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Its hard to feed the desire to ride during the summer. You would think it would get easier as fall comes and the shows begin and the races start. It isn’t easier as I try to get tiny morsels of the rush as I attend snowmobile shows and grass drags, if anything it makes it even harder.

This weekend I was able to not only get to go to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes to help feed the monster in me that wants to ride snowmobiles so bad, I was even able to make it down to the Malad Grass Drags. The drags are always a great way to get the fix. The smell of the two stroke engines, the sounds of the mods as the roar down the track, and hanging with the riding buddies make going to the races almost as fun as being on the hill. Almost would be the key word in there. Even though the races give most of the joys of riding it still lacks the one thing that is impossible to get without snow and that is actually riding thru the powder fields or climbing the hills that are unreachable by machine in the summer.

This year the grass drags gave some good excitement. Several races were extremely close and if it were left up to the human eye the win could have gone to the wrong individual several times. While others races weren’t so close, but still exciting as you never know what might happen. We were able to see this first hand as a Turbo Apex stepped up against a mod Powder Special. Needless to say the Powder Special was anything but built for one purpose and that was to demolish anything it stepped up against on the track. Most people put their money on the Turbo Apex based of the knowledge that these sleds are rarely touched on the hill. While others still bet on the sure speed of the two stroke engine. With in the first 100 feet it seemed that the race was already over as the Powder Special had a commanding lead over the Apex and was still gaining ground and picking up speed. Then in an instance the Powder Special veered left and came in contact with a straw bail. This contact ripped the left arms, shock and ski right off the sled. Sending the rider into additional bails as it still ripped down the track. Spectators watched as it looked as the situation turned dangerous.

Luckily the rider was able to slow down enough and veer back into the center of the track, finish the race and still make a good time. Sadly he lost to the Apex, but came out unharmed. I’m sure his self esteem took a little beating, but now he has a point to prove at the next race.

Too often we take things for granted these days. For instance how many times do you hear someone in California say they have never been through the Red Wood Forests or Yosemite National Park? How many people live in Utah and never been to the Arches, or Grand Canyon. One thing I’ve heard throughout my life is people saying that they have never been through Yellowstone National Park. I’ve heard this out of the mouths of people that have lived in West Yellowstone, MT. Its literally their back yard and they never taken the opportunity to go thru the park. Why is that?

Is it because the appeal of visiting the park isn’t there because it doesn’t take hours, or days to travel to it? Does it seem like an every day aspect of their life that there is no curiosity any more? I’m sure it is different for everyone. I bring this up because I was born an raised near Idaho Falls, ID only 2 hrs from the park. My family has owned a cabin in Island Park, Idaho since I was 5, only 20 mins from the West Entrance. We spent weeks there during the winter and rarely visited the park. I can barely remember the last time I went thru the park with my parents. However, I have very fond memories of the park during the time I worked in the park and in West Yellowstone.

This last Labor Day weekend I decided that since we were at our family’s cabin I would take the opportunity to take my 3 year old thru the park as well as my 1 year old, but he won’t remember much. It was such a great experience that we have decided to try and make it thru the park at least once a year. It is only 2 hrs away so this can be accomplished in just a day if needs be.

I have gone thru the park on several occasions, but in the summer and winter time. It had been a long time since I had gone thru the park for pleasure rather than work, which made it much more enjoyable than I expected. Its always exciting to see some of the large game in their natural habitat. The adrenaline that starts pumping as you snap a picture of a 6 point Bull Elk at 25 yards will always be a great experience no matter how many times I get that opportunity.

The next adventure once the kids get a little old will be give them the experience of visit the park in the Winter. It is an experience that if you have not yet had the opportunity to do so, you better take it at least once. Especially those individuals that are close to the park. I will admit for an extreme backcountry rider that I am, I don’t look forward to the ride, but there are very few places where you can get that close to the animals in the winter. Its worth at least one trip into the park during the winter, and if you have more than one day you can always take the opportunity to ride the thousands miles of trails outside the park or endless backcountry riding of the west.

What a year. The winter was one for the record books. Its been a long time since we have been able to ride in May with powder and then to even have a couple of rides in June. I don’t remember the last time I was able to ride in June. Old Man Winter had the global warming nuts running backwards as they tried to explain why it was such a long winter, as they came up with some excuse that it was an effect of global warming. I figured since the winter lasted so long that it might come late this year. I’m starting to thing the opposite. There has been some series of cold spells already that makes me think that winter is just around the corner.

I bought a dirt bike this year to help feed that craving that I get when I don’t ride for a while. Figured I would be able to ride it well in to November. I had a bike a while ago, sold it to pay for some schooling, wish I never would have done that. Sold the bike, the schooling was worth it, but should have found alternative ways of funding. Finally after some persuasive talks with the wife was able to be another one. In my opinion one of the best bikes built, Honda CR 250 R, mine happens to be a 2004. I’m having a hard time switching up to the 4-stroke yet. My last bike was a 01 CR 250 R. Its been a great summer getting back into riding. The last time I rode a bike, I ended up over shooting a jump and having surgery to fix the problem two years later. I will admit I was a little gun shy at first, but its all coming back to me. As close to snowmobiling as I can get.

However over labor day weekend, I was to see new snow fall as I stayed the weekend in our family’s cabin. I’m ready to put the bike up and bring out the sled. Let it snow, Let it snow!

Wow, this year has been something else.  It looked like it was going to be an early year with the snowfall in September.  Then October skunked us.  November ended up driving all the way to Cooke City, MT to get enough snow to be able to play in.  December wasn’t looking to red hot either, but come January it never stopped. We even had snow fall just a couple of days ago in June.  It has been a long time since I can say I went on a ride in June and it is looking like I’m going to be able to say that we had snow on still on the 4th of July.  Now that the season is basically over for us now I’m ready for the next one to start.  Summer is finally hear and all I’m doing is preparing for next year.  Can’t wait.  Looking forward to the great times ahead.