OK, so the weatherman confirms that summer has just recently started in earnest, and today I find myself looking forward to a winter camping trip. An odd juxtaposition, for sure, and I blame it all on Matt Heid, the gear guy for “AMC Outdoors” magazine and the author of the new “Equipped” weblog at amcequipped.blogspot.com.

Matt is as diehard a gearhead as anyone I know, and he’s gained an incredible amount of first-hand knowledge by spending untold days and nights on the trail and in the woods, doing research for his blog posts, and his various guidebooks covering hiking and backpacking on both coasts (“101 Hikes in Northern California” and “Best Backpacking in New England,” among them), using and evaluating gear along the way.

So, when Matt sung the praises of floorless tents — especially when used for winter camping — in a recent blog post, it actually made me want to go out and find some snow to sleep on.

I’m going to have to put aside the urge, though, because there’s a lot more summer ahead, and then, the glorious fall hiking season, which I always look forward to.

Our naturalists enjoy the fall, too, because it gives them a chance to investigate the changing landscape and observe the changing habits of wildlife as critters prepare for a change of seasons. They’re eager to share their discoveries, too, which is a definite plus if you’re a fan of learning what makes nature work.

Naturalist-led lodge-to-hut trips are slated in September and October, during which participants will visit the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center/Joe Dodge Lodge or the Highland Center at Crawford Notch, and one of three of AMC’s backcountry huts in the White Mountain National Forest, depending on the particular trip. Details are available at outdoors.org. Trips are led by longtime AMC Senior Interpretive Naturalist Nancy Ritger.

AMC naturalists also offer free daytime programs this summer at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center throughout the week. Naturalists’ Notch Walks are featured at 10 a.m. on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, during which participants go on walks with a naturalist to search for wildflowers, signs of wildlife, and other natural features. Topics and times may vary, so a call to 466-2727 to confirm the day’s schedule before lacing up your boots is advised.

I’ve got more hiking in mind, and definitely more paddling, while the warm August weather sticks around. Lately, I have enjoyed some fine lake-paddling, which is always coupled with bird-watching.

One of my favorite kayaking spots almost always provides a chance to view great blue herons and Canada geese. On a recent visit, cedar waxwings were in abundance, zigging and zagging against the blue skies as they snagged insects on the wing.

With luck, I’ll be out on the water again this weekend, enjoying these summer days. I hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy the outdoors, too.

For those times when you’re not out on the water, in the woods, or atop a peak, you can follow Matt Heid’s “Equipped” posts, or find other blogosphere gems regarding hiking and paddling with kids, AMC huts, natural history, or doing trail maintenance, by following the links to relevant blogs at outdoors.org.

Rob Burbank’s column appears every other week in the New Hampshire Sunday News. He can be reached at rburbank@outdoors.org.