We don't know about you, but after last year's somewhat dismal snowfall much of the winter, we were more than anxious to get out this season and ride. The snow starting coming in our area around the end of October but only at the higher elevations--like above 7,000-8,000 feet.

The rain in the valley--even in some mountain valleys--in eastern Idaho was a little disconcerting as we had visions of last year when it would snow and then melt or the moisture would just fall as rain. But that rain down low was snow up high and we finally took our 800cc mountain sleds out to see just how good it was--or wasn't.

We wanted to break in our 800s but not break them on logs, stumps, rocks, that kind of stuff.

We've been out several times, mostly in Island Park, but also western Wyoming and other parts of eastern Idaho where the snow is starting to really pile up. Near Sawtelle in Island Park, the snow is now at 66 inches deep after a foot of new snow fell over the weekend. Go here: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/reportGenerator/beta/view/customSingleStationReport/daily/860:id:SNTL%7Cid=%22%22%7Cname/-7,0/WTEQ::value,WTEQ::delta,SNWD::value,SNWD::delta

The snow depth is starting to pile up rather nicely at the lower mountain elevations as well. So go riding and enjoy.

Not only did we want to ride, but we were anxious to see how the Polaris 800 Pro RMK, Ski-Doo Summit X 800 and Arctic Cat M 800 Sno Pro Limited compared. For our initial reactions to these three sleds, check out the February issue of SnoWest Magazine. The February issue is our online issue and should be available about the middle of January. Stayed tuned to www.snowest.com which is where we'll announce when the issue is available.