Its often the ability to get miles out into the back country in some of the most picturesque landscapes one can image.  Other times its the solitude in which we find ourselves – even when riding with family or friends.  Often its the realization of doing something that few people in the world could ever do (even with as popular as our sport is).  And its also the chance to push ourselves… to explore our limits physically and mentally.

Snowmobiling is many things to many people, but the one thing that describes it best for nearly everyone is simply: freedom.  Our summertime motorcycling breatheren would understand that one.  In each ride there is something new to explore ore a memory to capture.  Every time we climb aboard and start out, we experience something that brightens our lives.  Every turn and curve straightens out the confusion and frustration from work – melting away stress.

Each ride makes us more than when we started.

Photo credit: eric.r

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

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

Go check out the article, it reminds me of a number of write-ups about Vermont snowmobiling that I’ve read over the years. Someday I’ll plan a trip out east to check out the great state of Vermont – soon I hope. Cool graphic at the top of the article too!

Via: The County Courier – Let it snow Local snowmobilers ready for new (& hopefully improved) season

View a map of Franklin County courtesy of Live.com Maps

The ride was in the northern area of Dunn county Wisconsin, just north of the city of Menomonie with my cousin, uncle and my uncle’s friend Dale & his son. The ride wasn’t long by our standards today, but our route out & back was upwards of 30 miles – though we did have many stops planned along the way. My dad and I rode absolute leftovers – they were ours, and we were thrilled to have them, but they were quite old and in ill repair to be kind. An aside – only one of our sleds made it back that night, and just barely at that!

My snowmobile was a 1968 Alouette – I’ve no idea of the model or engine size other than it was a air-cooled one-lunger that had the carburetor right in my chest.  My dad’s sled was a slightly newer 1971 Ski-Doo Nordic 400cc (I think) fan-twin.  Our trailer was a late-’60s model single-place with tilt & swivel.  How we trailered two aging machines 40 miles to our starting point (and back) is another story!  Dad, I need your help on telling that tale (it involves a Chevy Chevette and a lot of ingenuity) .  Our other gear was made up of rather good Sorel pac-boots, but went downhill from there: cheap mitts, hand-me-down snowmobile suit, $30 helmets with bubble shields , and other assorted otherwise-good winter-ware that shouldn’t be used for snowmobiling . Such are the makings of an event that will live among my fondest memories for life.

We met the rest of the group at my uncle’s friend Dale’s place, where everyone got sleds loaded and extra socks packed. From there it was a 15 minute drive to our starting point on the shores of Tainter Lake, at a house mysteriously described as “Uncle Stan’s”.  The first leg of about 3 miles took us to the Elk Point Inn – a cozy little bar on the other side of the lake.  About half-way across the lake, my headlight goes out – and being a “newbie” at this trail riding thing I just kept following the taillight in front of me!  Good thing we didn’t hit any frost heaves or ploughed lanes on the lake, or I might have had a really exciting time! Turns out that it was just a loose connection under the hood, and was quickly reconnected.

With our first drama out of the way, we stepped in the bar and had a beer, er, Coke (hey I was only 14!)

Part II is in the works – give me a few days to dredge up the details.  They’re lurking somewhere in the old memory bank.

For more details check out the SnowWeek article linked below!

Via: SnowWeek – I-500 Reunion In The Works