| |
Top of Utah Snowmobile
Association
CLUB NEWSLETTER FOR
MARCH 2008
Chairman Kelly Leishman 435-245-4689, V.Chairman Kerry
Hendrickson
Treasurer: Jon Kleven, Willie Duersch, Bryce Berry (web master),
Garth Barker (Search/Rescue), Dennis Ostermiller, Mike Everhart,
LeGrande Ellis, Teri Johnson, Colter Leishman, Jim Beazer,
Scott Murray, Stuart Speth, Jason Allred, Tony Tuddenham (website)
The TOP OF UTAH SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: The
NEWSLETTER is sent to registered club members. Membership
is October to October. Its time to renew!!!!!!!!
Ski Race Notice:
The ULLR Ski Race that caused the closures at Franklin Basin
& Beaver Creek trailheads last year has changed its venue.
They will still be hosting a race this year March 8th at their
ski course there at the Beaver Creek trailhead. Their race will
not affect any of the groomed snowmobile trails, but there will
be a need to try and avoid the upper beaver creek parking lot,
they would really appreciate your cooperation in the parking
issues for the one-day March 8th race. We hope they can host
a successful ski race, and we can continue to use the trail
systems to get to our favorite riding areas. Thanks for you
support on the parking issues.
Kelly Leishman
A Gal's Perspective
by Heather Humphreys
So here is a gals perspective
of the TOUSA ride on Feb. 2, 2008. We met at hardware ranch
at 9:00 in the morning. It was fun to watch the men kick
the trucks into 4-wheel and totally spin out trying to park
because the parking lot hadn’t been cleaned out, and
it was just after lots of new snow. That was OK; these bad
snowmobile boys can handle it. My husband Kerry Humphreys
had been asking for 2 weeks if I was going with him on this
ride, so I agreed. I love to ride snowmobiles; I was raised
doing it every winter. I loved to go to Jackson, and Yellowstone.
I am now confident that the trail rides my dad took us on
was not what he did the rest of the time snowmobiling.
I have often said I would like to be a fly on the wall and
watch big boys play. I kind of felt like this is exactly
what I got to do. The association provided donuts and hot
chocolate, etc. It was really interesting to see the boys
all decked out. I think it is possible they have more thought
into their snowmobile gear that keeps them warm, matching
their sweet machines, than I consider in what shoes I should
wear with an outfit. Kendall Welker was the other “woman
driver” that day, and we had some good laughs about
it. Someone told me Kelly’s long underwear are bright
orange, and of course, I thought they were serious.
It was a beautiful day with lots and lots of new snow. There
were about 15 people there for the ride. We took off from
Hardware, and went up through Rock Creek and over to Randolph.
My machine is less than sweet, so I was towards the back,
which was ok with me. I am pretty sure they were cutting
trail most the day, but where I was it was a perfect trail
to follow. It was lots of fun.
The boys stopped for their first big play at the turn off
to go to Bug Lake. They all took off, just a few of us stayed
behind, and waited for the “need for play” to
end. They left us on the trail at a beautiful spot with
lots of sunshine and blue sky. I think at one point 5 guys
were all stuck at the same time. So I knew I had made the
right decision to just hang on the trail, and let the boys
go grunt.
We kept heading over to Randolph, and I totally loved the
big flat open part where I got to go FAST, FAST, FAST! There
was another big hill that the boys had to conquer and it
was really fun to watch them carve their way to the top
of the mountain. The wind had blown there, and so it was
bumpy heading up this major steep hill. It was then I was
confident I was in great care. If they could do that I knew
they could take care of anywhere unfortunate I may land.
Lunch over in Randolph was good fun. The fries were awesome,
and my husbands hamburger was HUGE! I think we ran the little
mom and pop shop out of food, but it was tasty, and the
company was great. I don’t think I have laughed that
hard in a long time. I also thought it looked pretty incredible
to have all the machines lined up like Harley’s on
main street in Randolph. We headed back for home about 1:30.
