It wasn’t a smart decision, and deep down Darrell
Dietrich had to know that. But the idea of snowmobiling for a few days at his
family’s campsite was just so alluring that no ferocious snowstorm — not even
one that dumped four feet of snow in a matter of hours — was going to cancel
the family fun.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย If
this had been a movie, Dietrich might have been the winter version of Chevy
Chase’s frustrated Clark Griswold, who, in the 1983 movie Vacation, told his family that it would have so much fun once it
arrived at Wally World fun park, it would be whistling “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” from
its backside.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Tug
Hill, located about 140 miles northeast of Rochester in Lewis County — just
west of the Adirondack Mountains — is one of New York State’s best places to
snowmobile. On this night, Dietrich, his wife, Marlena, and his daughters,
Darlene and Jennifer, parked their truck four miles from their camp, intending
to snowmobile the rest of the way, as they always did. But it was 7:30 p.m.,
very cold, and the snow had begun to fiercely swirl and blow like it does
across the Thruway during a snowstorm. It would blind the riders and hinder the
sleds. But it would not change Dietrich’s mind.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “I
thought we could make it,” the 56-year-old says slightly sheepishly, surmising
that it might have been that audacious element of manhood that convinced him.
“But halfway through, we got stuck. I had to walk two miles through waist-deep
snow to get to the cabin, get some snowshoes, walk back and help my wife and
daughters get to the campsite. It was 2:30 in the morning by the time we made
it.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Fortunately,
everyone was safe, and Dietrich ultimately beat the risk. Today, he laughs and
says he would stay in a motel if faced with the same situation again.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย But
would he?
Risk is part of snowmobiling’s appeal,
and snowmobilers are a risk-inclined group. When riders are confronted with a
risk — whether it’s a snowstorm, an unmarked trail, or a speedometer inviting
them to go faster — the urge to take it is enticing.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Snowmobilers
might assert they’re perfectly safe riding 50 to 75 miles per hour through the
snow. But since when is a person perfectly safe traveling 50 to 75 miles per
hour on any kind of vehicle?
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย There
are 171,000 snowmobiles and 9,000 miles of trails in New York State. You can
ride from Webster to Canada on a snowmobile trail. You can go over 100 miles
per hour with the right kind of sled. You can also severely hurt yourself,
though Dietrich says that the worst accidents are usually the result of riders
not knowing what they’re doing — or about to do — especially if they’re
fast approaching a surprise obstacle such as barbed wire.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “On
average, there are about 20 to 25 snowmobiling deaths a year in New York
State,” says Randy Phillips, the 35-year-old president of the Webster Ridge
Runners snowmobile club. “Two-thirds to three-fourths are alcohol and speed
related.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Phillips
laments that often the only time the general public hears about snowmobiling is
when the media reports that a rider died from hitting a tree or nailing a
fence.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย In New
York State, the number of fatal injuries is about one-hundredth of a percent of
the number of registered snowmobiles. You almost have a better chance of
winning the Mega Millions lottery than getting killed on a snowmobile. Still,
the sport continues to battle that and other perceptions.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “Snowmobiles
have this reputation of being loud, dirty machines that go out and scare
rabbits,” says Phillips. “And people think the sport appeals to NASCAR
racer-wannabes. But that’s not accurate.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “Snowmobilers
are a good group of people,” Dietrich adds. “When you’re out on the trail,
people are more than happy to help you if you need help or parts. They’ll give
you a tow somewhere. The group is close-knit. But we’re fighting that same
Harley Davidson image problem — that idea that if you ride a Harley, you’re
automatically part of the Hell’s Angels, driving through property and tearing things
up.”
The message
that snowmobiling is a wholesome sport is beginning to filter out, say Phillips and
Dietrich. And it is becoming more of a family-oriented activity, as compared
with its primarily male-dominated spirit in the late 1960s and early ’70s.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Dietrich,
who has been snowmobiling since 1964 when he was a kid growing up in the
Watertown, NY, area, credits technology for snowmobiling’s wider appeal. He
cites better-crafted engines and parts, plus comfort features such as heated
handgrips and seats. When the first snowmobiles were introduced, he says,
frequent breakdowns largely discouraged anyone else but men to try the sport.
Apparently, men didn’t mind being stuck in the woods in the middle of nowhere
when things went awry.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Today,
however, sleds have become so dependable that breakdowns don’t occur that
often, encouraging women and kids to get involved.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Snowmobiles
can cost between $6,000 and $9,000. Dietrich owns Darrell’s Inc., an Ontario,
NY, snowmobile and lawn equipment dealership on Route 104, which he converted
over from a car repair shop. He started selling snowmobiles in 1998 and has
been selling more each year, another indication of the sport’s rising
popularity. It’s an activity that anyone can enjoy.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “I
enjoy trail riding at moderate speed — 45 to 50 miles per hour,” says
Dietrich, who rides between 3,000 to 4,000 miles a year. “I like to look over
the terrain and countryside and I try to find out all the scenic spots because
about the only time you’re ever going to see them is on a snowmobile.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Dietrich
says that the vantage point you get riding a snowmobile in the wilderness is
one you can’t get anywhere else. On a snowmobile, he says, you can travel
deeper and farther than you could on foot or on cross-country skis and see land
you wouldn’t usually see.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “I
just like the freedom and access that you have in the wintertime with a
snowmobile,” agrees Phillips. “You’re riding, looking around at nature, you see
the pine trees and the snow. There’s always a change in the scenery.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Most
of the Rochester region’s trails are on private property, owned by people who
permit snowmobilers not only to ride on their land at no cost, but to
machine-groom the land before the snow falls so that it’s flat and free of
debris when the season begins. Trails are usually 20 to 25 feet wide. Phillips
and Dietrich suggest joining an area snowmobile club such as the Webster Ridge
Runners (websterridgerunners.com, 265-1753) or the Williamson Driftriders
(driftriders.tripod.com, 315-589-4979) to fully take advantage of the area’s
private trails.
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2004.
