Aryn Henning Nichols

Marge Loch-Wouters is a Minnesota Master Naturalist whose passion is the outdoors and hiking in the Driftless region. Her blog, Hiking the Driftless Trails, publishes trail reviews, gear and safety tips, suggested seasonal hikes, essays on nature, and observations of insect, plant, and animal life. Her goal is to ensure everyone can enjoy the wonder of hiking in the Driftless, no matter one’s age or physical condition.

Brrr…it’s cold outside! That means it’s time to get out the snowshoes, the skis, and the hiking boots. Wait, hiking boots?!?

Absolutely! With the right gear and some planning, the winter months can be a wonderful time for hiking. While flora, fauna, and fungi are tucked away, bare trees open up views of vistas and geological features often hidden in leafier seasons. Brush dies back, making previously overgrown, lesser-used trails easier to explore. And, uh, no bugs.

Indeed, this season provides a whole new world of hiking experiences and choices. There are four main components to a successful winter hike: finding the right hike for the weather, wearing the right layers, having the right gear, and dealing with thawing trails.

Planning for Winter Hikes

To begin your winter hiking, choose start times in the “heat” of the day. Look for trails that have views of the river, interesting rock formations, nearby bluffs, or deer trails to explore. On a windy day, try coniferous forests or bluffside hikes that take you below the rims to gain protection. If you have a sunny day with little wind, choose a blufftop and enjoy the vistas.

If you are hiking in snow on shared trails, remember trail etiquette. Avoid freshly groomed trails used for cross-country skiing or winter biking. Stay to the right or left of the groomed trail. When crossing ski or bike tracks, lift your feet (or snowshoes) high to avoid disturbing them – it’s a helpful art to learn, and winter adventurers will thank you!

Layers

The key to comfort while hiking is dryness, lightness, and breathability in your clothes and outerwear. Choose light wool or synthetics for your base layer that help wick away moisture. Add an additional shirt and light/heavy sweater on top of that layer, depending on the temperature.

For outer layers, think light and wind/water resistant. You don’t need bulky pants, jackets, or vests if you have the right base and mid layers. This allows for more freedom of movement as you hike.

A neck gaiter or balaclava is a versatile way to protect your neck and lower face. If it’s a windy day, consider using a protective lotion or Vaseline on exposed skin. Wear a warm hat (or ear-warmer, if you run hot). Hiking with a small backpack lets you add/subtract layers as you hike.

Gear

Look for waterproof, insulated hiking boots like my favorites – Merrells’ Thermo Kiruna 2 Waterproof boots – that keep your feet warm but are still light and flexible.

A great purchase that can really open the world of winter hiking is a set of microspikes for traction. They slip on over boots, providing stability and grip on icy or slippery snow surfaces. Ice cleats and ice walkers are a less expensive alternative.

If you are hiking during hunting seasons, wear blaze orange – hat, vest, jacket – so you can be easily seen.

Winter Thaws

We have been experiencing more frequent periods of winter thaws. This means more freeze-thaw cycles on trails. Boot prints that are left on muddy, thawing trails contribute to erosion and trail degradation. If you are leaving boot prints on a thawed trail, please turn back. Instead, temporarily hike trails that are paved, gravel, or grassy until the ground firms up again.

Check out a few Driftless winter hiking trails:

Yellow River Forest – Luster Heights Unit (IA) Relatively flat area with some rolling hills and magnificent views of the Mississippi River. Spectacular rocks too! 5 miles south of Harper’s Ferry, turn left off IA Hwy 364 onto Luster Height Road. Parking lot is one mile in on the left. GPS: 43.136979, -91.187074

Great River Bluffs State Park (MN) – Many iconic overlooks on forested trails. Some steep and rolling spots on south trails, so cool weather is your friend. 43605 Kipp Dr, Winona, MN 

Upper Hixon Forest Trails (WI) – Bluffside trails below the rim offer great wind protection and wide views in winter’s “see-through” season. N2788 County Road FA – La Crosse, WI

