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CRANBROOK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Queen of the hills
From the trails to the mountains, Felicia Eaton loves to ride
by KIRSTEN ARMLEDER
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POWDER HOUND: For Felicia Eaton, each ride in the backcountry is another unforgettable experience.
—photo courtesy Felicia Eaton |
Felicia Eaton isn't your average 46 year-old woman. For the past nine years, she has been an avid snowmobiler and active member of the Cranbrook Snowmobile Club—and when it comes to her favourite sport, this lady has no problem keeping up with the guys.
Born in Lompoc, California, Eaton grew up in the U.S. but moved to Cranbrook, B.C., 23 years ago. She was 35 when her husband, Robert Peacock, doubled her on a snowmobile for the first time. However, Eaton's interest in the sport really grew when she started riding her own machine.
"For 20 years I was a skier and then I discovered snowmobiling," said Eaton. "I never thought that I would ever seriously take up snowmobiling. To be honest, I thought it was a wimpy sport. That preconception didn't last long after a couple of rides."
Eaton admits her first few months behind the handlebars were somewhat challenging.
"Everybody kept telling me, 'your throttle is your friend,'" said Eaton. "I was afraid to use that advice in the beginning but after tiring from being stuck all the time, I decided to use it.
"When spring snow conditions arrived and things started coming together, the light bulb went on and I was starting to 'get it' and have some fun. At the end of the season, I decided I would give it a go the next year—and the rest is history."
An appetite for adventure
At the beginning of each season, Eaton and Peacock usually ride around Cranbrook, B.C. in the Lumberton, Wildhorse, Bootleg and Moyie mountain areas. Later on, they make trips to some of B.C.'s top sledding spots, such as Revelstoke, Golden, Valemount and McBride.
"I love all these places because they have huge riding areas that seem to go on and on with no end in sight," said Eaton. "My favourite place to ride is Chatter and Hope creeks in Golden and the Keystone area in Revelstoke."
Eaton loves to venture off the trails into high alpine areas and search for large powder-laden bowls, which is probably one of the reasons why she currently rides a 2007 Ski-Doo Summit Rev Power Tech R with a 159-inch track.
"This is definitely a snow machine made for men but I need the power and the track to keep up with them," said Eaton.
A lifelong addiction
As a member of the snowmobile club, Eaton has helped organize the group's annual poker run and does her share in maintaining its cabin and local trails.
"Being a member helps keep me current with what's going on internally within our club as well as any regional, provincial and Canada-wide issues facing the sport of snowmobiling. It's also very nice to socialize with fellow sledders."
Eaton has many fond memories of sledding with club members, friends and her husband. She is looking forward to more memorable fun this season and in the years to come.
"What I enjoy most about snowmobiling is being outside in the fresh air, witnessing some of the most spectacular and breathtaking scenery in the mountains of B.C., the exercise and, most of all, enjoying all the beauty Mother Nature has to show us.
"I hope I am still snowmobiling when I'm 85. What will the machines look like then?"
Here are some photos of Eaton's adventures in the mountains last season.
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| GOOD TIMES: Felicia Eaton, Dave Kroeker and fellow Cranbrookites had a blast riding in the Chatter Creek area near Golden, B.C., on April 20 to 22, 2007. |
SUPERB SIGHTS: Endless terrain and spectacular mountain scenery make Chatter Creek one of Eaton's favourite places to ride. |
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| SIMPLY AMAZING: Eaton loves finding scenic vistas, like this one in Chatter Creek, on her snowmobile. |
GO WILD: Eaton couldn't have asked for better conditions during a ride in the Wildhorse area near Cranbrook on March 31, 2007. |
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| MOUNTAINS OF FUN: Eaton and Peacock were treated to another excellent day of riding in the Valley of the Lakes/Vermont Creek area near Parsons, B.C., on April 3, 2007. |
WHAT A DAY: "The perfect snow conditions made it possible to go anywhere, and I mean anywhere. If you were brave enough to climb and descend the steep terrain," said Eaton after a ride in the Gormann/Lang Creek area of Golden, B.C., on April 4, 2007. |
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