speeds. Use extreme caution.
12. If anyone falls into the ice, get help immediately, even if the victim seems okay.
13. Make sure that fireplaces are shielded by a good screen to avoid dangerous sparks and to protect children and pets.
14. Be diligent about filling your car with gas so that you don’t run out should you be stuck in the snow for a length of time.
15. Make sure to drive with a well-charged mobile phone.
16. Know your route. When driving in bad conditions, you don’t want to get lost, so ensure your driving route is well planned out.
17. Drive Slowly. Black ice can be lurking around any corner and can cause your car to slide without notice. Even if the conditions look clear, be wary of the ice.

Happy Winter Cottaging!