Every year I do the same thing. I surf the web and see what it would cost to escape from winter to some warm, tropical place where I can paddle in shorts. And every year the same thing happens: I realize how much it costs to fly south and rent kayaks. Once I’ve recovered from sticker shock, I plan a trip closer to home for the next summer.

But that doesn’t mean that my kayaks sit idly in the garage. I paddle plenty in winter, and it’s a great time to be on the water. In fact, in some ways it’s better than summer: wintering waterfowl and bald eagles, solitude, lush waterfalls, and the powerboats are gone.

But winter paddling means some obvious challenges. The good news is that there are solutions to most of them. So don’t put your boat away for the season, here are some tricks from the vitamin-D challenged.

SLOW DOWN, MOSES
Since sea conditions are rougher in the winter, I’m far less likely to be playing in the surf or looking for wind. I’m more likely to find the local wetland that’s loaded with wintering birds and cruise around looking for wildlife. This also means I’m often paddling closer to home, which makes it easier to make use of the shorter days. I dust off the big, clunky set of waterproof binoculars that I don’t like having on my deck for more adrenaline-soaked paddling, throw the bird book in my day hatch, and take advantage of the great flocks of ducks, geese, egrets, eagles and other critters.

DRESS WARM AND PLAY HARD
The dressing warm part is really obvious. But the fact of the matter is that if you can prepare yourself for cold and water temperatures, you can paddle like you do in summer. The winter after I bought my drysuit, I found myself playing in the tidal overfalls of Deception Pass—in December. The drysuit, and some skilled buddies reduces the risk of a hypothermic swim, and the paddling was just as much fun.

SPEND $15 ON A RAIN SLICKER
Kayakers tend to be gearheads, and we all have a closet full of high-tech, waterproof/breathable jackets. But winter kayaking is when the cheap, rubber, non-breathable jacket is king. When you stop paddling, Gore-Tex and other breathable fabrics lose heat quickly through evaporative cooling. Even a quick snack stop can chill you to the bone in minutes. So as soon as I get off the water, I throw a non-breathable rain slicker over my drysuit, and stop the chill. Of course, it looks far from stylish (the jacket looks like it came with a free box of fish sticks), but I’m dry and warm. And usually, the folks next to me in expensive parkas aren’t.

KEEP YOUR FEET COMFY
Wet feet are fine in the summer, but in winter they’re a recipe for being cranky, at best. Since you’re always hopping in and out of the water, there are a couple of ways to keep your feet warm and dry. One is a drysuit with booties. But if you’re not wearing a drysuit, there are other options. One is a pair of fleece-lined, neoprene mukluks like those made by Chota; another is a pair of old-fashioned rubber knee-waders. These allow you to wade and stay warm, but will also fill with water if you swim, and some cockpits don’t easily accommodate the large size of waders. Another option is knee-high, waterproof socks, also made by a variety of companies, which can be worn under many kinds of shoes. Take care around barnacles and when drying them over a campfire, as I’ve learned the hard way…twice.

BUILD A FIRE
Not like the Jack London book, but when you stop for lunch, build a fire if you’re in a place where it’s both legal and not damaging to the environment. Beaches below the high-tide line are generally safe, but make sure that you’re not taking all the available wood. Bring a couple of fire starting kits: my favorite is a film canister full of cotton balls soaked in Vaseline, which will burn in a light drizzle (the cotton balls, not the canister). You’ll feel much more like an outdoors expert. But if campfires aren’t your cup of tea, then…

BRING A STOVE
Nothing says you have to sit on a cold beach on a cold day and eat a cold sandwich. You probably already have a compact backcountry stove in your kit anyway. Bring it on day trips, and cook a hot meal. You’ll have tons more fun after a nice, hot lunch.

LOUNGE IN THE IGLOO
One of the more inventive winter paddling luxuries is something called the beach igloo, made by Valley Canoe Products. It’s a nylon, lightweight emergency shelter: the group simply drapes it over their heads and sits on the material. It forms a dome that traps heat in extremely well—you’ll soon be shedding layers inside. It also blocks the wind, and gives you a warm place to eat, talk and get out of the elements. They come in sizes for larger and smaller groups. Muktuk or seal meat not provided.

CAMP LIKE A MONGOLIAN
The short winter days often mean you don’t want to lose daylight to driving, which reduces your range for weekend trips. And of course, camping usually isn’t too tempting in winter. Enter the latest trend in provincial, state and local parks: Yurts. Borrowed from Mongolian ancestry, they’re great for winter overnights so you can camp close to your paddling destination and spend the daylight paddling. They’re way cheaper than a motel, often have a place to cook, are heated, and you can often pile a big group inside.

BE CHEERY
Anyone who lives relatively far north knows about the “winter blahs,” sometimes called seasonal depression. The darkness and rain make it easy to get stuck inside for months at a time. Don’t do it. It’s one of the best paddling times, and in reality, all you need is a few more layers, a thermos of warm tea and a shove out the door.

Neil Schulman lives and paddles in Oregon, where Sir Francis Drake first complained about the winter weather in 1579.