Reno Quarry (MN) – Head up the short quarry trail for expansive Mississippi River views. Then head down and north for incredible sandstone rock formations on the bluffs edge. 7.6 miles north of New Albin, Iowa, turn left at Reno Recreation Area sign (Hillside Rd). Go 1.4 miles to small parking lot on right. GPS: 43.61773, -91.27451

Beaver Creek Valley State Park (MN) – The rim trails are full of dramatic rocks; also beautiful is the trail that runs on either side of the trout stream. With leaves down, the rocks and narrow valley walls are breathtaking. 15954 County
Rd 1, Caledonia, MN  See you on the winter trails!

During the last ice age – 20,000 years ago give or take a few years – the ebb and flow of glaciers forever changed the complexion of the Upper Midwest. The sheer weight of the mammoth ice sheets, some up to a mile thick, literally ground off underlying layers of bedrock as they crawled across the country.  

As the climate warmed and the ice sheets retreated for the last time, they left enormous deposits of glacial drift (unconsolidated silt, sand, gravel, and boulders) in their slow-motion wake. The result was a gently rolling topography extending from Canada to southern Illinois. There was, however, an area in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois that remained untouched by the glaciers, a geologic doughnut hole as it were, in an otherwise reconstituted landscape. For reasons unknown to geologists, the region – most commonly called the Driftless Area, but alternatively known as bluff country, the coulee region, or the Ocooch Mountains – retained its signature rocky features, free of glacial drift.

A bird’s eye view of the “Driftless” during summer reveals a landscape resembling a rumpled throw rug, verdant corrugations extending as far as the eye can see. In late autumn, after the final bursts of color fall to the forest floor, the geologic underpinnings are manifest. Come winter, the uneven landscape emerges in stark relief, showing off the unique topography and gorgeous vistas under a veneer of snow (if we’re lucky).

Gin-clear streams trickle from the highest reaches of deeply incised valleys, coalescing into creeks and ultimately rivers that feed the Mississippi River. Flaxen prairies perched on impossibly steep bluffs wave in contrast to leafless oaks and hickories standing sentry nearby. Dense patches of red cedar, blue-green during the growing season, turn reddish-bronze with the onset of cold weather, punctuating bark-gray blufflands with color and texture. Rocky bluffs towering hundreds of feet over the mighty Mississippi reflect cold sunlight, revealing previously concealed crags, fissures, and caves.

Driftless ruggedness is a testament to the powerful erosional effects of water flowing over millions of years, cutting through sedimentary rocks formed during the Paleozoic Era, well before dinosaurs thundered across Mesozoic plains. Eighteenth century French fur traders coined the term coulee region (a derivation of the French verb couler – “to run like a river”) in recognition of the landscape’s abundant, flowing surface waters.

Below the surface, fractured limestone bedrock facilitated formation of caves, sinkholes, disappearing streams, and cold-water springs. Karst geology, known simply as karst in scientific shorthand, is a defining feature of the Driftless Area. Karst gives rise to an abundance of cold-water streams that in turn support a world class Driftless trout fishery. It also supports a rare, fragile ecosystem known as an algific talus slope.  Algific refers to cold producing, while a talus slope is a jumble of rocks at the base of a bluff.  

In rare instances, Karst derived ice caves and fissures vent cold air through talus slopes, creating perpetually cool microclimates. The associated microhabitat supports plants and animals that found refuge in the Driftless Area during repeated glacial episodes. Today, species like the Iowa Pleistocene snail and northern monkshood, a rare member of the buttercup family, are considered “glacial relicts,” providing a living record of Pleistocene ecosystems and serving as bellwethers for climate change. 

There is no place on Earth like the Driftless. Its weathered beauty inspires awe, wonder, and a reverence for the land, and winter provides a wonderful opportunity to take it all in. Thank goodness the glaciers missed us. 

