Two Stroke, Baby

My first experience with snowmobiling was pretty far from typical. I met Todd at his house around 10:30 and we headed up to his family's cabin in the mountains west of Wood's Landing. The snow was perfect. The area had gotten quite a few inches the weekend before, and there was plenty of new powder from the storm the day before. The mountains were still cloudy as we drove out. We got up to the main parking area and then trekked back into the cabin community. I borrowed some very stylish snow gear and Todd got the snowmobiles started.

Our chariots await...

Once I got a 30 second lesson (literally) on how to drive these things, we headed back up to the main parking area to put gas in and talk about the trail we'd be taking up to Albany to eat lunch. Then, things started getting interesting.

First time snowmobiling!

Thumbs up if gasoline and fire don't mix!

About 5 minutes after I took the last picture, Todd's snowmobile was on fire! I kind of sat there helplessly while Todd whipped off his jacket and started smothering the flames. Once all the flames were out, I asked him, "Does this sort of thing normally happen?" "No," he replied, and continued filling up the gas tank. He didn't seem too concerned, so I didn't worry. Big mistake.

Beautiful Forest Scenery

About 15 minutes out of the parking lot and into the forest, I got stuck in a snowdrift. Todd said he expected this to happen eventually, so he turned his machine around and started helping me get un-stuck. Then, when he went to turn his snowmobile back on, his starter rope broke! Came clean out of the engine compartment! (Which, by the way, I learned they are called "two stoke engines.") Todd was not very happy. We had one stuck snowmobile, one snowmobile which we had no way of restarting, no way to lash the snowmobiles together, and it was getting to be well past lunch time. We decided that once we got my snowmobile out, I would wait with the dead one while Todd went back to the cabin to find rope, and then we'd tow it back and call it a day.

20 minutes later, we're ready to head home. The ride back was not nearly as exciting.

Once back at the cabin, we got the snowmobiles inside and headed back toward town to find some lunch. We stopped in a Wood's Landing and I got to try Bull Fries! More commonly known as Rocky Mountain Oysters, aka bull testicles. They were surprisingly yummy. I wasn't a fan of the cocktail sauce served with them, but give me some bbq sauce and I would have eaten the whole basket myself.

Mmmm, deep-fried smooshed balls

Despite our slight catastrophes, I had a really fun day and I can't wait to go again and get off trail. I'm thankful no one was hurt and we got back to the cabin safely! And for such a good friend that's willing to share these experiences with me :)