From Asphalt to Snow

If you are a die-hard snowmobiler, chances are you were probably thinking about the upcoming season well before summer was officially over. By the end of August, my friends were posting snowmobile pictures on their Facebook pages in anticipation of winter. Before I knew it, I was going to snowmobile shows, watching snowmobile videos with my buddies, and talking about the latest models and accessories…and that was all in the month of September.

And now that the OFSC Trail Permits are on sale, there's no doubt about it, the countdown is on! Buy your pass on or before November first to save 30% off the regular price. 

While reminiscing about winter, I came across the ‘This is Winter’ video from my epic snowmobile trip in Northeastern Ontario last year. The video brought back a giddy feeling in my stomach; that feeling of waking up early to head North and get out on the OFSC trails definitely brings out the kid in us! 

The chance to escape life in the fast lane is something I’m always chasing after. If you’ve read my other articles, you’ll know I enjoy the freedom of two wheels in the summer months. So what’s different about winter you ask? What brings me out of my warm cocoon and into the chilly, snow covered outdoors?

I had to take a minute to think about this. It’s not that it’s a difficult question to answer, it’s just hard to put a specific feeling and experience into words. So, put it this way—imagine yourself in a snow globe. You're in your own bubble, surrounded by quietness, snow, trees, and at a moment’s notice, it starts snowing so hard that you can’t even see. All you can hear is the soft patter of snow landing on the ground around your sled. You look around, nod your head smiling, and think “now this is winter”.

That feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, in a place only reachable by one mode of transportation is truly magical. There’s no smell from other motorists on the road; just the welcome aroma of fresh, crisp snow, and trees, lots of trees. In addition to exploring the beautiful outdoors that Ontario has to offer, it’s also a great feeling to get your adrenaline rush on a snowmobile!

After a great day exploring on the trails, I enjoy pulling into a parking lot full of snowmobiles at one of the local restaurants located right off the OFSC trails. I always notice that there are few cars in sight because who would venture out into the snowy weather? Snowmobiles are built for that. With rosy cheeks, everyone is holding a warm coffee or hot chocolate with two hands. I love spending the remainder of the evening sharing stories, meeting new friends and talking about everyone’s great passion for snowmobiling.

That’s the magic of snowmobiling in Northern Ontario. I can’t wait to get out into my snow globe, to see the sights, sounds and smells of the trail and to create new memories for years to come. It’s only October, but winter will be here before we know it. I’ll see you out on the trails, and I look forward to catching up with many of you at that local restaurant, with those rosy cheeks, warm hot chocolate and great stories of past snowmobiling adventures.  

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.