Insect Repellent – Avoid West Nile with Repel

Mosquito season is upon us, and this year, they’re really making themselves known. According to the Wausau Daily Herald, West Nile virus has been confirmed in our area.

This doesn’t mean you need to lock up the house and stay inside until October. You may be one who works outside, one who loves to hang at the beach, a hiker, a mountain biker, a kayaker or even a soccer league spectator or gardener. Thankfully, protecting ourselves against mosquitos & their illnesses is not that difficult.

We just restocked our shelves with some of the very best insect repellent around. Repel Sportsman & Sportsman Max boasts 20%-40% deet, which should keep us recreational outdoors-people plenty safe from mosquitos, ticks, gnats, biting flies, chiggers & fleas. If you’re swarmed constantly, spending time in the deep woods or swampy areas, you might want to consider Ben’s 100, which contains 98.11% deet. Spray it on & you’ll be protected for up to 10 hours. A third insect repellent option that might interest you contains Permethrin and is for your clothing & gear, not your skin. One application to your clothing, shoes, packs, etc., will keep you protected for two weeks. (Plus, it’s unscented!)

Preparing for the outdoors can be quick and easy. Take a few minutes, be wise, and protect yourself from the risks (think sunscreen & bug spray) so you can get out and stay out! Happy summer!

School’s Out for Summer!

Yes! School is finally out!

Wait. Now what?

We all know the feeling. So much excitement goes into the last weeks of school; countdowns are on and everyone is ready for summer vacation. But what happens three days later isn’t quite as exciting. “I’m bored.” Or worse yet: they’re not bored because they sleep until 2, grab the Cheetos and hang out in front of the TV for the day.

Summer vacation can be fun, but it takes some planning on your part as the parents, babysitters, or older siblings. We’ve put together some ideas on how to keep the kids moving, enjoy the warm weather, prevent the summer boredom, and enjoy all that Wausau has to offer. Check out these recommendations:

Wausau City Playgrounds: Wausau offers a morning playground program for children going into K-5th grade. This supervised time includes crafts, games, playground time & other organized activities. See their FLIER and register your children for the 8 week program!

If your children prefer water over wood chips, they may be interested in Wausau’s pools or even swim lessons. It’s only $1 to swim during open swim times (1-7:30pm), or you can decide to get an individual or family memberships for the summer. City pools offer swim lessons too, starting at 18 months. You can look at available lesson times & register HERE.

Soccer players in the house would love to be a part of Challenger’s British Soccer instructional soccer camp. These week long camps take place at Brockmeyer Park and are lead by coaches that have been recruited from Great Britian. Details are HERE.

Sport lovers might also like to enroll in tennis lessons at Oak Island Park courts. Depending on age, they’ll have either one or three hour lessons which allow time for instruction, practice, and game playing. You’ll sign your children up by experience level, so their lesson will be tailored to their ability. Get more information HERE, then sign them up!

Kids & teens out of school for the summer might also be interested in the Oak Island Skateboard Park, beaches, and city parks throughout the area (a complete list can be made by clicking HERE and HERE). What about yard games, disc golf, frisbee, or water toys?

As with any outdoor activity, safety is going to be key. Consider sun safety (sunscreen, sunglasses & sun hats) and bike safety (helmets, lights & awareness of road rules) especially.

The City Pages’ Summer Fun book will include all the special events & local happenings going on this summer. Everyone should pick up a copy and have it on hand; it’d be a shame to miss out on all the restaurants, shows, concerts, and events Wausau has to offer.

We have nearly everything you’d need to enjoy the above summer activities, including swimsuits for swim lessons or looking your best at the beach, caps, goggles, and accessories; tennis racquets, shoes, and apparel; and toys and accessories to keep everyone busy on summer days. A stop in at Shep’s will have you inspired and equipped to make the most of the summer months before us and help you be sure you’re playing well.

While You Wait for Snow…. Bike!

Skiers, don’t be sad!

Sure, winter is over, but bike season has begun and it’s an awesome way to take your mind off the snow. If you’re a skier, it’s likely that your second biggest sport or interest is biking. (It’s all about the leg work outs!) There are many forms of biking, so the options or almost endless.

When the snow melts and the warmer weather starts to creep up, I start to commute to work by bike. Once the local trails are dry and opened, it’s time to hit the single track. Nine MIle Recreation Area, located just outside Wausau (at 24 Red Bud Road), is a well-known cross country ski destination in the winter, but by summer it’s a single track heaven.

New to the term “single track”? Single track is defined as a narrow bike track about as wide as the bike itself. The track is sometimes smooth and flowing, but you may encounter rocks, stumps, and double crosses around trees and other obstacles, too, making it fun as well as challenging. At Nine Mile, there are ratings on the tracks, similar to the ratings on ski runs. Green circle indicates easy, Blue square indicates intermediate, and of course, the black diamond is for experts. An awesome web site and phone app you can use to find local single tracks is simply called Single Tracks, online at Singletracks.com.

If you already mountain bike in the summer and love single track, why not give racing a try? During the summer, there are many single track races that are part of the WORS series. This “Wisconsin Off Road Series” is an awesome way to compete, have some fun, and meet new bikers and friends to ride with.

If you’re not interested in the rough terrain of mountain biking, you have another option! Summer road biking is awesome too. It’s a great way to travel a distance in one day and see some scenery. You can make road biking whatever you choose, whether you’re up for a cardio busting speed drill or a casual family stroll on a weekend afternoon, you can tailor your ride to your desire. Getting out and pedaling the back roads will give you a sunnier disposition, a workout, and some fresh air.

