If you haven’t tried it, you should. There is not anything quite like riding through the
mountains in the peace and quiet. The only sound is the whine of the motors as you
power up over hills and plow through fields of fluffy powder. Snowmobiling has become our favorite winter sport in the past couple of years. There is nothing quite like the freedom of being able to explore the mountains, no guard rails, no roads to stay on.
Check out our Snowmobile Day in the Life Vlog: https://youtu.be/-VF0y8_gQ3Y?si=1sqQdMbP31Gxudwp
The boundaries are set by your ability, if you can dream a way up or though and
develop the skills to guide your sled up the mountain, the sky is the limit. Climbing up
hills to mountain peaks, weaving through the trees, and across meadows. Reaching
the peak of the mountain and viewing out over the expanse of the mountain. However, on a more realistic note for most of us average riders who aren’t throwing around our sled around like it’s weightless, the limitations are a bit more real. But, that doesn’t take away from the experience of being out in nature and exploring a winter landscape that without the aid of a machine that can travel over the snow, you could not reach.
Starting out, you will find yourself sticking to trails and getting a feel for the for the machine. They have tons of power at the touch of your finger but with familiarity they can be smooth and become an extension of your body. A way to float through the snow, though you will get stuck many, many times no matter how much you practice and how good you get.
Luckily, it’s easy to get started, the necessary skill set is not much different than
riding a bike. There is only three controls. The throttle, a brake, and handle bars to steer your way. Jumping on a trail you can focus on just taking in the surrounding beauty, the trees covered in snow, the snow pillow mounds surrounding you and tempting you to come play. A chance to take in the mountain peaks towering around you, reminding you of the vastness of the earth around you and your small size in it. But being such a small part of the world doesn’t make you less or diminutive. It gives you a chance to explore and grow. To learn what in the world fills you with joy.
For us, snowmobiling gives us an opportunity to embrace the world and take part in a side of nature that is hard to find a place in. A world where snow may swallow you up when you jump off the sled, walking a hundred feet feels like an exhausting task.Snowmobiles provide us with a tool that allows us to find our footing in this expanse, to go along for the ride being a part of the winter cycle instead of just observing at a distance.
Getting started can have many forms. We started off by buying a used set of trail sleds and learning to ride at our own pace. We now own multiple snowmobiles made to go off-trail and explore greater areas. Today, we own few extra sleds that allow us to share our passion with friends and family. We have been blessed to be able to take out many people important to us and share with them the places we have fallen in love with. If you don’t know others that ride and may let you tag along, there are many places in the western states that rent both machines as well as offer guides to take you out and show you the area as well as being able to give you riding pointers and teach you techniques to make you a better rider.
The cost of day rentals can be costly at $200-$400 a day but is a great way to get out and see if it is an activity that you enjoy and would be interested in further exploring and making a greater investment in. If it does turn out to be something that feeds your soul in the way it does ours and you take the leap to buy your own sled and continue to explore and enjoy the back country remember to be safe out there. You’re a world away from any immediate help and the smartest thing you can do is to be prepared and ready for the unexpected. We would highly recommend everyone engaging in back country activities to take AIRE classes to teach you not only how to avoid avalanches but also what to do if you or someone else is ever caught in one. No matter how you choose to enjoy the mountains in the winter make sure you are making a point to spend time in the outdoors and finding ways to connect with nature!
Check out our Snowmobile Day in the Life Vlog: https://youtu.be/-VF0y8_gQ3Y?si=1sqQdMbP31Gxudwp
MC Exploring 