What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time, however, was the joy of snowmobiling. But this morning, after a few hours with Nova Guides in the Colorado Rockies, that changed forever.
“Sending it” Enticer-style wasn’t really the point of my “Top of the Rockies Snowmobile Tour.” At Nova’s picturesque lodge at Camp Hale, a former U.S. Army training facility, my group of seven donned the requisite gear -- including sweet one-piece outfits that would make Larry proud -- and joined our personable guide, Malcolm, for a thorough overview of safe sled operation. (Larry, if you’re reading, you might want to look this up.)
Minutes later, we were carving our way up to Machine Gun Ridge, a jaw-dropping 12,000-foot promontory that once served as a training location for army gunners. Here we dismounted our sleds and gaped at the stunning alpine scenery stretching off in all directions. Several snapshots and hero poses later, we continued our high-speed journey across the surrounding mountainsides, valleys and meadows. Then, as we neared Camp Hale, a final flat straightaway let me “send it” by topping 100 km/h. Larry, you're definitely onto something.
Granted, I did not catch any air or slam spectacularly into any snowbanks. Our tour was more about eye candy and gaining confidence (and speed). But I did come to share Larry’s love of sledding, and have also been inspired to wear more denim.