The way back wasn’t quite as easy as the going, but
it was great for my confidence because I made it. I tend
to be a gal who likes to call the shots, and I learned a
good lesson. I will never again have a problem with waiting
around for the super grunts to play, or chart the course
to take. When you trust Kelly, and Kerry Hendrickson (not
my husband) to get you where you need to be they will get
you there. If you head off on your own because you are done
with the playing part…You may end up needing help
from the big dogs. Kelly ended up taking my machine down
a super steep hill, with me on the back cussing, and screaming
all the way down. I fell off the back at the bottom, and
was laughing my head off. I think I have never been so grateful
to see NEON ORANGE hiking up the hillside to come help me
in my life.
There is one more serious advantage to being on a ride with
a bunch of men. Get your machine stuck? I assure you within
seconds your machine will be surrounded, and they grunt
to get you out. It is pretty great. It is definitely one
of those times it is to your advantage being a girl. It
was a great ride, and an experience I will never forget.
Will I go again? YEP, for sure. You should come too. It
is pretty fun to watch them in action.
Our club ride to Bloomington Lake 2008
by Rex Petersen
We crossed the border and went to
the Cub River parking lot to start. The plan was to
go to Bloomington Lake on the other side of the mountain.
We started with 24 riders, but soon we were short two.
Brandon Roper, 12 years old, caught some "Big Air"
when he was traveling too fast to make a corner on a
mountain trail. Brandon jumped off and is OK. The "Tree"
will be OK too, but the Red Phazer? Were not sure.
The rest of the ride went as planned, over the ridge
to Paris Flats, then south to Bloomington Lake.
After watching the hill climbers show off, the groups
separated. Seven "ridge runners" went south
to play towards Saint Charles Peaks and the rest of
us went back to Paris Flats, then on to the warming
hut in Horseshoe Basin for lunch. When we arrived back
at the parking lot, we knew it was a ride to remember.
We had a good cross-section of riders, including Jeremy
Shaw and Floyd Powell from Utah State Parks, Hyrum.
Remember, "Know Before You Go" and Ride Safe.
Our Current Issues
We have several items
of business we are currently working on regarding snowmobile
issues.
- We are pleased to announce that Jennefer
Parker will be the new District Ranger in Logan, Utah,
effective January 7, 2008. Jennefer is currently the
Environmental Coordinator on the Clearwater NF in
Orofino, Idaho. Prior to her job as EC she was the
Rec Staff Officer on the North Fork Ranger District.
She brings a wealth of skills and has a great background
in resource management. (Faye Krueger, Forest Supervisor,
Wasatch-Cache NF)
- The Forest service has been installing
gates at several locations to be closed around mid
Nov each year to keep the trucks and ATV’s from
doing damage to the roads. Though we support this
agenda they are putting the gates in locations where
there is no room for a 40” wheeled vehicle to
get through, which is what they need to do to keep
all wheeled vehicles out of the closed area, but that
also creates a difficulty getting our snowmobiles
around the gates also. We are talking about some alternatives
to this problem. Most of these gates are in the Dip
Hollow, Right Hand fork area.
- Implementing the reopening of the
White Pine, Steam Mill drainages to snowmobile use.
Which will include clarifying maps, orange poles and
signage wherever possible to educate all wintertime
users of the new boundaries.
- UDOT is planning a new turn lane
and acceleration lane at the Beaver Mountain turn
off, this is scheduled for the summer of 2008 the
preliminary drawings show moving the existing road
further to the east to make a better visual from west
bound traffic. This will eliminate 65% of the parking
in the lower parking lot. This is State Trust Lands
property (SITLA), which includes both parking lots
and Beaver Mountain. After looking at several different
options of expanding the lower parking lot further
eastward, having possible parking on both sides of
the road, and even making a new one on the south side
of the road which is Forest Service property, we have
determined the best solution would be to expand the
upper parking lot. We will keep you informed on any
updates.
CLUB SUPPORTERS AND DONATORS:
|
|
- Beaver Creek Snowmobile
Rental and Lodge
- The PINES (Idaho)
- Box Y Lodge
- EK Performance
- Cabelas
- Alticity Films
- Tahoe Films
- Lloyd Facer Trucking
- Renegade Sports
- Edge Performance Products
- Cache Honda
- Outdoor Specialists
|
B's Outback
Simmons Flex Skis
Snow Claw
EK
Kwal Paint
Axtell Taylor GM
Image Matters Embroidery
Filbies
Ridgeline Recreation
RUOutside
Northstar Polaris Yamaha
Fisher Home Furnishings
Edge Performance products
and many more |
|