Lisa Lantz, owner of The Getup in Downtown Decorah, is a total ray of sunshine. So it’s no surprise that her resale store feels like a warm, welcoming, totally fun place to shop.

Founded in 2017, The Getup is a sustainable boutique that buys and sells gently-loved clothing, accessories, and gear for kids and adults. Whether you want to call it thrifting or secondhand shopping, it’s the hunt for the perfect thing that’s often the best part. Thus, The Getup team works hard to make sure they buy high quality brands and styles they know their customers love, bringing great clothing, shoes, and gear to the community at a truly affordable price. In general, shoppers can purchase like-new items for 40 percent (and sometimes even as low as 20 percent) of retail cost.

They got to work, initially buying like-new kids’ items in current styles, then quickly expanded to include adult clothing, as well. Sellers to The Getup receive either cash or store credit, and have the option of taking back any items that are not purchased by The Getup for resale, or having The Getup team handle donating them to organizations in need.

The community welcomed this new store with open arms, and The Getup began to outgrow its space. In 2022, Lisa and Scott had the opportunity to purchase their own building on Water Street, just a few blocks down from their original location. “We almost doubled our square footage, but we’re still working on doubling our revenues,” Lisa says with a wry laugh. “There are so many complexities to growing your business and the reality is that when you grow, you temporarily sag before you grow back up to surpass your previous benchmarks. I have an incredible team though and we ARE growing!”

Another big benefit to secondhand shopping is its sustainability, which is a huge part of The Getup mission. Resale business models are built around the notion of a circular economy, meaning gently loved clothing circles around from person to person instead of going directly from person to landfill. Quality clothing is much more likely to continue within the cycle of a circular economy – and that’s great for both the planet and our wallets.

It was around 2015 when Lisa started thinking about making a career change. She had spent nearly two decades as a college professor in costume design and production and wanted to take her love of clothing and design into a business that brought value to the community. Plus, she and her husband, Scott Bassford, saw a need for clothing in the Decorah area – especially for kids – after the local JC Penney closed in 2017. The Getup opened its doors that same year, first in a rented spot on Water Street near the Hotel Winneshiek. 

Part of that growth involves constantly innovating to enhance The Getup shopping experience. They occasionally offer fun events like bringing in pros to do color analysis or hosting sewing or mending classes. They also sell cool merchandise by regional makers like Hello Adorn and Coffey & Clay, and support other local business owners through pop-up shops – Honey Head Vintage and Driftless Outdoors – that exist within The Getup space.

Finally, The Getup fills a gap in need by bringing in some new things for purchase, like children’s winter boots, snowpants, and gear, a small collection of new toys and games, plus other brands they really love, like Versa Tote. It’s a carefully curated mix that allows shoppers to lock in on their own fun style while still supporting a small business. Plus, folks not local to the area can also shop The Getup online!

Read on to learn more about Lisa’s path to building and growing The Getup in this Sum of Your Business Q&A.

The Basics:
Name: Lisa Lantz
Age (as of Winter 2025-26): 50!
Business: The Getup
Year Business Established: 2017
Business address: 212 W Water St
Website: www.getupdecorah.com

 Tell us about the “leap” moment. When/how did you decide to jump in and become your own boss?

In 2015, I was working in higher education and feeling like I needed a change. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, only that I needed something different. It took several years for me to come to terms with the thought of leaving the career I had worked so hard to achieve, but once I determined a need in our community, created a business plan, and then made the decision to make a career change, there was no looking back. 

What’s the best thing about being your own boss?

The best thing about being your own boss is that you call the shots. If something isn’t serving you and your business, you have the ability to change that.

How about the worst?

Wearing all of the hats that would be shared in a corporate business model. YOU are responsible for it all – and delegating is hard!!

Was there ever a hurdle where you just thought, “I can’t do this?” How did you overcome it?

I feel like I encounter those hurdles every other day! When I feel overwhelmed and like I just can’t take it all on – I, first, make a list, and then I remind myself that in the grand scheme of things, my problems and tasks are minor. If I just keep moving forward and continue to do the work, things will work out. And, if they don’t, maybe it wasn’t meant to be! In other words, I try to take a moment to put it all in perspective. 