Whether you’re going to bike the trails or the roads, it’s crucial to get into the shop and be sure your bike is a good size for you & is tuned and passes all the safety checks. If you end up with a problem mid-ride, it will take away from your fun. And after all, “fun” is what it should be about… just like in skiing!

If you’re a hardcore skier, I would highly suggest you pick yourself up a road bike or a mountain bike! Make the most out of summer and take your mind off the snow at the same time! Don’t walk, just roll!!!

Post written by our ski & bike loving Brian Trybula. Come chat with him about anything “outdoor”!

Back to Nature – Camping in Wisconsin

Did you grow up spending every Memorial Day weekend out in the woods, or are you thinking you want to start that tradition now? It’s the beginning of spring, the weather is finally warm, the birds are out & we’re all itching to get out and enjoy nature. Get away and unplug, and while you’re enjoying the peace & quiet outside, pause to remember all those who gave their lives so we can have the freedom we love.

As with every outdoor activity, a stop at Shep’s first to get the supplies you’re missing and the expert opinion you’re needing, is the best idea. We’re a staff that loves to camp when we’re not at work and we’ll give you all the secrets we have. Until we see you in the shop, here’s some info to get yourself started. (Most of this post will be relative to car camping, but we have backpacking experts on staff too. If that’s more your cup of tea, stop down.)

Where To Go:

We are fortunate to live where we do; where within an hour or two hour drive, you have a plethora of great camping options. We take advantage of all the State Parks in the area, as well as local county parks. This link will give you a list of the campgrounds in the state (by region) – which can be useful to find a place you’ve never discovered before. Otherwise, our trusty Wisconsin State Park reservation listings can help you find a site too.

What to Pack:

Here is a checklist to reference when you’re packing your bags & your car for the weekend away. Keep in mind that everyone camps a little differently, so you may want to add some things to this list and may cross off some lines, too. Either way, it should be a great list to get you thinking & help you feel prepared. Feel free to print it off and use it again and again!

Food to Try:

It’s hard to go wrong with the old standby: pudgie pies. Pizza, hot ham & cheese, apple pie, and more. Besides that, tin foil dinners are big (and super easy to make on your evening campfire). Use cooking spray generously to coat the inside of tin foil, then add washed & sliced potatoes, carrots, onions, and any other veggies you like. (Some people love it with meat, too!) The kicker is adding butter squares & seasonings before you wrap the foil into a sealed package and let it cook & steam itself on the fire. If you bring a camp stove, you’ll have all the options in the world for food – do pancake and egg breakfasts, fry up burgers for dinner, or anything else your mind dreams up. A quick Pinterest search will give you way more ideas than you’ll know what to do with! Make a list, hit the grocery store & get going!

At Shep’s:

We have a full camping department stocked with tents, cots, sleeping bags, day packs and frame packs, insect repellant, quality sunscreens, first aid tools, cook sets, and so, so much more. At the shop, you’ll also find books of hiking trails in Wisconsin, the apparel you need to be comfortable in any weather, the best footwear for beaching, lounging, or hiking, outdoor games, treats, accessories, and more. Plus, we love to swap stories & show pictures. (Ask for Tony Z especially – he’s been hiking & camping all over Wisconsin and will entertain you with his experiences & pictures of the adventures!)

Hope to see you hitting the road and enjoying the woods this weekend. (There aren’t many better places to be!)

Bicycle Commuting 101 – The Benefits

All week, we’ve shared great information about commuting to work by bike. Today, we thought we’d give you some reasons why it’s all worth it. It’s no secret that commuting by bike saves money, is better for your health, and lowers your carbon footprint, but the numbers may surprise you:

According to an article published in Forbes Magazine, the average bike commuter reported they paid an initial $500 to $800 for a bike and commuting related accessories, and had an annual maintenance cost of around $100. Compare that to the average cost of a vehicle today. It’s very easy to spend upwards of $10,000 to $20,000 to purchase a car, and then factor in the cumulative costs of commuting by car: $2.41/mile as calculated by Commute Solutions, which takes into account everything from gas prices to insurance to road repair costs. Say your average commute is five miles round trip and you work five days week. Within a month, you’ve already spent more than the average yearly costs of riding your bike. And with the uncertainty of gasoline prices, that number could easily increase.

Another benefit of riding a bike is better health. Our mechanic lives two miles from the shop, and commutes the 20 minutes to work and back daily. That’s 20 minutes of increased heart rate daily, which any doctor would tell you is beneficial. Plus, exercise in the morning has been linked to increased awareness and productivity throughout the workday.

Lastly, we all know it’s better for the environment to commute on bike. How much you ask? Shreya Dave, a graduate student at MIT, recently concluded that an ordinary sedan’s carbon footprint is more than 10 times greater than a conventional bicycle on a mile-for-mile basis, assuming each survives 15 years and you ride the bike 2,000 miles per year (or slightly less than eight miles per weekday). That’s a lot of trees saved, a lot less gas used, and way cleaner air for us all to breathe.

Still not convinced? Give it a go for a week. See how you feel, experience the feel of the wind in your face on your way to work, and how much happier you are during your work day. We’re pretty sure your stress will be lowered not having to deal with driving in the morning rush, and you’ll be way happier looking at your bank statement every month. And if you find it’s not for you, we urge you to still get out on your bike a few times a week and reap the benefits they provide from a recreational standpoint.

Happy riding everyone!