Sometimes I have to hand it to my wife for finding these deals, but this one was already in the family and easy enough to do. So yes, I?m back into snowmobiling (again ? yay!), and hope to share some tales with folks here on snowmoblog.com soon.

To help on that end, I?ve picked up a Flip minoHD and outfitted the still camera with a bigger SD card.  Here?s to new rides, and new stories to share.

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

The original idea of Snowmoblog was to simply blog about my favorite motorsport: snowmobiling.  So much for making that work out on a regular basis.

So I?m coming back to this blog this autumn, not sure what to do next.  However, I know I want to cover winter sports.  Perhaps not just snowmobiling, but also some of the other things we do outside during the winter.

I?ve been thinking of how to cover more events, but that might not be the real need here.  I?m beginning to think what I really should do is to cover destinations.  Places and regions that offer the most for the winter sportsperson, whether that?s snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or snowmobiling.

When will this all start to take place?  Well, that I?m not sure I can answer.  There will be content coming this fall, but it may begin in fits and starts as I merge this blog back into my writing schedule.  At least, that?s the plan.

So check in from time to time, there will be more content as we go forward.  I?d love to say ?stay tuned?, but it won?t be that fast. Maybe a post here and there before I really get ramped up again.  Hopefully by late autumn we?ll have more regular content.

Until then, have a great time in the outdoors ? the autumn color is just around the corner.  Get out there and enjoy.

It’s edging into my favorite time of the year.

I can’t begin to describe the exhilaration that follows that first cool day (I mean really cool – dropping into the 40°F range). It’s starting again – and that’s a very good thing.

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.

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

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

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