SNOWFARI ADVENTURE

by Jonathan Simon

Gander has long been touted as having great backcountry snowmobiling and typically no shortage of snow or adventure. Being centrally located is a plus and means that our family of snowmobilers from East and West get to reunite once a year for a weekend of winter activities and of course some socializing. 2009 was no exception and for the first time, I was able to take part in the SnowFari events in Gander. This event is becoming an annual event that we look forward to and draws larger crowds every year.

The weekend started with registration on Friday and a casino evening coordinated by the local Lion’s volunteers, a ride to Mt. Peyton on Saturday and Saturday evening dinner was held with a great line-up of entertainment and prizes. The ride to Mt. Peyton was lead by Mr. Tony Geange and trails were maintained throughout the day by the local club to assist with a smoother return ride. One group even held their own poker run that day which made it that much more interesting and just goes to show that you can make any event your own through these types of ideas.

This was my first time travelling a portion of the route. I had been to Mt. Peyton on a previous trip and I found the scenery along this new section of trail to be absolutely amazing. So luck should have it, my riding party left a little behind schedule which gave us a chance to ride by ourselves and enjoy the day that much more. Thanks to the organizers and their signage, we were able to get to the Mt. Peyton warm up hut with no worries and for our mid-day snack and mingle with the rest of the group on the ride. Route 1 through Glenwood and Appleton is also very scenic. Crossing the old railway trestle over the Gander River was also a great viewpoint for a few snaps.

Mt. Peyton is a beautiful spot and because of the nature of the event, our tour only took us to the warm up hut near the base. My friends Jason and Stacey Silver and I decided to get a closer look at the hill and made our way round the back where it’s accessible to the top. Because of a heavy snowfall a few days before, on our way to the base, we came upon a few fellow SnowFari snowmobilers who were en route with the same intentions as ourselves. They were, however, stuck and after a few minutes and a helping hand, we were all looking at the base of the hill with a route mapped out if anyone should attempt a climb. I will point out here that it’s not for everyone. Going up is one thing but coming down is a different story - and here’s where I’ll note that there is a sudden drop once you reach the other side on top of Mt. Peyton. If any of you have been reading Sledworthy for a long time, you probably recall a tale from Mike Smith a few years ago when his trip to Mt. Peyton almost ended badly. He and his group were heading into Mt. Peyton and he had missed the talk from the guide where he mentioned about a quick drop off once you reach the other side on top. Missing this part of the guide's talk, his ride ended with a close call when he passed all the other sleds stopped on top and then ran out of room to stop. He bailed at the last minute realizing that he was at the edge of the mountain and his sled tumbled over the edge and inevitably into a thousand pieces. Just a note of caution here for anyone planning on climbing for the first time. It is a spectacular view from the top and I would encourage anyone to do it, just to keep this in mind.

The ride was excellent and gave me a chance to get out and chat with more people who love winter and snowmobiling. I met a lot of great folks, some of which have since contacted me to share their stories from the event. The ride and the winter activities are an important part of the event but the social aspect is one that we all enjoy as it gives us a chance to connect in our busy lives.

Thanks to John Dicks and the staff at Steele Hotels for the invitation and warm hospitality. And thanks to Tony Geange, the local club and the groomer operator that day for making the trails as smooth as possible after a long day of sleds traveling over them. We’re looking forward to another great ride in 2010. Bring on the Snow!