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Show Rx For 'Cabin Fever Prescribed oewhere between the 'days of autumn and the spring is a winter 7 contracted by most : - cabin fever. ' 'WFEVER.inthepast, was caused by harsh winter conditions that trapped or bound people in their cabins or homes for days on end, and a Weber State College professor said people still suffer from it today, not because of harsh winter conditions, but from what he terms "Leisure Illiteracy," Illiter-acy," or not knowing what to do with free time. Gary D. Willden, an assistant assis-tant professor in recreation at Weber State, said people do not experience cabin fever to the degree as in the past. "Today "To-day we have much more available avail-able to us in our own homes that make it easier to cope -television, radio, books and the telephone," he said. "NEVERTHELESS," Willden Will-den continued, "There is still, even in our culture, a feeling of being cooped up and limited, wanting to get out and do something instead of staying indoors." Willden added that the modern mod-ern day form of cabin fever, or what he calls an acute form of spring fever, prevents people from doing those things that would alleviate the boredom. "RECREATION to me is a major response to cabin fever, a cure," he said. "The opportunities oppor-tunities for recreational activities activi-ties in the winter are every bit as good, if not better, than any time of the year." Willden said the availability of printed material and information infor-mation about winter recreation recrea-tion is limited, but the real problem lies within the indi- "vidual. "People are simply not willing to exert themselves to the extent of finding activities in the winter. It's too easy to come home, watch TV and make excuses for not having fun," Willden said. WILLDEN, who prides himself him-self in the fact that he makes a living by having fun, said there are numerous enjoyable winter win-ter time adventures. "One year, between Christmas Christ-mas and New Years, our family fami-ly of six small boys spent the day at a natural hot springs. It was quite an experience for the kids to run through several inches in-ches of snow in their bare feet and then hop into a nice hot pool," he said. WILLDEN ADDED that the sport of cross country skiing is becoming popular. "Cross country skiing is easy to learn, not expensive and enjoyable. The cost of outfitting in full cross country gear is probably less than the cost of a good pair of downhill ski boots," he said. Even if some information is limited, Willden said the Utah Travel Council has a whole building full of brochures about ab-out winter activities. In addition addi-tion local newspaper calendars generally have the vital recreational recrea-tional information, free of cost, prescribed for "Cabin Fever." "UTAH HAS tremendous opportunities for winter activities activi-ties because of the climate and location. The catch phrase "The Greatest Snow on Earth" is in fact true. Utah's meterorological seting allows for some of the finest snow on the planet to fall on the Wasatch Front," Willden said. |