Any mentors/role models you look to/have looked to?

There are so many!! I have an amazing family that supports me and listens when I need to vent or share my successes. That is HUGE! 

I am forever grateful for the incredible business community in Decorah and how generous people are with their time and advice. I lean on fellow business owners a lot!! 

I have also connected with other resale businesses owners and belong to resale organizations that have been integral to the success and growth of my business.

What’s the one thing you wish you had known before you started?

The knowledge that it’s going to take a while to establish yourself and your brand. Be patient and do the work and it will happen! Knowing that would have eased my worry and insecurities when I started out.

How do you manage your life/work balance?

I’m not sure that I do manage it all that well, honestly! I make a lot of lists and keep a shared google calendar and prioritize time with my family.

What keeps you inspired?

I’m continually humbled, delighted, inspired, and in awe of the support from our community. We created The Getup with community at the core of what we do and why we do it! 

Little lifts me up more than spending time in my store and chatting up our customers! 

I’m also lifted up by the people I get to work with every day! I have an incredible team of employees who are all so committed to the mission of the business. Every single person who works at The Getup puts in their all and I know I can rely on them to help me run and grow the business. They inspire me every day!

Tell us more about your business motto: Community Powered Sustainable Styles.

Community is, of course, at the core of what we do, but we’re also dedicated to the sustainability of a circular economy. What drew me to the circular economy model was the idea of keeping things in a cycle of use – within our community! So, like our name says, our sustainable styles are powered by our community!

What is one of your favorite things you’ve gotten from The Getup?!

Oh my goodness – that’s hard! I love the things that come into our store and, let me tell you, it’s a struggle everyday to not take home everything!! I really have to restrain myself! If I had to pick one thing, it would probably be my Frye boots even though I don’t wear them very often. They are so classic and badass, and I love having the option to wear them when I want to!

Can you tell us about the ways The Getup supports others and other communities through your work?

The give-back aspect of our business sometimes feels like it has a life of its own AND it nestles right in with our mission. We listen to the needs of our community and always try to find ways to do what I call “connecting the abundance with the need.” There is so much abundance out there that there shouldn’t be need in the first place. I’m always trying to make that connection through our business model. Luckily, my team believes in this too, so everyone is on board to help out whenever someone comes to us with an idea or a need.

When items come in that we decide not to purchase – maybe they’re not the brands we’re looking for or don’t fit the current styles – sellers can choose to either come back in and take home the things we passed on, or have our team add them to our donations stock. We have a fantastic volunteer, Nichole Hotvedt, who goes through and organizes the donated items. Then, our amazing store manager, Siri Steven, organizes and operates the clothing and gear giveaway to local schools in Decorah and surrounding towns on an as-needed basis, usually through social workers or school administrative assistants or through Helping Services, Kid’s Closet, The Depot Outlet, and several other local organizations. And finally, Decorah resident Anne Juergens has a connection to St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Marty, South Dakota, that serves the Yankton Sioux tribe there. Anne and a huge team of friends work with us to take approximately 500 kitchen sized garbage bags of clothing per year to St. Paul’s.

The Getup Selling How-Tos

In advance: Check getupdecorah.com for any buying pauses and for info on what season of clothing they’re currently buying.

1. Go through your closet and pick out up to 25 of your best, like-new items in current styles 

2. Drop-off your items. Options:
– Monday from 10 AM – 4:30 PM, no appointment necessary. Due to the high volume of Monday drop-offs, you will not receive your offer the same day. The Getup will text you with your offer when it’s ready – this may take 2-3 weeks.  
– OR make an appointment online for times Tues- Friday (appt.thegetupdecorah.com/appt)

New appointment slots open every Sunday at 5 PM CST for the following week.

3. Collect your cash OR store credit! 

Learn more at thegetupdecorah.com.