You Need To Be Corrected
Dear Editor:
First, you need to be corrected that Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is NOT a national park as you stated in the highlights of the article ["Enjoying Our National Parks On A Snowmobile," SnoWest, January, 2009, page 52].
Trail grooming does occur on the 25 road out of the Wakepish Sno Park. Additionally, you completely left out any reference to the groomed/ungroomed trail system on the south face that is accessible from either the Cougar or Marble Mountain sno parks. Snowmobilers can ride above the 4,800-foot level on the south side from either Lahar or ungroomed trails 237 or 238 (Red Rock Canyon).
While most of the groomed trails are outside the monument (8100 and 83 roads), they provide access to the ungroomed trails and Lahar (www.parks.wa.gov/winter/trails/mapdownloads/
motorized.Cougar.pdf). From Lahar, experienced riders climb to the Plains of Abraham or above Pine Creek, making their own trails.
Presently, snowmobilers are permitted to ride to the rim of the crater from the south (not into the crater or on the north side closed for ecological studies).
As a member of the Mt. St. Helens Trac Riders Snowmobile Club, you can imagine my disappointment with the feature of our mountain.
Bev Lamkin
Via e-mail
(ED-Thanks for the information but I've got to say it seems like you and I are reading two different stories. I read and reread the entry we wrote about Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and can't find anywhere where we said it was a national park. Then, as to your claim that we "completely left out any reference to the groomed/ungroomed trail system on the south face." if you look in the graphic titled, "Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument," and look next to "Closest Trail System," you'll see we mentioned Marble Mountain and Wakepish.)
Stupid Deep Powder Philosophy
Dear Editor:
(ED-Attached to this letter to the editor was a short newspaper story with the headline, "Police: 7 Bodies Found in Canada Avalanches." The story was about snowmobilers buried in Canadian avalanches. The letter refers to the newspaper article.)
Here's a prime example of your stupid deep powder and highmark philosophy theory of snowmobiling.
You'll be plumb lucky if someone doesn't file a lawsuit against you.
Paul Hopperdietzel
St. Anthony, ID
Really Disappointed
Dear Editor:
We got into snowmobiling two years ago. We got a sample copy of SnoWest in the mail. My husband really enjoyed it, so I got a yearly subscription for him. We've loved learning about the great places to go and the latest gear, etc.
But I'll have to admit that I was really disappointed when we got the Mod-Stock issue, Volume 35, Issue 8 and saw the advertisement on page 60 for the swimsuit calendar. Up to this point your magazine has been really clean and appropriate for the whole family. And that's pretty much the rule here-if it's not appropriate for everyone, it doesn't come in the door.
I'm afraid if we see any more of that kind of advertising that we will be canceling our subscription. I hate to see that happen because we really do enjoy the information you provide.
Lori Banfe
Evans, WA
Point Of View From A Woman
Dear Editor:
I have been a resident of Truckee, CA, for approx. 20 years. I was born in Maine and started riding when I was 10 or so. I am now a very young 46.
I can ride my Ski-Doo Summit 800 with the best of the boys. Hillclimbs really turn my turbo. My question is: where is the input from a woman's point of view on the sleds we think rank in the top three? Remember we are not as strong as you guys and maybe looking for different features in a sled.
I would be thrilled to be on your testing team, for sled and gear performance.
Leesa Robb Knudsen
Truckee, CA
You Make My Day
Dear Editor:
I enjoy your magazine and your sister magazine SledHeads. You guys make my day when I get your magazine in the mail.
I just wish it was a 200-page magazine like the motocross ones are. You guys should put a mini poster in the mag, like the motocross ones do as well. Thanks for the bathroom reading material.
Ryan Clark
Herriman, UT
(ED-I wish we could put out a 200-page magazine, too.)
Great Magazine, But ...
Dear Editor:
You have a great, great magazine. I love all the new tech and the shootouts.
One thing to think about is adding more visuals, like action shots and stuff. You guys could learn a thing or two from snowboard mags.
Again, great magazine
Linden Ladouceur
Dunster, BC
Hitting Below The Fan Belt
Dear Editor:
This letter is regarding your article in the Volume 36, Number 1 issue ["Picking The Right Snowmobile For The Rider," SnoWest, page 24] having to do with your beginner sleds.
I read it and I felt a need to defend one of the sleds you featured. I am a 14-year-old sledder. I have been around and/or on a snowmobile since I could walk. I started out on a 1996 Ski-Doo Formula S 380. Just recently my parents bought me a 2005 Ski-Doo 550 fan.
So as I was saying, I feel a need to defend it a little. Just let me say that my sled can go where some of your big, powerful but heavy 800s cannot. Some places so high, you have trouble getting down.
In your article you most likely had bigger old dudes riding it, which the little sled is not really designed for. It is designed for smaller people like me (beginners)-usually. I am 5-foot-7 and weigh 110 lbs. I can side ski that little sled so easily it isn't even funny. Oh, and the two feet of powder that posed a challenge to the fanners-it would have been no problem with me on it.
I live in Deer Park, WA. No one knows where that is so I will say I live north of Spokane. Out here we have a total of four feet of snow-if you haven't heard, considering it is plastered all over the news. Just the other day I was having no trouble in the deep, fluffy stuff. Also, my mom has a Ski- Doo Renegade 600 with a pipe and I beat her off the line, although she has no problem catching up just after that.
And it doesn't overheat like some of your big 800s have a tendency to do.
This little sled may not have many "frills" but that does not mean it doesn't have any "thrills."
Barret Cook
Deer Park, WA
P.S. I love your articles, even if they hit below the fan belt sometimes.