MT HOOD, Ore. — Folks who play in the Oregon outdoors this time of year embrace the fun that comes from fresh powder, whether on snowshoes or skis or even inside cozy confines of a dog sled.
Many others find their winter thrills by speeding across the wintertime landscape toward distant, hard to reach areas aboard snowmobiles.
Kirk Snyder is a member of the Mt. Hood Snowmobile Club, the state’s oldest chapter. He is a rider with decades of experience during the region’s harshest season.
Snyder said that it’s exciting and challenging to travel to a place that’s “snow special” and draws folks back for exciting adventures season after season.
“I get to see a different side of Oregon in winter and I really enjoy the back country. It’s not unusual for us to travel 50 miles or more on snowmobiles and not see another person all day. I consider this Oregon’s finest season.”
He said it’s the ease of access across thousands of miles of U.S. Forest Service Roads in Oregon, roads that are designated “multiple-use” that draw many winter riders. It was one of the big reasons that he joined the club several years ago.
Snyder’s sons, Oskar and Niko, joined Kirk when they were old enough to ride. They each took a snowmobile safety course and a passed a required exam to earn their entry into the sport.
Snyder said that he insists that his kids – and the folks who ride with him – wear helmets and carry critical safety gear including extra food, clothing and fuel.
“Things happen, so you’ve got to be ready,” said Snyder. “We might spend the night in the snow, so you must be ready for the worst that Mother Nature serves up.”
The Mt. Hood Snowmobile Club is one of 26 statewide chapters within the Oregon State Snowmobile Association. The club’s weekend rides begin at Skyline Road Sno-Park and can reach across the Cascades toward Mount Jefferson and the Santiam Basin.
“That’s what I like to do most of all,” admitted Oskar Snyder. “The long rides allow you to have fun all day with other people. Best part of this sport!”
Ryan and Susan Robinson said that each of them “fell in love” with snowmobiling after their first ride two years ago. It was the solitude that comes from travel into remote areas that drew them to the sport.
Ryan added that getting started was easy for them too. He advised others to consider renting a snowmobile for a day to find out if it’s a good fit.
“Just one sled for one day will allow you to find out if you like it, if the family likes the snow, the weather and whether they enjoy riding around together.”
Susan added, “We fell in love with it from the get-go and met some nice people in the Mt. Hood Club. That was a big plus for us because they helped show us the way.”
The Robinsons made the sport a family event when their sons, Dylan and Trevor, joined them last year. Like the Snyder’s, each youngster went thru a safety class and passed a test before they could begin riding with the family.
“Snowmobiling is amazing,” said Dylan. “There’s no other feeling quite like the pure adrenalin rush of riding across fresh snow.”
According to Snyder, there are hundreds of miles of trails in the Mount Hood National Forest. For the most part, they are multiple-use trails – the club grooms many of them each week – so they’re open to cross country skiers, dog sled teams and snowshoeing too.
“When you ride a snowmobile, you've great responsibilities to obey the ‘rules of the road,” cautioned Snyder. “That means when you meet others, especially non-motorized recreationists, you slow down and move to the right and give them ample room.”
Kirk added that it’s a remarkable experience to tour Oregon in winter, but riders are vigilant too – the ever-changing weather demands a rider’s respect.
“There’s nothing like this – and I want to see more folks consider trying it too – our club is a fine way to start – we encourage beginners to contact us, show up on the weekends and we’ll make sure they have a good time.”
Be sure to follow my Oregon adventures via the new Grant’s Getaways Podcast: Each segment is a story-telling session where I relate behind the scenes stories from four decades of travel and television reporting.
You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon travels and adventures in the Grant’s Getaways book series, including:
"Grants Getaways I," Photography by Steve Terrill
"Grant's Getaways II," Photography by Steve Terrill
“Grant’s Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
“Grant’s Getaways: Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
“Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
The collection offers hundreds of outdoor activities across Oregon and promises to engage a kid of any age.
My next book, “Grant’s Getaways: Another 101 Oregon Adventures” will be published in November.