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A SLED-HAPPY BUNCH: The Levins family enjoy nothing more than a day on the trails. —Photos courtesy of Robin Levins

The Levins family—Murray, Rita and their children, Robin and Lindsey—have been a snowmobiling family since the early 1970s. Robin remembers well their first family sled: it was one of those classic John Deere snowmobiles that his father brought home from the Grande Prairie agricultural dealership where he worked. The shiny new piece of machinery was an exciting Christmas gift for the family, though Robin’s elation on that very first sledding day was short-lived.

“It was snowing so much that I couldn’t ride it because it wouldn’t go anywhere,” Robin recalled, laughing. “It just snowed so much on Christmas Day that there was too much snow for the sled to run in.”

A true family of sledders

Despite this rather disappointing introduction to the sport, the Levinses found that snowmobiling was something that they all enjoyed; it brought them into the outdoors, showed them a whole other side of the rural areas around their Peace River Country home and introduced them to families with whom they shared a similar passion. Murray, Rita and their children were soon happily trailblazing away.

“It was just getting out there and having a look at the country in the wintertime,” said Murray, “seeing the game, riding the trails, meeting up with friends and having little cookouts.”

Backcountry wonders

Once they had connected with their inner snowmobilers, the Levinses were quick to discover nearby Kakwa Provincial Park, one of the most popular riding areas among sledders throughout Peace River Country—from Grande Prairie to Beaverlodge to Fairview. The park boasts towering mountain peaks, alpine meadows and an abundance of powdery snow; it soon became a Levins family favourite.

“The scenery is so spectacular,” said Murray, “and there is a lot of variety of riding—open meadows and steep hills to climb.”

The family even purchased a cabin near Kakwa, just to be near the fantastic trails. However, they soon found that for the real experience of Kakwa snowmobiling—and to beat other snowmobilers to the virgin snow—they would have to abandon the convenience of indoor plumbing and heating. The true Kakwa sledding enthusiasts make the most of every backcountry minute by overnighting right beside the trails.

“We have camps out there over winter,” said Robin. “There’s everything from wall tents to converted school buses to RV trailers.”

While wood stoves and diesel furnaces make the shelters relatively comfortable, the people themselves are what really make winter camping enjoyable, giving the campsite a neighbourhood feel.

“It’s just a real big family of people out there,” said Murray. “They’re just great guys. Everybody’s friendly and helpful towards each other.”

The Kakwa campers even spend holidays together, making New Year’s Eve into a very backcountry, very sled-centred celebration.

“There are about 60 or 70 temporary winter camps out there,” said Murray, “so there are a hundred or more people at the New Year’s party for fireworks and all that good stuff.”

Kakwa has become not just a snowmobiling destination for the Levins family, but a centre of their social life.

“It’s just a great experience with all of your friends, the people that you meet and the new friends that you make out there,” said Murray.

The way of the sled

The enthusiasm the Levinses share for snowmobiling is no doubt largely because of the astounding sights they have seen from the peaks of Kakwa. Robin can barely find words to describe the views.

“When you get into 8,000-f00t-plus elevations and it’s a sunny, beautiful day with no wind, zero degrees and with surrounding mountains as far as the eye can see—that’s probably the best experience you can have,” he said. Nonetheless, sledding remains for the Levinses, above all, a family experience.

“It’s just something we can all do together,” said Murray. “It gives us something to get together for on a Sunday—go for a ride and have supper together.”

Robin couldn’t agree more.

“I guess what I like best about snowmobiling is having the opportunity to even experience it,” said Robin, “the beauty, the scenery, the people—especially the people. It’s a different way of life. Ultimately, it’s one big family."