(ED-More than a year ago, David Sebelius contacted us to tell us about a trip he was going to take with his riding buddies. Every sledder takes trips during the season to go riding, but this one involved his little band of riding friends from North Dakota. They had decided they were going to ride in Alaska-the trip of a lifetime. Sebelius drives truck for an Alaska company, Minn-Alaska, owned by Gary Dumdei. Sebelius offered us a recap of the trip, which follows. He is already working on another tour to Alaska. For more information, log on to www.davidsperformanceshop.com.)
The Trip Of A Lifetime
A group from North Dakota, who has been snowmobiling together for years in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and British Columbia, got the chance of a lifetime to go snowmobiling in Alaska in March, 2005.
One of the riders, David Sebelius of Leeds, ND, drives a semi-truck for Minn-Alaska Transport out of Palmer, AK, under the ownership of Gary Dumdei. Sebelius asked his boss if he could bring up a few of his friends to go riding in Alaska. A group of nine ended up going, with the riders coming from various North Dakota and Minnesota towns, including Leeds, Maddock and Devils Lake, ND, and Greenbush, MN.
Sebelius loaded the boys up at Maddock, loading their sleds and gear on top of barrels that were already loaded in the van. The guys, except for one, flew out of Devils Lake, ND, to Anchorage, AK. The one, Howard Oakland, wanted to make the trip in the semi with Sebelius to say he traveled the Alcan Road.
Sebelius had to go to Fairbanks first to unload the barrels, so he and Oakland had a little time to kill before the others arrived. It's pretty obvious what they did-unloaded their sleds and went riding. They rode near Denali National Park and were guided by Greg Schaffer and his son. After riding, Sebelius and Oakland loaded up and headed for Palmer. Then Dumdei and Sebelius went to Anchorage to meet the rest of the riding group at the airport. From there, they went to Glennallen to spend the night.