American Made
Dear Editor:
I like to read about the new products but would like to see where they are made in future issues.
I want to support American made products.
Thank you.
Arthur D. Gillham
LaCrosse, WI
Hottest Sled In Island Park
Dear Editor:
I just have to share a story.
On Friday, Jan. 11 [2008], my friend Brian and I had just left Lakeside Lounge in Island Park, ID. I was new to the area so Brian was showing me around and I believe we were taking a shortcut across the lake to Pond's Lodge.
Brian looked back at me after leaving the ice to see if I was there and tipped his sled on its side. I stopped to help him set it back up (the machine was still running and backfiring at this point) and while doing so noticed flames coming from the hood vents. After a quick double take, I shouted to Brian that his sled was on fire. We quickly tried to throw snow on it, but to no avail. The fire had started inside the airbox.
Once it reached the foam on the outside of the airbox, Brian recommended we both jump back just in case (we had just filled the tank). It quickly spread to the belt and then through the rest of the machine. I would venture to say in about an hour, it had completely burned to the point of a pile of soot. The only recognizable parts were the trailing arms, the steering post, the engine and pipe and the heat exchanger. The remaining stuff could be and was put in a wheel barrow and carted off.
I have never seen anything like it in my entire life, except the movies. Even the Sheriff's Deputy wasn't able to put it out with an extinguisher. The two lessons learned: 1) Friends don't let friends ride Polaris (just kidding) and 2) shut off your machine once you tip it over. Thanks for a great magazine and the forum to share crazy stories such as this.
Arthur Rice
Via e-mail
Global Warming Hysteria
Dear Editor:
I've just finished reading every word of the October, 2007 edition (except some of the fine print in advertising). I tried to avoid the letter to the editor about global warming because of the incorrect information being disseminated by people like Al Gore ["Global Warming," SnoWest, page 12].
SnoWest either receives too many letters to the editor or you print too many because you have printed such unsupportable hogwash and trash as submitted by John Sherer.
As stated by S. Fred Singer, president of the Science and Environmental Policy Project and distinguished research professor at George Mason University, "Climate has been changing cyclically for at least a million years and has shown huge variations over geological time. Human beings have adapted well and will continue to do so."
The Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol and similar farcial anti-warming policies are wasting so many hundreds of billions of dollars that our expenses to combat terrorism are dwarfed by comparison. Only ignoramuses and idiots think that man has caused or will stop climate change.
While John Sherer complains about rain at his house in Connecticut this year, we've had great snow out West. Hey, it's about our turn you eastern snow hogs.
D. George Hobson
Boise, ID
I Do Not Approve
Dear Editor:
I have been a subscriber of SnoWest in the past and have allowed my subscription to expire, mostly because of language contained in several of the articles that was not suitable for a family-oriented magazine.
Now, I am confronted with ads for a "girly-type" calendar, making me wonder when I am going to have to "shrink" SnoWest.com to an icon when my young sons come into the room. I do NOT like that SnoWest.com is supposed to be about sledding, why the sudden acceptance of almost nude advertising?
You lost my subscription, and I do not spend near the time on SnoWest.com any more either.
Ribby D.
Via e-mail
No More M1000
Dear Editor:
I recently purchased a new (Arctic Cat) M1000 and would not recommend them to any one.
I had it on some fresh powder and I spent more time digging my sled out than I did riding. The sled also seemed short on power. It felt as I was on a Kitty Kat.
My recommendation to any one is to purchase the less expensive Ski-Doo Summit Highmark.
Blayne Solberg
Via e-mail
Time For Reader Pics
(ED-It's been a few issues since we ran some of our readers' pics, so here are a few.)
Dear Editor:
I have attached several pictures we think are excellent snowmobiling photographs.
These pictures were taken by my good friend Rick Thrall at Valemount, BC, Canada on the Family Day long weekend holiday (Feb. 16-18, 2008).
Rick and our friend Dave Kinsman both of Edmonton, AB, Canada, took their sons Steve and Kris (respectively) on a snowmobile trip over this Family Day weekend.
Kris is doing the big turn on the hill. I love that the ski made a clean arc in the snow, a rooster tail behind the sled, a good view of the hill vertical, there is untouched snow above and blue sky in the background. Kris rides a 2002 Summit X 800 151. Steve rides a 2005 Summit 800 151.
Both boys are playing in the background of the two parallel trenches. I love the trench depth with no ski tracks on either side and the start of the boys curving up the hill in the background with blue skis.
Thank you very much and keep up the great articles.
John Stechynsky
Edmonton, AB
More Reader Pics
Dear Editor:
This is my daughter LynnDee Frasure-Spring jumping in the Blue Mountains, 30 minutes south of Clarkston in southeastern Washington state. LynnDee, age 32, is from Clarkston, WA, and is riding a 2008 Ski-Doo Rev-XP 800 purchased at Mac's Cycle in Clarkston.
Lenny Frasure
Via e-mail
