Snowmoblog

Karla Pomeroy at the Laramie Boomerang Online has done a follow-up to her previous State to groom snowmobile trails article. It seems that local snowmobile dealers are concerned about the state of Wyoming maintaining the same level of quality grooming on the Snowy Range.

With the Snowy Range ranked in the top five regularly by SnoWest magazine as a top destination for snowmobiling, two of the three local snow machine dealership owners expressed concern about the State of Wyoming taking over grooming of the Snowy Range snowmobile trails, while another said they will have to “wait and see.â€

It could indeed affect the area’s current standing as a winter vacation destination. Justin Johnson (president of Maverick Motorsports Group LLC, in Laramie & Cheyenne) added:

… he is also frustrated that the state received federal grant money for their program, wondering why they couldn’t get grant money to help fund their private contractor.

Time will tell, interesting goings-on in WY.

Previous coverage at Snowmoblog: WY, State To Groom Additional Snowmobile Trails

Via: Laramie Boomerang Online – Snowmobile dealers nervous

It seems that some inventive solutions are arising out of GPS use by snowmobilers. The Antrim County (Michigan) snowmobile clubs and organizations are coordinating an effort to get GPS coordinates on snowmobile signs and maps.

This effort could help get rescue teams on-scene faster during an emergency. Interesting idea, and one that shouldn’t take too many additional resources. This could also be a fun & educational exercise for younger club members – to track down and document the GPS coordinates for signage during the late summer and autumn months.

Via: TV74 – New Safety Measure For Snowmobilers

A note to all Ontario snowmobilers – the OFSC is offering a full-season snowmobile permit at a discount rate of Cdn$180, until December 1st.  After that, full-season permits go back to their regular price of Cdn$230.

David Helwig of SooToday.com has the scoop at the link below.

Via: SooToday.com – A word to snowmobilers

And so it begins, the 2006 WPSA Powersports Snowmobile Tour.  With an evening kickoff featuring Pro qualifying & amateur racing, and fireworks tonight, the AmsOil Duluth National will run through Sunday Nov. 26th.  The 11th Winter X Games will also be held on Sunday the 26th.

This year’s lineup of returning riders are Robbie Malinoski, Mathieu Morin, Blair Morgan, Tucker Hibbert, DJ Eckstrom, Shaun & Kurtis Crapos, Ross Martin, Steve Martin, Dave Allard, Levi LaVallee, TJ Gulla, and many others.

AmsOil Duluth National Schedule

WPSA Snowmobile Tour – Full Schedule

For more information, check out the article below, or visit the Duluth National Schedule website here.

Via WhoWon.com – WPSA Powersports Snowmobile Tour Kicks Off 2006 this Weekend With the 15 Annual Amsoil Duluth National at Spirit Mountain

I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.  We’re taking a break over the next day or so, but we’ll be back later in the week with more news and stuff.

Due to fuel & equipment costs, one route that has been under private contract, will be taken over by the state of Wyoming.

The state of Wyoming has taken over the 195 miles of groomed trails for snowmobiling on the Snowy Mountain Range in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests.

One hopes this is for the best – it’ll probably cost Wyoming residents more in taxes, but the trails will continue to be kept up.  More information can be found in the article below.

Via: Laramie Boomerang Online – State to groom snowmobile trails

Craig Medred writes in the Outdoors section of the Anchorage Daily News about how large and heavy our modern snowmobiles have gotten.  He also remembers times gone by when a Ski-Doo Elan could ride through the deep stuff without the kind of back-breaking labor needed to free a stuck sled today.

Good read!

Via: Anchorage Daily News – Big machines are a pain but have the power

The Country Courier in Franklin Country Vermont has an article about snowmobiling in their county. While written more toward non-sledders, its great to see people anticipating a great season.

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

They’ve been making snow since Halloween at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN for the WPSA PowerSports Tour Amsoil Duluth National. With a minimum 4ft. base, the track will be ready on time for the November 24th-26th event.

SnowWeek has more details at the link below.

Via: SnowWeek – Plenty of Snow for WPSA Opener

I’ve long meant to write about my first snowmobile adventure. Most would (and do) call it their first ride, but it was well and truly an adventure for the 14 year-old I was in 1982. This was the ride that defined snowmobiling for me, it was the beginning of a lifelong love of Winter & of snowmobiling.

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.