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REVELSTOKE, B.C.
Sledding and sunbathing
The high alpine attracts sledders for spring snowmobiling
by WHITNEY BLACK
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BEYOND THE CROWDS: "Turtle is the most amazing area, but we spend most of our days on Frisby. The crowds are small and we can ride all day long without seeing another sled," said Blair Lozza, avid snowmobiler.
—photo by Blair Lozza |
The high elevation of the snowmobiling area surrounding Revelstoke is advantageous in more ways than just providing massive amounts of snow for snowmobilers to play in; it also means the sledding season lasts longer than in many other places.
Late-season sledding has its own personality. With most of the powder gone, sledders tend to find that the snow is slightly harder in the mornings and late evenings, with the warmth of the sun making it softer in the afternoons.
“In some ways, late-season sledding can be good for novice riders, as they don’t have to deal so much with the powder and the getting stuck aspect,” said Mark Shaede, president of Revelstoke Snowmobile Tours Ltd. “As the days get longer and the daytime snow softens up and kind of becomes like mashed potatoes or oatmeal, it means that the snow is not always hard, but it’s not usually deep enough to get real stuck in either.”
Shaede said there are many benefits to spring sledding. With more hours of sunlight in a day, it is possible for sledders to leave later and still get in a long day of riding. The warm weather also means sledders can be comfortable wearing less gear.
“One of the enjoyment factors is that it’s not as weather dependent,” Shaede said. “With the colder weather, you have to worry about frostbite and all that stuff. In the later weeks of spring on warm days, you can go up there and get quite a good reflective tan.”
Spring snowmobiling presents its own safety issues, and Shaede cautions sledders to be avalanche aware.
“We could potentially see a slight statistical rise in avalanche occurrences,” said Shaede. “The top layers of the snow get heavy and rain-soaked and can show signs of avalanche.”
Sledders should always pay attention to the sloping of the snow and the weather conditions when riding in the mountains.
According to Shaede, quite a few people head to the Revelstoke area to enjoy the spring sledding.
“We find a lot of seasonal workers who work with logging or oil companies come here during their spring breakup in early April,” he said. “We can actually get quite busy in late April and early May. A lot of people book their holidays to come out and do spring riding. There is a fairly good contingent of regional riders who come here because we retain the snow longer.”
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