Snowmoblog

Usually in Minnesota/Wisconsin April is a spring month.  With rain showers bringing forth May flowers and that kind of stuff.  What’s wrong with this year?  Why did it actually snow on my birthday (April 26th)?  That’s something that I’ve rarely seen.

We’ll not be delving into any “global warming” discussion.  Rather, I’m interested in what’s in store for the summer.  Will it be a cooler summer with temps closer to 70°F or will it be warmer with temps reaching 100°F more often?  My family is really ready to get out camping and canoeing - some real “pine time”, and soon.

Here’s to some real spring weather coming along.

I’d like to make this a tribute to all those who seek some saddle time.  We all know deep inside, but here is my attempt to put it in writing.

Snow.  There is a lot that I want to say about it, and yet, it’s such an elemental thing that it needs no explanation.

It’s more than just the cold weather that invigorates us.  It’s snow that covers the ground and trees, and absorbs all sound.  The wonderful winter carpet of white that magically transforms our world and changes serious adults to giddy children at the first flakes of the year.

Snow is what we think of when we say winter, when we talk of snowmobiling.  It’s intertwined with Christmas and the Holidays in the northland - providing a sparkling white canvas for decorating and celebrating.

Snow provides us with recreation, helps reduce stress, and brings economic activity to some of the more remote places on the planet.  It’s what enables our sport of snowmobiling to exist, period.  What wonderful ideas and technologies have come out of the sport of snowmobiling, simply out of necessity.

Because of snow, we get to view and experience parts of this planet that are simply inaccessible to many in the spring, summer, and autumn months.  It brings us closer to nature and delivers us into a world that demands respect and planning to ensure an enjoyable and safe ride.  It challenges us to go farther and see more than we have seen in the past.

Because of snow we have a sport and a family activity that keeps rewarding our senses and abilities.

Snow is the draw.  Snow is the purifier.  Snow is the challenger.  Snow empowers us.

Snow is but one reason we ride…

Photo credit: dinlaroche

I’d like to make this a tribute to all those who seek some saddle time.  We all know deep inside, but here is my attempt to put it in writing.

The snow and trees beckon us to join them.  The wooded trails, with their hills and curves, call us to them, promising seclusion and challenge.  The lakes and fields suggest wide spaces, with panoramic views.  The wooded meadow, a private showing of nature in it’s winter slumber.

The wild architecture of ice and snow, decorating the trees brings us closer to the inner joy of childhood.  Allows us to release the giddy happiness that we repress in our daily lives.  With incredible designs that can only happen in nature.  We follow in euphoric abandon, searching for the next fantastic display.

Each ride is an adventure, where we push to discover more about ourselves.  The machines we ride, and the trails we choose become but tools to our release.  Our starting point, our chaotic modern life.  The destination, a place to be discovered of our own creation.

This is but one reason we ride…

Photo credit, dinlaroche

Technorati tags: Snowmobiling, Trail Ride

Well, for any XC snowmobile racers reading, Yamaha has upped it’s ante to $100,000.  As Snow Week reports, the money will go to riders in the US Cross Country circuit.

Their goal, of course, is to highlight the 4-cycle machines that they have perfected for this type of extreme racing. 

Via: Snow Week - $100,000 Bounty For Yamaha XC Snowmobile Racers

Let me know your thoughts as well - leave a comment below if you have ideas or suggestions on what everyone should do every pre-season.  Also, you can leave your own poll answer above!

Technorati tags: Snowmobile Poll, Snowmobile Pre-Season

Local Polaris dealer Digger’s Polaris & Marine are providing six ATVs and six Ranger side-by-side units to the I35W Recovery efforts in downtown Minneapolis.  Polaris has been quick to respond to many natural disasters and terrorist attacks to supply vehicles to help recovery workers and police in the efforts.

While this has little to do with Snowmobiling, it is great to see a home-town business with highly useful products donate them to for public use in these situations.  It gives me hope.

Polaris and Local Dealer Digger’s Polaris & Marine to Provide Units for Interstate 35W Bridge Recovery

Technorati tags: Polaris Industries, Polaris Ranger, Polaris ATV

SnowWeek is reporting that the Second Annual Vintage Snowmobile National Championship will be held in West Springfield, MA on October 13th & 14th.  A non-racing event that focuses on the sleds from the 1960s through the 1980s.

With sleds from nearly every manufacturer there has been in the last 50+ years, this event is a great time for any snowmobile enthusiast.  The Vintage Snowmobile Club of America (VSCA) is sponsoring the event with pricing at $8 for adults and kids getting in for free (12 & under).

For more information on the event, go to www.sledmass.com, or check out the SnowWeek article below.

Via: SnowWeek - Vintage snowmobile championships set for October

Technorati tags: Vintage Snowmobile Club of America, Vintage Snowmobile

Funny how in the middle of summer there is a recurring desire for winter.  So yep, here at the tail-end of July I’m thinking of snow, trails and sledding.

Nothing really to do at the moment except day dream a little, maybe remember a favorite ride, or trail, or overlook.  It gets a person through the hotter days.  This week in the upper Midwest, we’re in the mid to upper 90s.  Wish it was closer to 10.

Well, I know that I need to renew the registration for 2008/2009 so I might as well do that, at least it’s related to getting out on the trails.

Have a fun and safe celebration of our nation’s birthday today!

What a disappointing season, I never even got my sled out of the shed this winter.

This post is just an update to let anyone know that there will be minimal postings over the summer months.  There may be a news item that gets linked to from here, but will mainly remain quiet during the summer months.  Without any real winter fun, the incentive to write content here was lost.

I do have high hopes for next winter, and will crank up the content posting we we get into the pre-season.  So hang in there and wish for a prosperous winter in 8 months or so.

I’ll see ya at the trailhead!